AND WINE MAKING, 73 



ries fall ofiF, covering the ground beneath the vine with 

 worthless fruit, to which a few fibers of the diseased 

 pedicles still adhere. Even in mild attacks the berries 

 shell off badly from the bunches, rendering them unfit 

 for market, while the affected berries are of no value 

 for wine. 



The disease is most prevalent upon cold, heavy clay 

 soils. Thorough underdraining of such soils will i^er- 

 haps be found the best preventive. There is no appar- 

 ent connection between the disease and sterility, for it 

 appears equally on lands which have been heavily ma- 

 nured, and those without fertilizers. That the vine, in 

 cases where its growth is materially checked by this dis- 

 ease, should be pruned very short, and possibly in ex- 

 treme cases cut wholly back, would appear to be logical 

 to every grape grower. 



Ripe Rot {Glceosporium frudigenum). — It is only 

 within the last five years that the disease has appeared 

 to any seriously damaging extent, but its increase is such 

 as to cause grave apprehensions. It commonly shows 

 itself at first upon one or two berries in close, compact 

 bunches, from which it spreads rapidly, especially in 

 close, hot weather. In California it appears when the 

 grapes are ripening, manifesting itself only by discolora- 

 tion of the berries, and spreading to others. The qual- 

 ity is not affected for a time, as the grapes remain sweet 

 and unchanged. In the Eastern and Northern States 

 there appears to be a connection if not identity between 

 this disease and the *' bitter rot " of apples. In fact, 

 Htiie experts of the United States Department of Agricul- 

 i^Hnre have agreed that it is one and the same disease. It 

 ^^■Sertainly calls for the utmost vigilance on the part of 

 ^^Hrape growers. Early and persistent spraying with 

 H^liome of the mixtures recommended for black rot and 

 downy mildew may also prove efficient against this. 

 The Value of Spraying. — There may even yet be 



