DISEASES OF THE GRAPE 217 



must be given special care, and some skill is necessary in 

 growing it. It usually takes an experienced grower to suc- 

 ceed with this variety, although the amateur sometimes has 

 good success with it. 



The Catawba is one of the oldest and the best known of 

 our native varieties. It is a late grape and does not succeed 

 over so great a range of territory as the other varieties 

 enumerated. A few other varieties worth mentioning are 

 the Brighton, Diamond and Woodruff. 



DISEASES OF THE GRAPE. 



The grape is subject to several diseases and insects. In 

 some sections these maladies become so troublesome that 

 grapes are not often grown. Luckily, if proper spraying is 

 done many of these troubles can be controlled. 



Black Rot. — The black rot is probably the most serious 

 trouble to the grape-growing industry. This disease is of 

 American origin and well distributed over the grape-growing 

 regions of the United States. The black rot not only attacks 

 the fruit, but it is found on the leaves, stems and young canes. 

 The berries are the most seriously affected, although the dis- 

 ease, as a rule, first appears on the leaves as circular, sharply 

 defined, brown spots. The berries are usually attacked when 

 they are about one-third grown. The disease appears as 

 small purplish-brown spots on the fruit and gradually spread 

 over the whole surface of the berry. The affected fruit 

 becomes dark in color in a short time and later shrinks up, 

 but in most cases hangs on the stem for some time after it 

 is attacked. The berries rarely ever shell off. 



The general experience of growers with the common varie- 

 ties of the dark colored grapes would indicate that all of 

 them are susceptible to this disease. Some of the light 

 colored varieties seem to be practically immune. There is, 

 however, a great difference in resistance of the different 

 varieties, which is probably determined by their environ- 

 mental condition. The Scuppernong variety seems to be the 

 least affected by this disease and is considered practically 

 immune. 



