SO BOTANICAL GAZETTE. 



comprehensiveness and perfection of its classifications let me offer 

 the following from Prof. Youmans: u No other subjects compare 

 with zoology and botany in these respects. Not only do they fur- 

 nish inexhaustible material for the exercise of memory, but by the 

 presentation of facts in their natural relations, they exercise it in 

 its highest and most perfect form. 11 * * "They open 

 to us the broadest view of the relations and harmonies of organic 

 nature, and are best fitted to discipline the mind in dealing with 

 large co-ordinations, and the comprehensive arrangement of objects 

 of thought, whether in the arts, the professions, business or 

 science.' 



I have quoted freely the words of eminent men, hoping there- 

 by to encourage young botanists to hold bravely to their prefer- 

 ences, who might have treated any argument advanced by myself 

 as not worthy of consideration. — Emesby. 



American Grape Mildew in Europe.— The fact that our 

 common grape mildew, Peronospora viticola B. & C. grows luxu- 

 riantly on cultivated varieties of Vitis vinifera in this country was 

 noticed in the Bulletin of the Bussey Institution of March, 1876, 

 and although owing to the dryness and short duration of our sum- 

 mers it was there stated that no great harm need be anticipated to 

 the grape crop in the northeastern States, it was suggested that 

 the case might be very different should the fungus be introduced 

 into the vineyards of Central and Southern Europe, where the cli- 

 matic conditions are very different from ours. In 1877 Dr. Cornu 

 called attention, in the Comptes Rendus, to the danger of the in- 

 troduction of the Peronospora into France by the importation of 

 American vines; and, as is well known, his fears were soon realized. 

 In 1878 the mildew was detected by Planchon in the southwest of 

 France, and in the following year by Therry in the vicinity of 

 Lyons, by Pirotta in Northern Italy, and in Switzerland. Since 

 then the spread of the disease has been rapid and it has attacked 

 the vineyards in the greater part of France and Italy and has ex- 

 tended as far eastward as Hungary and as far southward as Algiers. 



As was natural, great alarm was excited by the appearance of 

 the fungus in wine growing districts, and the agricultural journals 

 of France and Italy especially have contained numerous articles on 

 the disastrous effect of the mildew and the means of prevention. 

 With reference to the injurious effect on the wine crop opinions 

 vary considerably; some maintaining that the Peronospora is even 

 more harmful to the vine than the Phylloxera, while others declare 

 that the injury done is not great. Official investigations have been 

 undertaken in Italy and France for the purpose of ascertaining the 

 best way of combatting the disease. 



The latest contribution on the subject is the Report of Prof. 

 Prillieux in the Journal Official, Jan. 9th, 1882, who was appointed 

 to study the mildew and its development in the vineyards of France 



