414r 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST, 
[November, 
Parasitic Plants.—The Dodders 
The Dodders are so striking in appearance 
that they naturally attract attention, and a num¬ 
ber of specimens have been sent for the purpose 
of learning what they were. Not only this, 
they sometimes injure cultivated plants; one 
species is a well-known enemy to the flax grow¬ 
er, and we recently had an instance of the ap¬ 
pearance of another upon nursery stocks. In 
Prance, a Dodder is seriously detrimental to the 
growth of clover. The Dodders are all true 
parasites, deriving their sustenance from the 
plants to which they attach themselves. There 
are some sixty species enumerated as inhabiting 
different parts of the world, of which nine are 
found in the Northern United States. The 
characters which distinguish our species are for 
the most part minute, and all that the general 
reader will care to know are the habits common 
to the whole. The botanical name of the genus 
of Dodder is Cuscuta , which is of uncertain 
origin. Starting from the seed, we have a mi¬ 
nute, thread-like embryo, which germinates in 
or on the ground. The little thread uncoils, 
and soon attaches itself to some other plant by 
projection from its surface. 
Through this projection, 
which for our purpose we 
may call a sucker, the young 
Dodder obtains nutriment 
from its victim, and com¬ 
mences to grow and twine 
around the stem to which it 
is fixed. As it increases in 
length, more suckers are 
formed, and it continues to 
twine and branch until in 
some species we have a large 
mass of tangled yellow 
threads, such as are often 
seen spreading over bushes, 
etc., in low places. • All con¬ 
nection with the ground is 
early severed, the Dodder 
living entirely upon what it 
robs from its unfortunate 
host. Having no elabora¬ 
tion of sap to effect, as they 
live entirely by stealing, the Dodders are without 
leaves, but have a few minute scales to show 
where they might be ; the color of the plants is 
yellow or reddish. In figure 1, a small portion 
of our commonest species, Cuscuta Gronovii, is 
shown of the natural size. The flowers, which 
appear in late summer or in autumn, are minute, 
but often in such dense clusters as to be con¬ 
spicuous in the mass. A single magnified flow¬ 
er is seen in the figure. The Dodders are placed 
in the Convolvulus Family, as they have some 
points in common with the Morning-Glory. 
The little pod which succeeds the flower has 
four small seeds. In figure 2 we have another 
species, Cuscuta compacta , in which the flowers 
are densely clustered. Tins species attacks 
the Compass plant and other tall Composite 
plants of the West, and as the stems soon 
die away and leave only these white cords 
upon the plant, it is still more puzzling to 
those unacquainted with it than the others. 
While some Dodders show preference for 
particular plants, others seem to be indiscrimi¬ 
nate in their attachments. It is not probable 
that any of our native species will become 
troublesome to cultivated plants, the nursery 
case above referred to being the only one we 
recollect to have seen: but should the native or 
foreign ones make an invasion, the only known 
remedy is to pull up the plants to which they 
are attached. As the thread-like stems of the 
Dodders are to be seen long before they flower, 
it cannot be difficult for those who know the 
character of the plant to keep it in check. 
The Longworth Grape Prize. 
The Agriculturist has at various times ex¬ 
pressed its opinion that there could be no one 
variety of fruit of any kind, which would suit 
the whole United States. The Longworth Wine 
House, of Cincinnati, offered magnificent pre¬ 
miums for wine and table grapes, to be awarded 
at the Autumn Fair of the Cincinnati Horticul¬ 
tural Society. That any award could be made 
which would give satisfaction from Maine to 
California was not to be expected, and had our 
advice been asked, we should have counseled 
the Longworth Wine House not to make any 
such offer. The premiums were offered, the 
terms published, and the beautiful plate which 
was to go to the successful competitors, made. 
When the Committee of Award met, it was 
found that the Hon. Marshall P. Wilder and 
Solon Robinson, who were appointed to rep¬ 
resent the East, were unable to attend, and the 
writer was named to fill a vacancy. He ac¬ 
cepted the office in full view of the dissatisfaction 
that the award, however it might go, would 
bring, and took it in part for his friendly regard 
for Capt. W. P. Anderson, who has done so 
much for horticulture in Cincinnati, and also 
from a desire that the East should be represented 
on such an important committee. He asks 
those who dissent from the award, to read its 
conditions. The Ives was judged to be the best 
wine grape. We know that there are those 
who will oppose this verdict. Our answer to 
these is, that John E. Mottier, known as the 
veteran wine maker of America, and as a man 
whose judgment in such matters has always car¬ 
ried the greatest weight, was the most enthusi¬ 
astic supporter of the Ives. Without other com¬ 
ment we append the report of the Committee. 
To Capt. W. P. Anderson , Proprietor of Long- 
worth Wine House , Cincinnati , 0.: 
Dear Sir —The Committee appointed to de¬ 
cide upon the best Wine Grape of our whole 
country, the best Wine Grape of the State of 
Ohio, and the best Table Grape for our whole 
country, and to distribute your very munificent 
premiums therefor, beg leave to report that they 
have examined all the samples of grapes and 
wine presented to them, carefully and critically, 
and, after much discussion and deliberation, 
have made the following decision and award: 
For the best Wine Grape for the whole coun¬ 
try—Ives Seedling; and the first premium— 
silver-plate of the value of $350—awarded to 
Lewis Finch, of Plainville, Ohio, he having the 
best display of that variety present. 
For the best Wine Grape for Ohio, the Con¬ 
cord was agreed upon, and the second premium 
—a silver goblet of the value of $100—awarded 
to E. A. Thompson, of Cincinnati, for the best 
display of that variety. 
For the best Table Grape for our whole coun¬ 
try, the Concord was agreed upon, and the third 
premium—a silver cup of the value of $50— 
awarded to Frank Murphy, of Cedar Avenue. 
Ohio, for the second best display of that variety. 
Your Committee would also make honorable 
mention of A. E. Mottier, and others also com¬ 
peting for these premiums, for the fine display 
of grapes and wine. 
Your Committee, aware of the great difficulty 
of selecting a wine or table grape for the entire 
country, embracing many degrees of latitude, 
entered upon the discharge of their duties with 
many misgivings; they were also restricted by 
the generous donor in this, “that the plants, 
when generally cultivated, shall be perfectly 
healthy, hardy, and productive in all sections of 
the country,” and after a thorough canvass of 
all the varieties, became satisfied that, although 
there are better varieties of table grape, yet 
they are sectional, and will only mature their 
fruit on certain soils and in certain locations, 
and that the Ives and Concord are the only 
known varieties that fulfill the restrictions im¬ 
posed upon your Committee. 
C. W. Spalding, Missouri, 
George Tiiukber, New York City, 
John E. Mottier, Pennsylvania, 
George Graham, Cincinnati, 
E. A. Thompson, Cincinnati, Chairman, 
Committee. 
The premium received by Mr. Finch was a 
silver pitcher, two goblets and a waiter, all of 
them richly chased and of elegant and appro¬ 
priate design. The goblet awarded to Mr. 
Thompson and cup received by Mr. Murphy 
are both of beautiful proportions and tasteful 
finish, and bear the emblems of the vine. 
•---<>-«- - > - — 
Apples for the Southern States. 
Not only are our choice Northern varieties 
unsuited to the Southern States, but it is found 
that even in the West and Southwest the major¬ 
ity of the best apples are of Southern origin. 
Fig. 1.—JULIEN. 
We give here a select list of varieties suited to 
the Southern States, by Mr. J. Van Buren, the 
