AND WINE MAKING. 141 



roots were fewer than for five or six years past, or ever 

 since I have examined them, and there was less mildew 

 and rot. 



I have not examined the roots of vines having the 

 " Greeley Rot," for Phylloxera, but shall make it a point 

 to do so this year. My vineyards not being much effected 

 by this rot, I have not looked after the matter as much 

 as I should have done. 



The only remedy tried here for Oidium, or mildew rot, 

 that any success is claimed for, is Sulphur; one part 

 sulphur and two parts fine lime or plaster, are well mixed 

 24 hours or more before using. The lime, or piaster, is 

 for the purpose of neutralizing the acid in the sulphur. 

 This proportion is used for the first application, after- 

 ward equal parts of each ; it is blown on by bellows, and 

 as much upon the underside of the leaves as possible. 



I think any application of this, other than from 22d to 

 26th of the months of June, July, and August, proves 

 worse than useless. 



The weather has little or nothing to do with this rot ; 

 it clearly is not climatic. It always comes here at 

 these periods named, if it comes at all, and no one can 

 tell by the weather if it will come then or not. Hence 

 the saying obtains here : "It comes from pure cussed- 

 ness" I examined the roots of my gooseberries that 

 mildewed. I found them all badly diseased, the fine 

 roots entirely dead. Is this always the case ? The 

 kinds of grapes having the most Leaf-Phylloxera, or 

 Leaf-gall, are most exempt from mildew. The Oporto 

 and Clinton are free from mildew and rot, and also 

 free from Phylloxera on the roots. I grafted lona and 

 some other varieties that are subject to mildew rot, on 

 Oporto roots. They did well for about three years, 

 then mildewed the same as on their own stocks ; the 

 roots also were infested the same, with Phylloxera. I 

 grafted alternate vines in the row below the surface of 



