196 AMERICAN POMOLOGY. 



true origin of the trouble. The Cincinnati Horticultural 

 Society, whose members have long had opportunities of 

 studying this malady, have come to the following con- 

 clusions, which, it will be seen, are not very satisfactory. 



To the Cincinnati Horticultural Society: We have 

 been appointed by you to discharge a certain function. 

 Having examined the premises and considered the subject, 

 we do now report : That, notwithstanding the discourage- 

 ments attendant upon the experience of most vine-dressers 

 during the past season, we are determined to persevere in 

 viticulture, for the following among other reasons : 



We have our capital invested in a way which has been 

 profitable, and we believe will be so again. 



Our lands are occupied with a growth that has required 

 time and labor to produce, and which we are unwilling to 

 sacrifice. 



We do not believe that the diseases to which the vines 

 and fruit have been subjected, are dependent upon long 

 pruning or short pruning, upon deep culture or shallow, 

 nor any of the causes to which it has been attributed, 

 that are under the immediate control of man, but that the 

 cause is CLIMATIC. 



We do not believe that the rot and mildew can be 

 warded off by leaving the wood upon the vines, nor that 

 the usual vineyard method called short pruning, will ren- 

 der our vineyards more subject to this disease. 



We do believe, however, that we have yet much to 

 learn in regard to the philosophy of prun ing which it 

 were well for us to study, and that by so doing we may 

 gather some useful hints in relation to this very important 

 part of a vine-grower's duties. 



