102 FUNGUS ON THE ROOTS: MILDEW AND 



warmth and moisture will induce the formation of such roots from 

 Vine-stems at any time. But if the true roots in the border are in a 

 perfectly congenial condition, no air or adventitious roots will be 

 produced in any ordinarily well-managed Vinery. They are, in short, 

 the result mainly of the roots being in a cold wet border. To pre- 

 vent their formation, or to recover Vines subject to this evil, the 

 amelioration of the borders must be seen to. Some varieties of Vines, 

 such as those of the Frontignan class, being of a more tender consti- 

 tution, are more subject to the formation of air -roots than others. 

 When they are produced, they need not be cut off, except for appear- 

 ance sake, for they will wither up and die as the wood ripens. 



Fungus on the Roots. This is not of very frequent occurrence, yet 

 it is of very serious import where it does find a footing, and should 

 be carefully guarded against. The difficulty of dealing with it is the 

 want of knowledge of its existence until the Vines are, perhaps, 

 killed through its effects. The healthy Vines of one season may in the 

 next, when apparently in the fullest vigour, suddenly droop and flag 

 and die, and upon examination of the roots it is found that they 

 are completely covered with small white threads, these being the 

 mycelium or spawn of some fungus which has generated from decaying 

 vegetable matter that has got into the border. The most fertile 

 agents in producing fungi are bits of wood, especially Beech mast, or 

 the broken stems or branches of trees. The scraps of sticks, etc., 

 soon get covered with a mycelium in the form of what has been 

 called Himartie, which soon spreads to living roots with which it comes 

 in contact and soon decomposes. Plants of every kind as well as 

 Vines suffer from it, and either become unhealthy or die ; therefore, 

 these should all be rigidly excluded in the formation of Vine borders. 

 In some cases where it has not gone too far, pruning off the affected 

 roots and cleansing the soil from the noxious matter is effectual in 

 arresting its progress. 



Mildew, Oidium Tuckeri t fig 40. This is a fungoid growth upon 

 the young leaves and fruit of the Vine, and was not generally known 

 in this country until the year 1847. Long prior to this, however, 

 in the year 1831 or 1832, the Kev. M. J. Berkeley observed the 

 appearance of this mildew in the Vinery of Mr. J. Slater, of Margate, 

 which was under the care of Mr. Tucker, and suggested to him the 

 use of flowers of sulphur, with which he readily complied, and 

 succeeded in driving out the pest. An account of this was given by 

 Mr. Tucker in the Kentish Gazette, hence it received the name 

 Oidium Tuclccri. In America it had, however, been known to exist 

 for many years previously, although, singularly enough, the American 

 varieties of Grapes are not much affected by it. In. this country it 

 has caused great destruction among Grapes, both in Vineries and in 

 f hfi onen air, and in Vine-growing countries the entire season's crop 

 is frequently destroyed by its agency. 



