THE CULTURE OF THE GRAPE. 119 



short time, snd spreads rapidly over the fruit and foliage, 

 if not destroyed. When only a little of it appears, wip- 

 ing with a soft cloth will remove it effectually. It usu- 

 ally comes on the vine in Massachusetts, in foggy weatli- 

 er, in July and August, and resembles white mould ; 

 when observed in this fresh condition through a micro- 

 scope, it is very beautiful. Another evii, a disease to 

 which the grape is subject, appears on the vines and de- 

 stroys more or less of the foliage at the same season of 

 the year, and with the same weather ; it is called the 

 blight. The two are often confounded, and considered 

 the same. I know of no remedy for it. • The mildew is 

 promoted in its growth by dampness, and by the east 

 winds. It operates singularly. A vine in the open air 

 in my garden, trained on the south of the house, is very 

 little injured by it ; branches of this vine, extending 

 round the corner of the house to the east side, are yearly 

 so badly affected that the fruit is valueless. Downing, 

 in the Horticulturist, says, " that giving the soil a plenti- 

 ful supply of plaster of Paris, and this turned under im- 

 mediately, is a complete protection against mildew in 

 the open air." I have tried free applications of this rem- 

 edy, sulphate of lime, and have not derived any benefit, 

 from it. Other persons have recommended lime and 

 ashes to be applied in the same way to the soil, as a cei'- 

 tain preventive. 



The rust on grapes, which seems to trouble English 

 cultivators, does not prevail to any extent in the north- 

 ern states of America. What little there is, usually is 

 produced by the grapes coming in contact with the moist- 

 ure of the hand, or the hair. When the grapery has 



