Hot. 



GRAPE MANUAL. 



Rot. 



insect ravages. * * * This disease commenced 

 in Southern Ohio more than twenty years ago,* and 

 in a short time ruined the noted Catawba vineyards 

 of Nicholas Longworth and those of a score of other 

 planters. Then, for a time, it was thought that the 

 Ives grape, and especially the Concord, would prove 

 exempt from the destroyer; hence these were exten- 

 sively planted. But now scarcely any variety is found 

 able to resist attacks of the rot, or if any chance to do 

 so, like the Delaware, they suffer badly from mildew. 

 Many different theories have been held respecting the 

 nature and causes of rot, each pointing to different 

 measures for its prevention, but with little benefit 

 as to results. Not deeming other theories worthy of 

 space, I will say that, after twenty years of careful 

 observation and experiments, the following facts and 

 deductions are the result : 1. The disease is not pe- 

 culiar to any variety or class of vines, though some 

 are more liable to it than others, and such as have 

 been some years in bearing are more liable than 

 younger ones. 2. The kinds of soil and culture have no 

 effect in causing the rot ; but a rich soil, or too much 

 fertilizing, by producing luxuriant growth of the vines, 

 increases their liability to the disease, and wet soil or 

 lack of drainage has a similar effect. 3. Methods of 

 pruning and training, whether long or short, do not 

 cause the rot ; but it is mostly prevented by training 

 against buildings where the vine is largely sheltered 

 from rain and dew. 4. The disease is of a fungus na- 

 ture, generating from minute spores which float in the 

 atmosphere, where they are quickened into life and 

 growth by heat and moisture, combined with a plethora 

 of sap, which is at the time in a morbid condition, 

 owing to the stoppage of evaporation and assimilation 

 by the leaves. * * * * * Such being the nature 

 and causes of the disease, it is easy to see that the 

 means of its prevention are not largely within human 

 control. It is found, however, that something can be 

 done in the way of avoiding the malady." 



Bateham's suggestions to avoid the rot, however, are 

 partly not very practicable, except on a very small 

 scale, such as training vines against buildings, on poles 

 twenty feet high ; and partly, they need further experi- 

 ments before they can be recommended as remedies. 

 To plant vineyards on as high and open a position as 

 possible, with perfect drainage ; to allow plenty of 

 room on the trellis by planting the vines apart, or 

 cutting out every alternate one when they begin to 

 crowd, are, of course, necessary, in order to keep the 

 -soil and roots as dry as possible in summer, and to 

 secure the free access of sun and air, so as to dimin- 

 ish, at least, if not to prevent the disease. 



Mulching the soil, preventing an excess of heat, is 

 recommended by some, to lessen the liability to rot. 

 Mulching the ground beneath the vines with bitumin- 

 ous coal-slack is said to have been tried with much 

 advantage. We have tried other materials as mulch 

 with no particular results. Some recommend sul- 

 phuring, others a board nailed over the trellis, as 

 protectons from rot ; but both are of no avail against 

 this cryptogam. SAUNDEKS himself said that he had 

 recommended a coping as a protection against mildew 

 only not against rot. 



* Should read, "more than thirty years ago." Evi- 

 dently a typographical error, as Bateham certainly 

 . knew that Longworth wrote about it in 1848. 



We are still hoping that some more practical mode 

 to prevent rot, or to hinder the development of the 

 disease, may be discovered ; but until that is found we 

 should plant only varieties which are less subject to 

 rot, unless we are fortunate enough to be in localities 

 which are exempt from the disease. Vineyards which 

 are yet free from rot this year, may become infested 

 the next. Who can tell ? 



We trust, however, that this disease, like other epi- 

 demics, may cease, or at least temporarily disappear, 

 as it has already done in some localities. There are, 

 no doubt, several kinds of grape-rot, variously desig- 

 nated by botanists. For the practical grape grower, 

 the one kind here described is the only one of great, 

 sad importance, whether they call it black rot or 

 brown rot. 



[Those who desire to read more exhaustive descrip- 

 tions and observations on this subject, we refer to Dr. 

 E. C. Bidwell's and Col. Pearson's articles in the Vine- 

 land Weekly, and lately, also, in the New York Sun, 

 copied by various horticultural journals, and deserving 

 to be published in pamphlet form. But after study- 

 ing them all, we arrive at the conclusion that we know 

 very little, practically, to our advantage about the 

 subject.] 



For those who desire to grow fine grapes, on a small 

 scale, for table use, for the market, or for exhibition, 



THE BAG METHOD OF PROTECTING GKAPES 



should be mentioned. Common manilla paper bags, 

 as used by grocers, about six inches wide and nine 

 inches deep, are put over the bunches before they are 

 half grown, and are fastened by two pins. They should 

 also have a small slit in the bottom, to let water run 

 through it. The cost of bags, pins and labor is about 

 half a cent per bag, and is well repaid by the result. 

 Others found a better protection from insects, birds 

 and diseases, in covering each bunch of grapes with a 

 bag made of cheap crossbar mosquito netting. This 

 kind of bag is slipped over the bunch and tied around 

 the stem with a string ; it interferes less with the nat- 

 ural coloring and perfect ripening of the fruit. In 

 France a specially prepared net bag is made for this 

 purpose, which is stronger than mosquito net. keeps 

 its shape better, and is far more durable sufficiently 

 open to admit air and partial sunlight, affording 

 perfect protection against birds, and with all other ad- 

 vantages, which paper bags could have, without their 

 objections. We used the latter and found them excel- 

 lent, but not a perfect protection against rot. 



