MILDEW ON THE GRAPE. 89 



As to grapes, they have suffered the present year from the 

 extreme wetness of the season ; and although in amount a fair 

 crop, they were not well and evenly ripened, and they have 

 suffered very much more than usual from mildew. On some 

 varieties both fruit and foliage, on others the foliage alone 

 was affected. The fruit also has been injured to some extent 

 by rot. 



Mildew, contrary to all former experiences, and to the theo- 

 ries of writers upon the subject, who usually assign it to low, 

 damp, close and humid places, has developed itself much more 

 extensively on the most high and airy parts of the vineyards. 



The west sides of the vineyards in the vicinity of Concord 

 have suffered more than the east. This is the greatest pest of 

 grape-growing, and neither sulphur, nor any other application 

 that I am aware of, has been able entirely to prevent its ravages 

 the present season. 



I will not undertake to advance any theories of my own about 

 mildew, and although I have watched it carefully through all 

 its phases, I am honest enough to say that I know but little 

 about the precise causes for its appearance, or the best remedies 

 to apply. 



However, this year is an exception in this respect, and may 

 not be repeated for some seasons to come. The safe course 

 will be to cultivate principally such varieties as are comparatively 

 free from mildew. 



The following varieties have suffered from mildew in the 

 order named, commencing with those affected the most : 



1st " Crevelling," (lost all the foliage, the new wood mostly 

 dead ;) 2d, " Delaware ; " 3d, " Diana ; " (nearly as bad as the 

 first-named ;) 4th, '' lona ; " 5th, " Israella ; " (both these lost 

 a large part of their foliage, the wood of both, however, is 

 apparently alive ;) 6th, " Rogers," No. 15 and 3, (both badly 

 affected, not only on the foliage, but to some extent on the 

 fruit ;) 7th, " Allen's Hybrid " (about one-half of the foliage 

 destroyed ;) 8th, " Hartford Prolific " (a large portion of the 

 foliage injured, none on the fruit;) 9th, " Concord " (one-half 

 of the foliage of the hi^h part of the vineyard was destroyed, on 

 the low parts, but very little ;) 10th, The " Martha," the 

 " Black Hawk," the " Clinton," (hardly any.) 



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