DISEASES, INSECTS, AND FROSTS. 19 



long upon the vines in hot weather, as well as to a tenacious, 

 clayey soil ; on dry and more airy situations, and where the 

 ground was thoroughly drained, the crop has been fine and 

 fair." 



H. W. S. CLEVELAND, of Burlington, N". J., who has a 

 vineyard of two to three acres, and who, Mr. DOWNING says, 

 is one of the most reliable horticulturists in the State, recom- 

 mends covering the whole surface of the vineyard with 

 shavings, leaves, or coarse grass, to prevent the ravages of 

 insects, and diseases of the fruit see Horticulturist, Vol. 3, 

 p. 113. In the same Vol., p. 121: "A Jerseyman," in 

 summer pruning, put the leaves and young stems in a trench 

 at the root of the vines sprinkled gypsum on them, and 

 covered over with earth. This was done at the suggestion 

 of Mr. DOWNING, who strongly recommends it to vine-dress- 

 ers on the Ohio, with a request that upon trial they " report 

 progress." 



And at page 161, of the same Vol., "B.," "of Chester 

 Co., Pa.," recommends "special manures," as a certain spe- 

 cific having tried with success, a mixture of guano, gypsum, 

 and wood ashes. 



Mr. DOWNING says to "J. D. LEGARE, Aiken, S. C.," in 

 the same Vol., p. 255 : " We note your experiment with ashes 

 to prevent rot, but you must not decide against it with one 

 year's trial. It has been found effectual here at the north, 

 when used along with gypsum." 



Two years ago, the writer of this Treatise tried ashes on a 

 small scale, but without Gypsum; a trench was dug above 

 two rows, the width of a spade, some four inches deep, and 

 two or three inches of leached ashes put in and covered over 

 with earth. No beneficial effect was perceived. The two 

 rows were slightly affected by the rot, as were those 

 adjoining. 



Hoeing in autumn, and not stirring the ground at all in 

 the spring and summer, but keeping the weeds cut down, and 



