PPwOCEEDINGS OF THE FARMEBS' CLUB. Ill 



for investigating the condition of the vines, and assisting the fur- 

 ther inquiries of the Colonial Botanist. 



By command of his Excellency the Lieut. Governor, administer- 

 ing the Government. 



EAWSON W. RAWSON, Colonial Secretary. 



Cape Town, December 28, 1859. 

 The Hon. Rawson W. Rawson, Esq., Secretary to Government : 



Sir — A disease having appeared amongst the vines in the neigh- 

 borhood of Cape Town, I made it a point to investigate the mat- 

 ter, and to inquire into the nature, extent, and cause of the dis- 

 temper. With this view I inspected the principal vineyards in 

 our immediate vicinity. In some of them great mischief had 

 been done, the nmscadel and hanepoot grapes having been injured 

 seriously by an attack of blight, whilst other varieties had either 

 remained free, or suflered less. 



On examination, I found that vines growing on rising ground, 

 and where there was a natural drain, and no clay for immediate 

 subsoil, Avere little smitten by the disease ; while the crops of 

 those which grew in level localities, and upon clay, were nearly 

 altogether destroyed. Vines, also, which were exposed to the in- 

 fluence of the damp north-westerly wind, though sheltered by 

 trees, were greatly affected. However the malady appeared to 

 have come to a crisis, for the stems and roots were perfectly 

 healthy, and the young shoots, which sprung up from all sides, 

 even from much injured plants, were perfectly vigorous. 



Having carefully and minutely examined specimens grown in 

 different places, I could detect in none of them the slightest trace 

 of fungus vegetation ; and I ascribe the blight or rust, as it is 

 called, to the uncommon long-continued heavy rains, which fell 

 during the later months of the year, the damp atmosphere pre- 

 vailing at that time, and the nature of the subsoil, which, in most 

 localities, consists of stiff, impervious clay. The vineyards of 

 Constantia, which have a sloping ground, and the soil of which 

 consists of sandy gravel, appear to have escaped the disorder. 



Under similar circumstances, the blight attacks other plants as 

 well as the vine ; for I found it likewise on peach and mulberry 

 trees. It has been observed, besides, on former occasions, though 

 perhaps, in a much milder form in our vineyards. The late Hon. 

 M. Van Breda, an experienced and intelligent agriculturist, has 

 left a diary, from which it appears that a similar disease of the 



