No. 144.] 203 



port This gave rise to some unpleasant railery on the project j 

 but the author, Lewis Le Clerk, having since seen my success on 

 a large scale, in the department of the Lower Alps, has spon- 

 taneously rendered justice to the process of Mr. Regnault. The 

 trial was made under the direction of the sub-prefect of that de- 

 partment, and the vineyard of Mr. Antoine Pellegrin examined. 

 He had used the plan successfully for two years past. Tliey 

 chose the middle of the field, a double line of grape vines, one of 

 which was treated with the soft brush covered wiih a dry white 

 powder. The bunches on the row were soon brushed clean of 

 the oidium, and in a short time the bunches resumed their ver- 

 dure and shining aspect, thus distinguishing them from the un- 

 brushed bunches which look as if covered with dust. From the 

 time spent in so cleaning one row of vines, we conclude that the 

 cost of cleaning from 500 to 600 kilogrammes, i. e. fiora (598 

 pounds to 712 pounds of grapes, will be about one centime — the 

 fifth of one cent. The committee met on the 11th of September 

 to prove the result of the experiment. They saw the most evi- 

 dent contrast between the appearance of the brushed and the un- 

 brushed grapes. The oidium had not been renewed ui)on the 

 brushed bunches. They met again on the 9th of the following 

 October, when the grapes were fully ripe. The vines not brushed 

 did not perfect one single grape ! The brushing done properly, 

 at the proper time, is calculated to save from half to three-quar- 

 ters of a fair crop. Thanks to Mr. Eugene Robert, I brushed the 

 bunches on a plantation of grapes of the extent of nearly two 

 acres. I employed women at a cost of about fifteen cents a day. 

 I kept an exact account of the entire cost of the brushing and the 

 result was that the whole cost me nearly thirty francs — $6 for 

 the ^\ acres. 



The brushing must be done at a certain period — neither too 

 soon nor too late. The best time to do it is when the majority of 

 the grapes in a bunch are covered with the oidium with a whitish 

 sort of powder. This period varies with localities, kc. If 

 brushed too soon it will be necessary to brush again. The opera- 

 tion is simple enough, as much so as weeding. The operator 

 takes a bunch carefully in the left hand and brushes it from end 



