CULTURE OF THE GRAPE. 245 



In regard to the black-rot fungus, it is more doubtful if 

 sulphur is a specific remedy. The fungi are formed under 

 the surface of the berries, making it difficult to reach 

 them. I apprehend that sulphur would be an important 

 preventive to the development of the fungus. The uni- 

 versal testimony is, that heavy soils are certain to be most 

 troubled with rot; also that the disease is much more 

 prevalent in wet seasons than in dry. In California, the 

 disease is unknown except in low clay soils. This is the 

 most serious of all evils in Southern Ohio, where the soil 

 is strong, and the rain-fall is excessive. So serious has 

 the evil become within a few years, that some extensive 

 vineyards around Cincinnati are being abandoned for the 

 more favored locality of Kelly's Island and the surround- 

 ing region. In the vast extent, where the summer rain 

 does not average above ten inches, we may hope, that in 

 warm and well-drained soils, with a free use of ashes and 

 sulphur and other tried remedies, we may have a good 

 degree of exemption from this evil. In this connection, I 

 would again suggest the use of gypsum, or plaster of Paris, 

 as containing the essential elements, sulphur and lime, 

 which enter so largely into the structure of healthy vines. 

 Experiments with this sulphate of lime have been made 

 for the purpose of testing its effects upon the black rot ; 



