Moore's Early.-This is a Massachusetts production; seedling of Concord; bunch and berry resembling its parent; said to be of better quality, but I think no one at the meeting discovered any superiority. It is said to ripen as early as Hartford Prolific, or two weeks earlier than Concord, and on this account deemed valuable for market.

Worden is another of the same class-a seedling of Concord, and recommended as of better quality, but I have not been able to discover the improvement. The berries are of larger size, which is of no particular advantage. Vine said to be as vigorous and healthy as Concord. It has been disseminated pretty widely, and vines are for sale at many of the nurseries, along with the Brighton, etc.

Highland. This is one of Mr. Rickett's remarkable lot of seedlings; the stock of it was purchased by a nurseryman of New Jersey, and vines are sold by him. It is a beautiful and excellent grape; bunch and berry large, purplish, flesh rich, sprightly and sweet; vine said to be vigorous and healthy; but being a seedling of Concord crossed with a foreign variety renders it liable to mildew, though deserving of trial by amateurs who are willing to be at some pains to produce first-rate grapes.

Secretary is another of Mr. Rickett's seedlings, from Clinton crossed with a foreign sort. Bunch and berry of good size, color black, flesh juicy, sweet, slightly vinous; said to be a good table and wine grape. Vine will be apt to mildew where others do. Jefferson-This, to my mind, is the most promising of all Mr. Rickett's seedlings, if there is no mistake as to its parentage, which is claimed to be Concord crossed with Iona. The fruit resembles Iona in color and size of bunch and berry, but quality not so rich and vinons, but more sweet and meaty. The vine is said to be vigorous, hardy, and productive, with wood and foliage resembling the Concord; time of ripening the same. Caywood-I use this name pro tempore only to designate a new grape shown by A. J. Caywood, of Marlborough, N. Y, the name and parentage of which I failed to record, but it impressed me quite favorably, as likely to be an improvement on Delaware; the bunch and berry somewhat larger, and vine said to be more vigorous and less liable to mildew. It was claimed to be not from Delaware seed, but some good judges said, in my hearing, they could not distinguish the fruit from well-grown Delawares. I shall try to learn more about it.

Noah and several other new white grapes were presented from Missouri, but only deemed valuable as wine grapes, hence not within the scope of this article.

Willis is the name of a new white grape grown by Willis Jones, Camargo, Ills., and fruited by him for the past nine years, the quality and appearance of the fruit being 80 fine as to make it very salable in the market, while the vine is said to be quite hardy and free from disease. This was not exhibited at Rochester, and I have never seen it, but from the testimony of others I think it is a promising variety of this class, and deserves to be looked after by those who are interested in growing white grapes at the West.

A score or so of other new grapes were on exhibition, from different parts of the country, but mest of them only wine grapes, deficient in quality and without any particlars as to origin or points of excellence The colored varieties of new grapes did not, as a whole, attract as much attention or seem to promise as much advantage as the white varieties.

GRAPE ROT AND ITS CAUSES.

BY B. M. BATEHAM.

At the late meeting of the American Pomological Society at Rochester, New York, here was considerable discussion upon grape rot. In my opinion, those who are familiar

with what has heretofore been published on the subject, will admit that more progress was made at this meeting than ever before towards solving the vexed problem as to the causes of the malady.

Mr. Isidor Bush, a very intelligent grape grower from Missouri, read an essay giving the results of many years' observation and experience with grape rot, correcting some popular errors in regard to the nature and causes of the mischief, and showing that it does not result from any disease of the vine or defect in the soil or cultivation, but in some way from atmospheric influences-unfavorable states of the weather; that, as a rule, it makes its appearance during hot, sultry, and damp weather, such as usually accompany thunder storms. Mr. Bash did not attempt to explain how such weather might cause the disease; and the manner in which he alluded to an article of mine on this subject showed that he misapprehended my language, in that he supposed I attributed the rot to debility of the vine. On the contrary, I have found in all my observations that the more luxuriant the vine the greater the liability of the fruit to rot.

After the close of that essay, I took occasion to say a few words on the subject-first distributing to the audience clusters of Catawba and Iona grapes, cut from my vineyard the day previous, showing the effects of an attack of rot the past summer, three-fourths or more of the berries being black and dried up, while the rest remained sound-though in some cases all are often destroyed by one or more attacks of the disease. I said, in substance, that this malady had been troublesome to grape growers in Ohio for the past thirty years. It first caused the destruction of a thousand acres or more of promising Catawba vineyards in the neighborhood of Cincinnati, planted by Nicholas Longworth and other citizens of that place. Afterwards it was thought the Ives' grape was proof against the disease, and this was planted largely for wine making; but after bearing a few good crops these vineyards also succumbed to the rot, and the wine makers commenced planting on the lake shore and islands, as sources of supplies of grapes.

In the meantime it was generally believed that the Concord grape was proof against all diseases; and, although not good for wine, it was "the grape for the million," and its culture for the markets was profitable. Hence many vineyards, of a few acres each, were planted in numerous parts of the State, making several thousand acres in the aggregate. Within the past four or five years the fatal rot has also attacked these, excepting in a few hilly localities, and also near the lake shore, and after repeated failures of the crops very many of the vineyards have been grubbed out, and grape growers are, of course, much discouraged throughout a large portion of the State.

For the past six or seven years we have had, in Ohio, an aggregate of about 10,000 acres of vineyards. About half of these are on the lake shore and islands, and mostly of the Catawba variety, the fruit being chiefly used for wine. The rest of the vineyards are dispersed over the State, and consist mostly of Concord, Delaware, and other varieties, chiefly for table or market. But, while it is known that planting has been going on to the extent of not less than five hundred acres per year, in the favorable districts, the aggregate of vineyards in the State has decreased fully to the same amou&t each year for several years past, showing that about a thousand acres per year have been destroyed on account of the rot. In this calculation no account is made of the tens of thousands of home gardens, where once fruitful vines have become worthless from disease. I say, then, that there is no topic of more timely importance than this likely to come before this meeting for discussion, or on which more of the people are at this time desirous of gaining information.

As to the causes of grape rot, my observations of more than twenty years have led me to the same conclusions, in the main, as those of my friend, Mr. Bush. The difficulty is

certainly not in soil or cultivation, or in the vine, or in the effects of insect ravages, though each of these may increase the liability to disease, as is especially true of moist and sheltered locations. It has long been observed in Ohio that much rain in June or July is sure to be followed by grape rot, when succeded by hot and sultry weather; and the greatest exemption from disease is in seasons of least rainfall in these two summer months, especially if there is an absence of close and hot, damp weather, as was the case generally the past summer, though one or two thunder showers passed over portions of the State, and grape rot followed in their tracks. It is also understood that the peculiar exemption from disease of the island and lake shore vineyards is mainly owing to the small amount of rainfall and the almost entire absence of dews in that section during the summer months. To this may, no doubt, be added the greater purity of the atmosphere, or its freedom from the spores of fungus which generate the rot-the same being measurably true of a few elevated and hilly localities, which are found favorable for grapes, in other parts of the State.

With the foregoing facts in view, I think that a little light from science will enable us to see what are the causes of grape rot; although it may not be so easy to discover the means of its prevention. The condition, as stated, are: thrifty vines, moisture of the soil from rains, with hot weather, causing an abundant flow of sap; this requiring that evaporation should go on rapidly from the leaves, to carry off the watery portion of the sap, in order that the vital processes of elaboration and assimilation may proceed, and for this there must be sunshine and air. But just now occurs a day or so of sultry, cloudy, and damp weather, when clothes will not dry on the line, and fungus spores start into life everywhere, as is seen in mildew on bread and other articles in pantries and cellars, and the quick fermentation of liquids, like vegetable juices, containing sugar, gum, starch, etc. Of course, evaporation from the grape leaves is stopped, or so greatly checked that little or no elaboration goes on, and a plethora of crude sap exists in every leaf and berry. In the latter, especially, this sap is in just the condition, while thus stagnant, to invite the action of fungus spores, which are vitalized by the heat and moisture outside, and, penetrating through the skin, their poisonous work is as rapid as the action of yeast plants in dough-and rotting is the result. When the barometer rises, and sunshine or wind causes evaporation to proceed, presto! the vital activities are resumed and the rot ceases-often to be resumed the next week, or when the "muggy" weather occurs again.

The questions were asked in the meeting: how I would account for the facts that the rot is so much more prevalent of late years than formerly, and why do young vines commonly escape rot until after bearing several crops? I replied that, while I did not pretend to be able to account for all the facts that had been observed, it was my belief that the spores or seeds of the rot fungus had gradually become more abundant and diffused over the country, especially in districts where old grapevines exist; just as the fungus diseases of apples are found to increase where old orchards abound. Another reason why young vines are less liable to the disease than old ones may be that their roots, being more superficial, do not find so abundant a supply of sap during the heat of

summer.

GRAPE CULTURE.

BY M. B. BATEHAM.

she malady called "grape-rot" has prevailed so extensively the past few years throughout Ohio and the surrounding States that many people are becoming discouraged as to the possibility of growing a supply of grapes for home use, to say nothing of

any chances of profit from planting for market. This disease commenced in southern Ohio more than twenty years ago, and in a short time rained the noted Catawba vineyards of Nicholas Longworth and a score of other planters. Then, for a time, it was thought that the Ives grape, and especially the Concord, would prove exempt from the destroyer, hence these were extensively planted for table use and for wine. But now scarcely any variety is found able to resist attacks of the rot, or if any chance to do so, like the Delaware, they suffer badly from mildew, which is induced by similar causes.

Many different theories have been held respecting the nature and causes of rot, each pointing to different measures for its prevention, but with little benefit as to results. Not deeming other theories worthy of space, I will say that, after twenty years of careful observation and experiments, the following facts and deductions are the result; and if any readers ask for proof in support of my positions I only invite them to observe carefully, next summer, all the circumstances attending attacks of the disease in their neighborhood and then inform me if the facts do not sustain the following propositions: 1. The disease is not peculiar to any variety or class of vines, though some are more liable to it than others, and such as have been some years in bearing are more liable than younger ones.

2. The kinds of soil and culture have no effect in causing the rot, but a rich soil, or too much fertilizing, by producing luxuriant growth of the vines, increases their liability to the disease, and wet soil or lack of drainage has a similar effect.

3. Methods of pruning and training, whether long or short, do not cause the rot; but it is mostly prevented by training against buildings where largely sheltered from rain and dew.

4. The disease is of fungus nature, generating from minute spores which float in the atmosphere, where they are quickened into life and growth by heat aud moisture, combined with a plethora of sap, which is at the time in a morbid condition owing to the stoppage of evaporation and assimilation by the leaves.

Such being the nature and causes of the disease, it is easy to see that the means of its prevention are not largely within human control. It is found, however, that something can be done in the way of avoiding the malady. Let us see.

There are a few localities where grape-rot seldom prevails, as on the islands of Lake Erie and some points along the shore; also in the hill lauds in Fairfield and one or two other counties in south-eastern Ohio. The reason of this exemption is no doubt owing to two causes; first, the purity of the air and its freedom from the fungus spores; and, second, the smaller amount of rainfall and dew, as compared with other sections of the country. The practical effect of this must be to prompt people to plant vineyards largely in these favored localities for the supplying of the markets with grapes. Such districts will naturally become the vineyard districts of the country, and we must all be content to let it be so. At the same time I am not without faith that it is possible for most people who have a bit of ground to grow a supply of grapes for home use. How to avoid the Rot.-Keep in mind that dryness of soil and vine, with free circulation of air, are preventives of the disease. We have seen that vines trained against buildings are seldom attacked. Let more vines be planted in such positions. The next best plan is to train a few vines on poles, say 12 to 20 feet high, putting one pole to each vine at first, and two after coming into full bearing. The pruning and training can be easily done with a ladder, and if not shaded by trees the fruit thus elevated from the ground exhalations and allowed free circulation of air, will commonly escape the rot. If anything like vineyard planting is attempted, the soil should be clayey and on as high and open a position as possible, with perfect drainage, so that the roots will never

be soaked and the water from summer rains will flow off as quickly as possible from the surface, the aim being to keep the soil and roots dry as possible in summer, and thereby prevent luxuriant growth or excessive flow of sap, and at the same time secure the freest access of sun and air. Of course care must be taken to allow plenty of room on the trellises, by planting the vines wide apart or cutting out every alternate one when they begin to crowd.

Mulching the surface of the ground beneath the vines with bituminous coal-slack has been tried the past two years with much advantage by a friend of mine, J. H. Sanborn, of Illinois. He thinks that the coal prevents the malarious exhalation from the soil, and that the sulphur or some other element it contains acts as a preventive of faugus vegetation; or it may be the coal-slack, absorbing the heat of the sun during the day, gives it off during the night, and thus lessens the deposition of dew. Coal-slack is cheap in many localities, and this remedy is deserving of extensive trial. The use of coal ashes, sawdust, and several other materials as mulch has been tried for a year or two past, with no particular results. There is need of further experiments in this direotion, especially with ingredients containing sulphur, carbolic acid, and coal-tar, the odors of which, or their volatilizing by the heat of summer, are known to be anti-fungoid.

The paper-bag method of protecting grapes from rot has been made known through our horticultural reports for the past two years. It has been tested by a large number of persons, and with very good results in almost all cases where the bags were applied early, soon after the young fruit was formed. The bags are the kind much used by grocers, five or six inches wide by eight or nine deep, and costing about $2.50 per 1,000. One of these is drawn over each bunch of young fruit, and the mouth folded together around the stem, then fastened with a couple of pins. The fruit is found to grow larger and fairer inside these bags than if exposed to the open air, and besides protection from rot, there is exemption from sun-scald and from the ravages of birds and insects; so that fairer and better fruit is the result, while the expense is in comparison quite trifling.

THE APPLE ORCHARD.

BY G. F. NEWTON.

What a theme, what a field wherein to gather profitable and pleasurable knowledge, and yet bow few avail themselves of the many opportunities for doing so. In our various aims and objects through life, we sometimes start wrong, to correct which it may require years of uurequited toil and care. Perhaps there is no branch of industry known to the husbandman, in which the inexperienced are more liable to err than pomology. With a soil and climate so diverse as ours, and a list of over two thousand known varieties of fruit to select from, how can it be otherwise! Let not the new beginner become discouraged by these declarations. A little time spent in search of information, will enable him to start aright, and when that is done he will easily overcome all obstacles.

No fixed rules can be given to suit all cases, the varieties that are successful in one soil and climate, may prove a failure in another. There are general principles that must be observed, and when that is done, should slight failures occur they are easily remedied. In giving these general principles, I shall be governed to some extent by an experience of nearly fifty years, taking my first lesson in apple culture in 1834. Since that time I have planted six apple orchards, all on different soils and with different aspects, but within a radius of twelve to fifteen miles. The first one of them I planted in 1838, the trees in which are now in a fair state of preservation and productiveness. The others