368 Notes and Gleanings, 



The Annual Exhibition of the Ohio Grape-Growers' Association 

 was held in Cleveland, Oct. 13. The display of fruit was much better than was 

 expected after so unfavorable a season ; the number of entries being over a 

 hundred, embracing about three hundred plates of forty different varieties, 

 nearly all of fine appearance and quality. 



In the evening discussions, depth of planting was the first subject intro- 

 duced. It was found that the fruit ripened better when the roots were near the 

 surface: but the difficulty of using the plough or cultivator, and the danger of 

 winter-killing when planted shallow, were objected to ; and it was thought that 

 the majority were in favor of shallow planting, and ridging up the ground in au- 

 tumn, to prevent injury by the winter. Mr. Caywood said that deep planting 

 caused the "mushroom " disease, — a white fungus under the outer bark of the 

 stem of the vine both above and below ground, causing lasting injury to- the vine ; 

 while Mr. Campbell said this fungus was often seen where not attributable to 

 deep planting, and he did not think that it damaged the vines much, if any, 

 except while quite young. 



The discussion of varieties was commenced by Mr. Bateham, who remarked 

 that Rogers's Hybrids had mildewed badly with him the present season. He 

 had also seen them at Mr. Knox's, near Pittsburg, destitute of leaves. He was 

 apprehensive that their foreign blood rendered them too liable to mildew. Mr. 

 Babcock of Lockport, N.Y., would not judge any variety by its behavior this 

 year. He had seen Salem, Wilder, and others of Rogers's, succeeding the present 

 season where Delaware and lona failed. Mr. Campbell had been much pleased 

 with Rogers's grapes ; but this year his expectations had been disappointed : but 

 he still hoped this would prove an exceptional season. Mr. Caywood had seen 

 Salc'm and Agawam doing well this year. Mr. S.. B. Marshall had a fair crop of 

 Wilder and Merrimack on dry, gravelly soil : he had also seen Agawam doing 

 well ; best on dry soils, and not pruned too closely. 



Mr. Bateham inquired whether any one had tested sulphur as a remedy for 

 mildew this season, and read a letter from W. J. Flagg of Freestone, Sciota 

 County, O., suggesting as reasons why sulphur might have failed in some cases, 

 that, 1st, The applications may not have been timely or sufficiently frequent. 

 They should be made either immediately upon the appearance of the disease, 

 or before it has been able to work serious damage ; or, if such appearance cannot 

 be early enough detected, then there should be a sulphuring every twenty days, 

 beginning as early as any mildew has ever been observed to show itself on the 

 particular vines to be treated, and continued till the grapes begin to change 

 color. However much sulphur one may blow upon his vines, if he allows the 

 fungus to get the start of him by a few days, there will be a failure of the experi- 

 ment. 



2d, The sulphuring may have been carelessly done ; or, being well done, rains 

 may have washed off the powder before it had time to work its proper effect. 



3d, After properly dosing his plants, the vine-dresser may have been fright- 

 ened by the appearance of black rot (w'aich sulphur will not cure), and con- 

 founding that with the fungus disease, for which alone sulphur is prescribed, 

 abandoned the remedy in despair. That is not the malady that some call the 



