GRAPE DISEASES 243 
in 1845, when it was found in England. Two years later it 
reached France, and in 1848 was first observed in Belgium. By 
1850 great devastation was wrought in the vineyards of France, 
and that same year it appeared for the first time in Spain and 
Italy. The following year powdery-mildew became general 
over France and was then (1851) found in Hungary, Greece, 
Switzerland, Syria, Asia Minor and Algeria. Great damage 
was caused by the disease in 1854 in France. After that date 
growers began to learn how to control the trouble as a result of 
the discovery and perfection of the use of sulfur. By 1859 
the use of sulfur had become so general that the crop of grapes 
had returned to its normal size. In 1866 the disease made its 
appearance in Australia. In the United States it has a wide 
geographical range, occurring from Massachusetts to Florida 
and westward across the continent of North America to the 
Pacific Coast. The first record of the oidium in America comes 
from California; it was known in that state as early as 1859, 
but doubtless occurred there long before that time. The 
disease is also found to some extent in Canada, particularly in 
Ontario. 
The losses from powdery-mildew of the vine are greatest in 
Europe. Soon after the pathogene was introduced into Europe 
losses of ninety to ninety-five per cent occurred in French 
vineyards, and the damage was so great that in certain regions 
vineyardists emigrated. In all countries where the disease 
was then known government commissions were appointed to 
investigate the matter, and consular reports were issued. 
Enormous losses were incurred in 1854 and 1855, in which 
latter year the climax was reached. The disease still occasions 
considerable annual loss. In certain regions of America, for 
example in the Chautauqua grape belt of western New York, in 
California and Oregon, powdery-mildew ranks ahead of downy- 
mildew, black-rot and anthracnose. This is perhaps due to the 
ability of the causal fungus to withstand the dry atmosphere 
