1^4 MONTAGNE ON 



head of the first must be placed the Frankenthal, a variety frequently 

 cultivated in our stoves, and which was the first nurse of the 

 Oidiura. Next in order are the different varieties of Chasselas, 

 all the Muscats, but especially the white, the Malvoisies, the late 

 white grapes, the Tressaux, most of the Hungarian grapes, the 

 Hermitage, &c. The vines of trellises have also been affected 

 sooner, more frequently, and more seriously than those which 

 are kept low, and the vineyards in low moist situations than 

 those of lofty hills. 



The sorts which have offered the greatest resistance to the 

 Oidium are unhappily those which are least esteemed ; as, for 

 instance, all the grapes of North America, the Teinturiers, the 

 Cots of Touraine, the Gamays, the Servoniens, and the Melons. 

 The Pinaux of Burgundy have for the most part suffered less 

 than the others. The vines of Madeira have been so ravaged, 

 that it is a question whether their cultivation shall not be 

 abandoned for that of oranges, a notorious fact which must in no 

 slight degi'ee perplex those who attribute the disease principally 

 to temperature or site. 



It is evident that as regards the question of predisposition, I 

 must confine myself to generalities, and these are subject to a 

 host of exceptions, varying with time and place, the method of 

 cultivation, and a thousand other circumstances of which it is 

 right to take account when they admit of estimation. 



Treatment. — We may divide the means of opposing the disease 

 into two heads: 1. The means of prevention; 2. Those of 

 curing and alleviating the malady when once established. 



Prevention. — In the first rank must be placed beyond all 

 doubt the layering of vines recommended by Bouchardat, who, 

 however, is far from pretending tliat this method is infallible, 

 though he has witnessed its good effects. 



Another method which has some analogy with this, to the 

 incontestable benefit of which I can myself bear testimony, con- 

 sists in bringing down the branches or plants which it is desired 

 to protect from Oidium to the naked soil, or better still on turf 

 laid upon it. Dr. Robouam, who conceived the plan which he 

 laid before the Academy on several occasions, especially Sept. 5, 

 1853, has derived considerable advantage from it. I have myself 

 seen on his property at Montrouge plants the upper part of which 

 was diseased and the grapes destroyed, while the branches which 

 were brought down to the soil covered with turf, or gravel, or on 

 stones bore numerous branches perfectly sound. One must not 



