290 Vineyard Culture. 



To prevent this accident, the thinning of leaves, in 

 the first place, must be practiced with moderation only 

 during very hot years, and when the season is already 

 well advanced, so that the sun has lost part of its pow- 

 er. Besides this, lighter plowings must be executed, to 

 prevent the ground from drying up too much. 



[The closing remark of this section, in which the author 

 advises "lighter plowings to prevent the ground from dry- 

 ing up," is so opposed to the established axioms of our agri- 

 culture, that it should not be allowed to pass without a word 

 of explanation. Had he insisted upon more plowing than 

 usual, under the circumstances indicated, he might have been 

 pardoned for recommending lightly stirring the surface; and 

 this would be sound advice, to plow frequently, even shallow, 

 rather than not to plow, as all experience will show that such 

 treatment will tend to retain the moisture of the soil. Late 

 in the season, however, it is not desirable to stimulate growth, 

 nor to retain moisture in the soil, and most vine-dressers would 

 then lay aside the use of the plow, unless it became necessary 

 for subduing the weeds. 



One of our most successful and intelligent cultivators of the 

 vine, M. Werk, Esq., was so impressed with the importance 

 of keeping his vineyards dry, that he took pains in cultivating 

 the ground, during the early part of the season, to make the 

 spaces between the rows into shallow gutters, to carry off 

 all the rain that might fall upon them, and for the rest of the 

 season he used shallow scraping with the hoe, simply to keep 

 down the weeds, and to make the surface as hard and smooth 

 as possible.] 



DISEASES. The vine is subject to various diseases, 

 of which the following are the principal. 



Jaundice. This disease is characterized by the change 

 of color in the leaves, which pass from green to yellow. 



