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THE CULTURE OF THE GRAPE. 183 



'■'■Remarks. — We thank a ' Jerseyman,' for his account of 

 the, apparently, quite successful experiment. Our advice 

 was based on two considerations ; in the first place, we sup- 

 posed that the rot might be owing to the want of some inor- 

 ganic substance in the soil, necessary for the perfect matura- 

 tion of the grape ; and, secondly, perhaps, to the use of crude 

 animal manures. As sulphur and lime are large constituents 

 of those volcanic soils abroad, where the grape thrives best, 

 we recommended the use of a common substance — gypsum — 

 likely to supply them ; and as the foliage and shoots of the 

 vine are well known to afford the most perfect food for the 

 growth of that plant, we recommended the use of the prun- 

 ings and fallen leaves, buried in the soil, for manure. 



"It is worth while, now, to repeat the experiment on a larger 

 scale, in vineyard culture, and we, accordingly, recommend 

 it again to the vine-dressers on the Ohio, with a similar re- 

 quest for a statement, when they are ready to ' report pro- 

 gress.' — Editor of the Horticulturist." Vol. 3, p. 121. 



I have never had the rot attack a grape in the open air. 

 In the grapery with too much dampness, or in very wet 

 weather, it sometimes appears, and is easily checked by fires, 

 drying the air of the house. It shows itself first on the White 

 Frontignan, in small brown dots, very minute ; they soon 

 spread and meet ; a break in the skin follows ; the berry then 

 soon rots, affects its neighbor, and more or less or the whole of 

 the bunch is destroyed. Excess of moisture at the root will 

 promote if not produce it. If it is prevented by the application, 

 as stated in the communication above, it must be a different 

 disease from that I am acquainted with. Mr. Downing says, 

 " sulphur and lime are large constituents of the volcanic soils 

 abroad, where the grape thrives best ;" but I have always 

 understood, that, if the weather was too wet, even in those 

 countries, they suffered from this evil, particularly when the 

 wet weather came when the fruit was ripening, or ripe. 



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