ROT IN THE GRAPE. 97 



without mildew, perhaps from want of natural force. It does 

 not seem to be sunburn. We are, after a time, possibly, to get 

 rid, through our united experience, of the notions which we 

 have accepted as facts heretofore, and to establish the true rule 

 of the case, according to our experience. Sunburn rarely 

 occurs, but sometimes it does. If the foliage is very thin and 

 tender, an intensely hot sun after a shower will affect the leaves. 



I think we have a habit of calling all diseases whereby plants 

 finally lose their leaves, mildew ; but I have an idea, (and I 

 think it must be true,) that there are various reasons why the 

 leaves fall, and that it is as improper to say " mildew " for all 

 these troubles, as it is, in my judgment, to say " rot " for the 

 loss of the berry. There is a form of disease which is rot. 

 There is a kind of blight which falls upon the tender grape 

 when first established, upon a certain change of temperature, 

 and prevents it from growing, and finally it falls. The whole 

 vine is very rarely affected in that way, but usually one or two- 

 thirds will be. Dr. Schroeder says the remedy for the rot is 

 continual reproduction, by what he calls the double reverse 

 system, which is only the old system of renewing from the old 

 root, by putting down layers, so that new roots may take the 

 place of the old. Prof. Kirtland, I think, says he is convinced 

 that the Catawba rots because of close pruning and over-crop- 

 ping. That suggests a solution ; because, if you prune close 

 and crop heavily, while you have a well-established vine and 

 large roots, you must disturb the functions of the plant. And 

 it is an indisputable fact that young vines escape the rot better 

 than old ones. I believe there is no instance where a vineyard, 

 in its first or second year of bearing, has shown tlie rot in its 

 fruit. 



Let us look at that a moment. I have said to you, gentlemen, 

 before, that we prune too much. If you have large root-power 

 a great quantity of crude, unripened sap is taken up. It is the 

 raw material to make sap of. It goes to the foliage and is there 

 elaborated and changed into true sap, so as to be made into 

 fruit, wood and root in the proper and healthy way. Suppose 

 you have a vine and confine it to a stake, say six feet high, year 

 after year, or to a trelKs which is six feet high, with lateral arms 

 six feet long, (which is generally the space allowed,) and you 

 have root-power sufficient to carry it forty feet in every direction, 

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