296 Vineyard Culture. 



have powerfully contributed to the adoption of this 

 method in all the regions of the South. 



We now give the main precautions which sulphura- 

 tion requires to produce its beneficial effects. The sul- 

 phur must be uniformly sprinkled, and well distributed, 

 on all the green parts — shoots, leaves, and bunches. 

 M. Charmeux perceived, and it has since been proved, 

 that the action of sulphur is all the greater, as it is ap- 

 plied at the first appearance of the disease, and even be- 

 fore, for it is especially a preventive measure. For 

 this reason, it is as well to make a first application of 

 sulphur when the shoots have barely a length of six 

 inches, a second one on the unfolding of the flowers, 

 and a third when the grapes have attained to a third of 

 their size. If an abundant rain should occur shortly 

 after one of these applications, it would have to be im- 

 mediately repeated. For this purpose, fine still weather 

 should be chosen, so that the sulphur may not be blown 

 off by the wind. The two first applications of sulphur 

 are made over the whole plant ; the third may be di- 

 rected to the bunches only. 



Certain plants in a vineyard — ^and always the same, 



■ be it observed — are first attacked by this disease, and 



may serve as a sort of index to point out the proper 



time for each application of sulphur. These plants are 



generally such as are most shaded. 



Since the application of sulphur has become almost 

 an universal operation, the consequence has been an 

 enormous consumption of this material, then a marked 

 increase in its price, and finally its adulteration. It is 

 therefore important that consumers should beware of 

 being cheated on making their purchases. It was at 



