GRAPE DISEASES 243 



in 1845, when it was found in England. Two years later it 

 reached France, and in 1848 was first observed in Belgium. By 

 1850 great devastation was wrought in the vineyards of France, 

 and that same year it appeared for the first time in Spain and 

 Italy. The following year powdery-mildew became general 

 over France and was then (1851) found in Hungary, Greece, 

 Switzerland, Syria, Asia Minor and Algeria. Great damage 

 was caused by the disease in 1854 in France. After that date 

 growers began to learn how to control the trouble as a result of 

 the discovery and perfection of the use of sulfur. By 1859 

 the use of sulfur had become so general that the crop of grapes 

 had returned to its normal size. In 1866 the disease made its 

 appearance in Australia. In the United States it has a wide 

 geographical range, occurring from Massachusetts to Florida 

 and westward across the continent of North America to the 

 Pacific Coast. The first record of the oidium in America comes 

 from California ; it was known in that state as early as 1859, 

 but doubtless occurred there long before that time. The 

 disease is also found to some extent in Canada, particularly in 

 Ontario. 



The losses from powdery-mildew of the vine are greatest in 

 Europe. Soon after the pathogene was introduced into Europe 

 losses of ninety to ninety-five per cent occurred in French 

 vineyards, and the damage was so great that in certain regions 

 vineyardists emigrated. In all countries where the disease 

 was then known government commissions were appointed to 

 investigate the matter, and consular reports were issued. 

 Enormous losses were incurred in 1854 and 1855, in which 

 latter year the climax was reached. The disease still occasions 

 considerable annual loss. In certain regions of America, for 

 example in the Chautauqua grape belt of western New York, in 

 California and Oregon, powdery-mildew ranks ahead of downy- 

 mildew, black-rot and anthracnose. This is perhaps due to the 

 ability of the causal fungus to withstand the dry atmosphere 



