GRAPES. 313 



DISCUSSION. 



President Underwood: Now, this question of vine culture 

 comes up for a more detailed discussion, and I understand the 

 secretary wishes to say a word before the general discussion is 

 taken up. 



Secretary Latham: I wish to say a word in regard to the 

 subject of mildew, which Mrs. Irwin has treated to some extent 

 in her paper. It is a subject of great importance to vine grow- 

 ers, and if you live in a community where you have not had 

 any mildew, it is simply because the day is put off a little while. 

 We have it out at the Lake, and we must look after it. Last 

 year, those who gave it a thorough treatment, like Mrs. Irwin, 

 had no mildew to do any injury. I received a few weeks ago a 

 copy of a bulletin sent out by the Department at Washington, 

 entitled, "Plant Diseases. " In looking it over, I found it con- 

 tained so much of practical value that I sent for fifty copies, 

 and they are here at this meeting. I hope that every one of you 

 who grows grapes will carry one of these home with you, as 

 the book contains just the information you are looking for. 



Professor Green: In bulletin 25 of the experiment station, 

 Mr. Pratt, who worked for Mrs. Irwin, has a full report of the 

 expense of spraying, etc., connected with the work done at 

 her place. There are some copies of it here on the table, if 

 any of you would like to see them. 



President Underwood: I hope the matter of fertilizing 

 grapes as well as the others, will be taken up and discussed 

 very thoroughly. 



Professor Green: The subject of the fertilization of grapes 

 is quite an important one. Very elaborate experiments have 

 been carried on in the East, but up to the present almost noth- 

 ing has been done here. The experiments in the East have 

 shown that they got the most benefit from manures that were 

 not nitrogenous, but were rich in potash, etc. Nitrogenous 

 manure is not generally considered very desirable in a vineyard, 

 and yet it may be used to some extent. If anybody here 

 has a vineyard that is not making growth enough, he would 

 not have any serious trouble follow from a light application of 

 manure. 



The question asked by Mr. Brackett was about mulch- 

 ing a vineyard. The vineyard he referred to at the agri- 

 cultural college is located on a gravelly knoll, that slopes to 

 the south, I found when I came to the farm that they were 

 doing pretty well, but the drought prevented the grapes from 



