202 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



considered that there is a fault which can be remedied. Either the variety, 

 cultivation, or soil is wrong, except in rare cases the peculiarity of a sea- 

 son may bring disease upon healthy vines. I think that the writer of that 

 letter will succeed in getting a crop of grapes when his vines get well 

 established. 



Dr. Trimble said that he was not acquainted with the land at Hammond- 

 ton, but he believes that much of the soil in that part of Jersey, though 

 reported sandy, has a clay subsoil so near that it holds water, and 

 must be underdrained. This disease of grape-vines, whatever the cause, 

 is a serious matter, and well worthy of extended discussion. Dr. Under- 

 bill is a successful grape grower, and his land is not underdrained, though 

 it is partly on a hillside, and some of it is quite sandy. He cultivates and 

 prunes thoroughly, and takes off about one-third of the fruit that sets. 

 With all his experienec and care, many of his vines are diseased. It is 

 very important to learn, if we can, what is the cause of this vine disease. 

 It certainly is not the gas of a brick-kiln, as Dr. Underbill thinks, and 

 when, we learn the cause we may find a cure. 



Mr. Wm. S. Carpenter. — Very mucli depends for success upon soil, situ- 

 ation, aspect, as well as cultivation, and it has not yet been settled which 

 is the best of either. 



Mr. R. G. Pardee. — I have yet to learn that vines will suffer from mildews, 

 or the fruit from tiie rot, upon soil that is all right ; and there are not 

 many situations where some variety of grape cannot be successfully 

 grown. 



Mr. Frederick Preusser writes from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, as follows : 

 " For the last two years at least 15,000 fruit-trees have been planted in 

 Milwaukee county alone. Rochester sends its tree-pcddlers all over the 

 North- Vv'est, and much good has been done if only half the trees will 

 grow. Fruit-growing has become popular. There is one branch wliereof 

 myself and others want a little light. What varieties of grapes will 

 grow and ripen between 42 degrees to 45 degrees north latitude ? There 

 are, no driubt, grape-growers in the Eastern States, from New York to 

 Maine, and we want the names of the varieties and the date of ripening at 

 43 degrees north latitude. Give us the day of the month as near as possi- 

 ble, and don't say ' It ripens ten or twenty days before Isabella.' Catawba 

 and Diana won't ripen here, nor have I seen a ripe Concord. It is said the 

 grape needs a mean temperature of sixty-seven degrees in September to 

 ripen well. Now September, here in Milwaukee, for the last eight years, 

 has only a mean temperature of from sixty to sixty-two degrees ; but the 

 first twenty days of September have a mean temperature of sixty-four 

 degrees. I, therefore, believe we may grow such grapes as ripen the first 

 twenty or twenty-four days of September. What is the difference of time 

 as to the ripening of grapes in the degrees north or south? Will you 

 bring the matter before the Farmers' Club for discussion ?" 



Mr. A. S. Fuller thought he must be mistaken about Concords, and that they 

 will ripen fruit at Milwaukee if not allowed to overbear. He said that he 

 had known Catawbas to ripen at that place, but they are very uncertain ; 

 but he is certain that Concord, Delaware, Hartford Prolific, Allen's Hybrid, 

 and Creveling, may be made to ripen fruit there upon old vines, carefully 



