148 THE GRAPE. 



the immediate contact, in all cases, that produces the 

 remedial effect. The further spread of the Botrytis ? 

 may be arrested on particular spots where the sulphur is 

 applied, but it will not suffice for the Oidium, for we have 

 seen it push through a thick coating after the application 

 had been repeated for several days together, and we would 

 more forcibly repeat that the fumes emanating from sul- 

 phur exposed to a high temperature, are the only radical 

 cure that we have yet discovered. 



There are several other sorts of fungi which are seen at 

 times in the grapery, but which are not any further de- 

 structive than by extending a mouldiness to the ripe fruit, 

 or decaying leaves or branches, which may be prevented 

 by circulating a free current of air through the house, or 

 if that be not practicable, as sometimes happens with late 

 crops or the Retarding House, by lighting a slow fire, and 

 lifting the top ventilators. This will dry up the moisture, 

 and be beneficial to the vines, by assisting them to ripen 

 better. These last mentioned fungi may be considered as 

 epiphytical, for they feed upon a tendency to decay in the 

 body upon which they vegetate ; while the first and dan- 

 gerous kinds are strictly parasites, which germinate and 

 progress upon the living substance, and destroy the or- 

 ganization of all parts in their course. 



Shrivel and Shank. These two terms may be considered 

 as one disease, only in a more modified or virulent form. 

 The difference being, that when a bunch of grapes is said 

 to shank, the whole or a part of it dies off; while in shrivel, 

 the footstalks of the berries, individually, are only at- 

 tacked. The first stage is seen as brown spots on one 

 side of the stem of the bunch, or the footstalk of the berry, 

 and which, if not cut away, soon encircles the whole, the 

 consequence being a certain stop to the circulation, and 

 worthlessness to all parts below. From the earliest time, 



