140 THIRTIETH REPORT ON THE STATE MUSEUM. [28] 



all were attacked. I noticed it first as the grapes reached 

 their full size, and began to ripen, and I suppose I lost quite 

 three quarters of the fruit on the vines thus attacked. 



I do not know how widespread the trouble may be. Some 

 of my neighbors have suffered somewhat, but I think none so 

 much as 1. I propose to take pains to get the experience of 

 the fruit-growers around me, and will then, as you request, 

 communicate with you further. 



Yours respectfully, 



H. R. HUNGER, 



PLAINFIELD, 1ST. J. 



Notices of " grape-rot," as a serious evil prevalent in various 

 parts of the country, have appeared, from time to time, for 

 the past few years, in our agricultural journals. Its cause has 

 been extensively discussed, many speculations have been ad- 

 vanced, earnest study has been given it, but up to the present 

 time, its occurrence, like that of the pear-blight, has received 

 no satisfactory explanation. 



Is it possible that it may be but a phase of a formidable 

 Isosoma mtis attack ? This question arises, when too late to 

 answer it through examinations the present year. It may be 

 that the conjecture, for such it merely is, may at once be dis- 

 missed as without foundation, by those conversant with the 

 disease (of which the writer only knows the name), and can 

 recall in it, conditions inconsistent with those attendant upon 

 the insect attack, as above reported. The shriveling of the 

 berry, its discoloration (its partial decomposition, perhaps, of 

 which no mention has been made), and its dropping to the 

 ground, might easily present most of the features of an ordi- 

 nary decay. 



If the question herewith raised of the identity of the two may 

 not be at once authoritatively answered by the grape-grower 

 familiar with all the phases of the grape-rot, then it will 

 remain as a most interesting subject for determination the com- 

 ing season. Should the suspicion be verified, and the cause 

 of the wide-spread and growing evil be discovered so singu- 

 larly hidden within the seeds, then there is scarce a doubt, but 

 that by the sacrifice of one or two crops the progress of the 

 evil can be effectually arrested. 



