98 
and roots seem perfectly free from any form of parasitic plant or animal. 
However, as this examination was only made late in the season, the 
decision as to the presence of parasitic organisms can not be considered 
as final. 
CAUSES. 
On the other hand, circumstances in this case as with the disease in 
France point to a close relation between the diseased vines and the 
condition of the soil with regard to drainage. In general it may be 
said that the worst attacks of the disease occur upon cold, heavy sods 
containing a large percentage of clay and rich in nitrogenous matters. 
Of the nine vineyards visited, which were over three years old from 
planting, seven showed the disease badly, and of these five were not 
underdrained and the remaining two only partially so. In the two 
vineyards which were upon high, well drained land the trouble was 
present only in its mildest form, in fact the attack was so slight that 
the owners had not noticed it. In one vineyard two adjacent plots, one 
cultivated for years as the family garden, the other in the regularfarm 
rotation, showed a most striking contrast. The garden plot, although 
situated nearer the base of the slope, showed no signs of the trouble, 
while the plot in regular rotation had most of its vines badly diseased. 
Notwithstanding these facts, however, in particular vineyards the 
appearance of diseased vines upon its most elevated portions showed 
the disease was not wholly confined to cold, deep soils. 
So far as the investigation goes there seems to be no connection 
whatever between the fertilizers used and the trouble, diseased plants 
being found upon laud unmanured, heavily manured, fertilized with 
X^hosphates, wood ashes, and bone dust. In all cases the soil, although 
not chemically examined, seemed to be rich in nitrogenous matters and 
was fertile in every sense. It seemed, however, to lack one element, 
lime, which had not been apx>lied and was evidently not abundant. 
SUGGESTIONS IN REGARD TO TREATMENT. 
In cases where the soil is at all inclined to retain more moisture than 
necessary, thorough underdraining will probably be the surest means 
of x>reventing a second attack. Should the vines show no mature wood 
available for the next year the better plan will be to prune close to the 
ground and raise an entirely new growth. Where the attack has been 
slight and enough mature wood remains to grow new bearing canes an¬ 
other season, such severe treatment is not necessary. 
In any case, the pruning should be postponed as late as possible in 
order to give the canes,that are still green all x^ossible opportunity to 
ripen. The diseased vines should not be allowed to bear heavily the 
coming season, as the necessary strain may favor a second attack of the 
disease. Further investigations are, of course, necessary to ascertain 
more definitely the immediate cause of all such maladies. 
