42 Grape Culture. 



MILDEW (Oidium Tuckeri). 



This is caused by a damp and stagnant atmosphere. It 

 attacks the young leaves and fruit. If not at once arrested it 

 will destroy the crop. It descends from the leaves on to the 

 bunches, which have the appearance of being dusted over with 

 flour. So rapidly does it spread that in a few days it will be 

 on every vine in the house. When it is first noticed apply 

 flowers of sulphur to the leaves, with a distributor, especially 

 on those leaves attacked ; or on a fine evening heat the pipes 

 until you cannot hold the hand on them comfortably, then 

 paint them over with a solution of sulphur and sweet milk and 

 a little soot. Given strong firing with judicious ventilation, 

 and a sulphurous atmosphere, the mildew will soon disappear. 

 Fresh slaked lime may also be placed on the borders. There 

 must be no heating of pipes above 130 else the tender foliage 

 will suffer. On no account apply sulphur to hot iron plates, 

 which application is well known to be fatal to vegetable life. 



When mildew attacks vines, get your tester and test the 

 border. If found at all dry, give a thorough soaking of water. 

 A liberal supply of water at the roots is as essential as the 

 sulphur in the atmosphere. Mildew can also be checked if 

 taken in time by syringing with soft soap, sulphur and water. 

 To i Jibs, sulphur add four gallons boiling water, dissolve 

 well, then add six gallons cold water, and syringe. Let me 

 say here, apply sulphur very cautiously, or you may ruin all 

 your vine foliage by sulphurous fumes. 



RUST ON THE BERRIES. 



There are several causes to account for the appearance of 

 rust. The application of sulphur to the pipes for exterminating 

 mildew is one of them ; overheated pipes ; cold draughts 

 when the vinery is very hot, or a sudden lowering of the tem- 

 perature ; handling the berries whilst thinning, or rubbing 

 them with the hair whilst working amongst them, are other 

 causes. Rust may be prevented by thus avoiding everything 

 favourable to its production ; but it cannot be cured. The 

 affected berries must be cut out. I advise avoiding the 



