232 CULTURE OF THE (J li A /' E. 



some framework, so as to make a kind of arbor in front 

 of the house, and where 'the dew would fall on the leaves; 

 after which the grapes invariably rotted both on the arbor, 

 and under the roof, and on the wall : and I have observed 

 the same thing in other localities ; thus showing that it is 

 not the fault of the soil or climate, aside from the dew." 

 Mr. Riehl gives his opinion, that vines do better in the 

 tops of trees, because their foliage is protected from dews 

 by the foliage of the trees. He also states, that, upon 

 thoroughly drained lands, there is always less rot or mil- 

 dew than where the ground tends to heaviness; and that 

 in dry seasons, when there is little dew, the vines are 

 wholly exempt from disease. 



We have already seen that the amount of rain which 

 falls in the Atlantic States is in excess of the wants of the 

 grape. Those States which have the least amount are 

 best for the vine, and suffer least from mildew and black 

 rot. By the tables taken from " The United-States Agri- 

 cultural Report "for 1862, it appears that at St. Louis, 

 Mo., there is the greatest amount of summer rain-fall, 

 averaging 14.6 inches; while the total average for the 

 year reaches the large amount of 42.5 inches. As might 

 be expected, this region suffers extremely from mildew 

 and black rot. On the other hand, there is a small tract, 



