THE CULTURE OP THE GRAPE. 91 



Mildew is a fungus, which perfects its seed in a very short 

 time, and spreads rapidly over the fruit and foliage, if not 

 destroyed. When only a httle of it appears, wiping with a 

 soft cloth will remove it eifectually. It usually comes on 

 the vine in Massachusetts, in foggy weather, in July and 

 August, and resembles white mould ; when observed in this 

 fresh condition through a microscope, it is very beautiful. 

 Another evil, a disease to which the grape is subject, appears 

 on the vines and destroys more or less of the fohage at the 

 same season of the year, and with the same weather ; it is 

 called the blight. The two are often confounded, and consid- 

 ered as the same. I know of no remedy for it. The mildcAv 

 is promoted in its growth by dampness, and by the east winds. 

 It operates singularly. A vine in the open air in my garden, 

 trained on the south of the house, is very little injured by it ; 

 branches of this vine, extending round the corner of the house 

 to the east side, are yearly so badly affected that the fruit is 

 valueless. Downing, in the Horticulturist, says, " that giv- 

 ing the soil a plentiful supply of plaster of Paris, and this 

 turned under immediately, is a complete protection against 

 mildew in the open air." Other persons have recommended 

 lime and ashes to be applied in the same way to the soil, as a 

 certain preventive. 



The rust on grapes, which seems to trouble English culti- 

 vators, does not prevail to any extent in the northern states 

 of America. What little there is, usually is produced by the 

 grapes coming in contact with the moisture of the hand, or 

 the hair. When the grapery has back and end walls, washing 

 them with Hme and sulphur is useful as a preventive against 

 mildew. 



In September, begin at the lower part of the cane, and, 

 with a sharp knife, cut clean out all the laterals for eight or 

 nine feet, leaving those on the upper part of the cane to be 



applied, it will be more difficult to suppress its growth. It has been very trouble- 

 some, in late houses, this July, (1848,) and I had to dust the foliage and fruit before it 

 was checked, and the quantity used was much greater than that named above. In 

 early houses, I never have it. 



