STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 211 



burn them. There is no way of curiug the plant which becomes dis- 

 eased. 



Mr. Barrett. I was much interested in a statement that a great 

 French physician makes a success with the treatment of diseased grape 

 vines, by applying the principle of inoculation to the vine, but it is not 

 stated how it was done o^- what was the substance used. 



Prof. Seymour. I can scarcely imagine how it can be of any avail. 

 I don't see how inoculation could help. 



A Member. How are these fungus propagated? 



Prof. Seymour. The fungi are propagated by germs which are car- 

 ried in the atmosphere. It never originated without a germ. They 

 answer the purpose of a seed. They correspond to seed in the higher 

 plants. 



Mr. Harris. Professor, for two years I have observed something 

 which comes upon the grapes, and makes its appearance at first in a 

 small round white spot, at one side of the berry, smaller than the head 

 of a pin, but gradually extending and changing in color to a reddish 

 brown and sometimes a reddish white. 



Prof. Seymour. I think perhaps from the description it may be ai 

 grape worm if it is a small white spot, but the later development would 

 seem to make it doubtful. 



Mr. Pearce. I think that disease that Mr. Harris speaks of is rot. 

 I was at Mr. Poole's place down near Farmington and saw it there. 

 Mr. Rogers of New Jersey was present, and he called it the Grape 

 Rot. 



Prof. Porter. That is without doubt rot. I have been familiar 

 with it for thirty years in the East. The characteristic of that rot is 

 the peculiar iridescence that it has when you turn the grape toward 

 the sun. I think you both are referring to the same thing, but have 

 observed it at different stages. The grape affected by it is worthless. 

 It never ripens; commencing with a small speck at one side it gradu- 

 ally extends in a circle, the white spot then shades off in a brown 

 color. 



Prof. Seymour. I don't think the subject is by any means exhasuted. 

 There are eighteen species known in Europe, and I have no doubt 

 there are a good many now in this country to be looked up yet. 



PEAR BLIGHT. 



In 1878, Prof. Burrill of the University of Illinois was the first to 

 suggest the bacteria as the cause of pear blight. He mentioned them 

 in the Illinois Horticultural report for about 1878, I think, but in 



