504 [AssoiBL^x 



to mildew. Where is such moisture we find slugs plenty as well as 

 mildew. Grapes are sometimes, in heavy rains after great heat, 

 apt to burst. The Isabella and Catawba grapes are attacked in dif- 

 ferent manner, not by mildew — that is of a light grey color, and fruit 

 by it is made hide bound. 



Mr. Elliott approved of the method of placing salt hay around 

 gooseberry bushes, and that deep ploughing and good tilling were 

 good preventives of mildew. 



President Tallmadge accorded with the opinion given by Dr. 

 Underbill relative to mildew. We never see mildew where the soil is 

 poor. Rich soil with heat and moisture, produces it. My impression 

 is, that the prevention of mildew is caused by covering the surface 

 \nth any dry straw, whether salt or not. The , covering checks the 

 escape of effluvia from the soil, and giving also a perfectly free venti- 

 lation. When the grape vine ascends tall frees, its grapes are never 

 mildewed, so that it seems that this disease attacks only near the sur- 

 face of the land. We find but little lamd entirely porus to a consi- 

 derable depth ; usually we find within the depth of a foot or so, pri- 

 mitive earth, clay, gravel, &c. which is sufficiently close to prevent 

 the rain water from filtering through it rapidly. When the sub-soil 

 happens to be a stiff clay, then the soil is saturated by rains, and re- 

 tains the wet long — very often to the serious damage of crops. A 

 like result is perceived where plants are put into vessels without holes 

 in the bottom, to allow water freely to pass. . Such is now the fashion 

 of our flower pots. All these matters point directly to the usefulness 

 of under-draining in all cases where there happens not to be a loose 

 subsoil. 



Chairman, I shall be pleased to hear you on the subject of the 

 grape vine. 



THE VINE. 



President Tallmadge. Being called upon to speak of the Vine, I 

 comply cheerfully, and shall first confine myself to those of America. 

 The very costly experiments made by Americans on naturalizing here 

 tlie grapes of the old world have all proved to be total failures, and 



