Observations on a Disease in Grapes, 301 



moisture will be found plentifully collected on the berries, 

 and more particularly on the foot-stalks. This is the de- 

 structive material, for as the temperature of the house is in- 

 creased, an effect equal to scalding is produced on the cuticle 

 of the berries, and hence the diseased appearance which they 

 assume, and should the sun break suddenly out the destruc- 

 tion becomes complete. 



To prevent this, one or two of the top sashes should be 

 drawn down a little, early in the morning, and if the day 

 opens out bright and sunny, the rest of them may also be 

 drawn down. Unless the day be very warm the front lights 

 should not be opened, for a current of air is produced by this, 

 which in cold weather is very liable to produce a spotting upon 

 the berries, a disease scarcely less injurious than the scalding. 

 This however does not prevent the berries from colouring, 

 but if the spots become large, the berries take an irregular 

 shape, and cease to improve in size. The first appearance 

 of this disorder is a number of very minute brown spots, 

 which penetrate quite through the skin, sometimes affecting 

 some of the berries only, sometimes the whole bunch. 



VOL. VI. 



Rr 



