182 THE CULTURE OF THE GRAPE. 



stems cut off, were laid in these trenches, sprinkled with suf- 

 ficient gypsum or plaster, to whiten the foliage, (from a pint 

 to a quart per plant,) and the whole trodden doAvn and bu- 

 ried in the trench. 



" As soon as the leaves fell in the autumn, I repeated the 

 process, — raking up the leaves and burying them around the 

 roots of the vines, after dusting them over with plaster, as 

 before. 



" In June, 1848, the present season, I repeated the same 

 operation at the summer pruning. 



" Now the result is as follows : — 



" Although the season is remarkable for the prevalence of 

 the rot, not a berry on any of these six vines, so treated, is 

 affected ; the crop being, on the contrary, very good, — the 

 fruit large, and increasing in size. The vines, too, are re- 

 markably healthy and vigorous. 



" On the other hand, the remaining vines, fourteen in num- 

 ber, are every one affected by the rot — some of them very 

 badly ; and, even on those least affected, ten per cent, of the 

 berries are destroyed by this disease. 



"I cannot, therefore, escape the conviction, that the treat- 

 ment you proposed has, so far, been effectual, in preventing 

 this disease. 



" I ought to add, that the vines of my neighbors, generally, 

 are much affected by the rot, this season, and that I have 

 seen no Isabellas or Catawbas, this season, that surpass, in 

 appearance, those on the six vines alluded to you. 



" The ' rot ' is a disease that has only appeared within five 

 years, in this part of the country. At the south, I am told, 

 it has always existed. On the Ohio, as I gather from Mr. 

 Longworth's remarks, in your journal, it is quite troublesome 

 in the vineyards ; and it appears to be on the increase, 

 through the country generally. A remedy for this disease, 

 must be considered a public benefit, and I therefore send you 

 the above remarks, for publication, if you deem them worthy. 

 Your friend, A Jekseyman." 



August, 1848. 



