DIVISION OF GARDENS AND GROUNDS. 37 



In Dewly-planted vineyards, even if tliey are on soil -wliere grapes 

 bad never before grown, and althougli the locality may be a long dis- 

 tance from other vineyards, such plants "wiU. suffer equally with those 

 in older plantations if the -weather proves favorable to mildewy. A 

 vineyard may suffer severely from mildew one summer and be almost, 

 if uol; wholly, exempt from it the following season, depending entirely 

 on the weather. Ayoung vine raised from seed in spring, on land where 

 grapes were never grown before, is just as liable to be attacked by mil- 

 dew on the leaves during its growth the first year, as if it was growing 

 on soil where grapes had been growing for half a century. 



It has been repeatedly proved by direct experiment that plants pro- 

 tected by a suitable covering which will arrest the upward radiation of 

 heat and prevent dew on their foliage, will be exempt from mildew, 

 although surrounded on aU sides by mildewed plants. 



This clearly proves that, in planting vineyards, a location should be 

 selected where dews rarely occur, and investigations will demonstrate 

 that the most popular localities for the profitable culture of the greatest 

 number of varieties of native grapes at the present time are those re- 

 gions where dews are seldom seen. 



The rot in grapes has caused immense losses in the aggregate for a 

 quarter of a century ; for although it existed previous to that time, its 

 effects increase as grape culture extends, untn it threatens to cause the 

 abandonment of grape culture in many parts of the United States. 



This malady has bafded fruit-growers, and its cause is yet in doubt. 

 Soils seem to "have no perceptible influence, as it is found, some time or 

 other, on aU grades of soil from tenacious clays to pure sands, and in 

 all locations high and low. 



Some years ago it was found that bunches of grapes inclosed in paper 

 bags soon after the berries had been fairly formed, would be exempt from 

 rot, when bunches on the same plant, unprotected, would be attacked. 

 Repeated experiments proved that covering the bunches was measure- 

 ably a preventive of rot in the berry, and led to the conclusion that rot 

 was produced by climatic causes, but the peculiar atmospheric condi- 

 tions which favor its appearance have not been determined. 



Since attention has been directed to the good effects of protecting the 

 grape bunches from direct contact with the atmosphere, observation has 

 been directed to the effect of allowing the bunches to be protected by 

 dense foliage hanging in masses from the tops of the trellises upon which 

 the vines are supported, and it is found to be of palpable value in the 

 prevention of rot. Its value, however, if at all worthy of notice, can only 

 be substantiated by repeated trials in various sections of the country. 



It has been stated that recent observations tend to the impression 

 that covered treUises, such as have been more or less in use for the last 

 twenty-five years as a protection from the mildew {Peroiiospora), are also 

 a protection from rot, a circumstance which might, in some degree, be 

 expected. Although a close connection between mildew on the leaf and 

 rot in the berry has not yet been demonstrated, it is not improbable 

 that further investigations may prove such a eonnection to exist. 



THE PEACH-LEAF BLISTEE. 



Blister and curl of the leaves of peach trees are not fatal in their 

 effects, but either sometimes becomes severe enough to check the young 

 growths and diminish the value of the crop. Curl and blister are two 

 distinct effects, from two equally distinct causes. Leaf curl is caused 

 by the attacks of the aphis or plant louse. When these pests are nu- 



