124 APPLICATION OF PRINCIPLES. 



of the Botrytis effusa, which, attacks Spinach; of 

 Acrosporium monilioides, which is found on the 

 Onion ; and the mildew of the Pea, caused by the ra- 

 vages of Erysiphe communis, may all be stopped, or 

 prevented, by abundant watering in dry weather. Mr. 

 Knight first applied this fact to the securing a late 

 crop of peas for the table, in the following manner : — 

 The ground is dug in the usual way, and the spaces 

 which will be occupied by the future rows are well 

 soaked with water. The mould upon each side is 

 then collected, so as to form ridges seven or eight inches 

 above the previous level of the ground, and these are 

 well watered ; after which, the seeds are sowed in single 

 rows along the tops of the ridges. The plants very 

 soon appear above the soil,and grow with much vigour, 

 owing to the great depth of the soil and abundant 

 moisture. Water is given rather profusely once in 

 every week or nine days, even if the weather proves 

 showery ; but, if the ground be thoroughly drenched 

 with water by the autumnal rains, no further trouble 

 is necessary. Under this mode of management, the 

 plants will remain perfectly green and luxuriant till 



as the plant grows older, the proportion of fair fruit is smaller, until 

 at last nothing but shrivelled and mildewed bunches are seen. By 

 laying down half of the long shoots of each vine annually, thus form- 

 ing new plants, and never allowing the same to bear more than two 

 years, a full crop, free from rust or mildew, may be obtained an- 

 nually. Even the finer native sorts, as the Isabella, are sometimes 

 liable to mildew on old vines: when this occurs, they should be 

 headed back, to bring up a supply of young wood, and plentifully 

 manured. The young and thrifty shoots will then have sufficient 

 vigour to withstand the attacks of mildew, to which the enfeebled 

 fruit produced from the old wood is so liable. A. J. D. 



