THE CULTURE OF THE GBAPE. 211 



" The ' rot ' is a disease that has only appeared within 

 five years, in this part of the country. At the south, 1 

 am told, it has always existed. On the Ohio, as I gather 

 from Mr. Longworth's remarks, in your journal, it is 

 quite troublesome in the vineyards ; and it appears to be 

 on the increase, through the country generally. A re- 

 medy for this disease, must be considered a public 

 benefit, and I therefore send you the above remarks, for 

 publication, if you deem them worthy. 

 " Your friend, 



" A Jeesetman. 



''August, 1848." 



" Hemarks. — We thank a ' Jerseyman,' for his account 

 of the, apparently, quite successful experiment. Our 

 advice was based on two considerations ; in the first 

 place, we supposed that the rot might be owing to the 

 want of some inorganic substance in the soil, necessary 

 for the perfect maturation of the grape : and, secondly, 

 perhaps to the use of crude animal manures. As sulphur 

 and lime are large constituents of those volcanic soils 

 abroad, where the grape thrives best, we recommended 

 the use of a common substance — gypsum — likely to sup- 

 ply them ; and as the foliage and shoots of the vino are 

 well known to afibrd the most perfect food for the 

 growth of that plant, we recommended the use of the 

 prunings and fallen leaves, buried in the soil^ for 

 manure. 



" It is worth while, now, to repeat the experiment on a 

 larger scale, in vineyard culture, and we, accordingly, 

 recommend it again to the vine-dressers on the Ohio, 



