The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1855-10-09 00:00:00

,EMENT TO THE LIVERPOOL STANDARD

the globe. As in the case of the potato disease, various
conjectures have been put forward as to the nature of the
Oidium. Some have attributed it to a microscopic insect ;
others to the deposit of a fungus ; and others have sought
to attribute it simply to the action of ordinary variations
of moisture and temperature. But all alike are at fault.
It is possible that insects may become associated with the
protressive decomposition of fibre and fluid that charac-
terises it; but they certainly are not to be detected in the
primary state of the blight. As regards the fungoid de-
velopments which are the symptoms of the malady, they
evidently result from internal disorganisations, and not from
external morbific causes. The symptoms by which this
disease is distinguished consist, first, in stains and dis-
colourations appearing in and under the bark of the young
wood, which when ripe assumes a smutty, unhealthy ap-
pearance, instead of the ruddy sienna 1103 which it ought
to exhibit. As vegetation progresses, the foliage and fruit
advance to a point nearly of maturity, then suddenly
languish, the berries becoming covered with a white
powder, like mildew, to which they are soon wholly con-
verted, so as to collapse in mere dust. Sometimes a second
and imperfect crop of fruit appears, and new shoots make
a sickly attempt to vegetate. The characteristics of this
malady partake of those of the cancerous, and scorbutic
diseases of the animal economy, with the addition of the
well-marked features of epidemy, as evidenced in the dis-
organisation of the fluids, the generation of morbid struc-
tures, and the übiquity of the causes, which are obviously
too general to be otherwise than atmospheric or electro-
magnetic. The plants which seem the most robust are in
many places more predisposed to become diseased. Various
methods of treatment have been suggested, tried, and
abandoned as useless ; the only course which gives promise
of success being that of restraining vegetation by severe
pruning.

The malady here indicated is one which, from
its extended field of operation, and the serious
nature of the devastation it has caused, has
attracted very general attention, and led to many
experiments for its prevention or cure, but like
the potato-blight, to which, as stated by the
author of these " Gatherings," it bears many
points of general resemblance, its cause and its
cure remain alike inscrutable. These " Gather-
ings from the Wine Lands" abound with interest-
ing facts, and, as a whole, the book will repay
an attentive perusal.

Blackwood's Magazine. Edinburgh : Blackwoods.
The war, with its many incidents, gigantic
operations, and important consequences, has so
monopolised public attention as to supersede the
ordinary pursuits of literature. Even this prince
of periodicals has caught the infection, and its
contributors, in the midst of their interesting
narratives or comments on science, sporting, or
travels, break off in order to give vent to their
sensations on the memorable event of the fall of
Sebastopol. The number for October opens with
a review of " North and the Noctes," commenc-
ing with some just remarks on that tame and
pointless style of pretended politeness which now
characterises our periodical literature and political
partisanship. ." A cockney may no longer be
called a cockney, nor a fool a fool, but each must
be apostrophised in a polite periphrasis. The
chivalry of periodical writing has lost some dash
and brilliancy since the laws of the combat place
buttons on the foils ; the fiercer spirits miss the
excitement of the game of earnest—meek men
in spectacles venture into the ring once sacred
to the grim yet graceful athlete, victor in a
hundred fights—the combatants pique themselves
on being (ha, ha !) open to conviction, and fight
in the courteous spirit of Aberdeen as War
Minister, and Dundas at Odessa. The stream of
thought, no longer vigorously impelled through
the channel of partisanship, is diffused in wide
pools over the flats of liberalism and toleration,
where public opinion may hang Narcissus-like,
over its own reflection, but where there is none
of the rush, the ripple, nor the cataract, that lent
picturesqueness to the earlier course of the flood.'
There is, unfortunately, too much truth in these
remarks ; Conservatism has been so tamely ad-
vocated that men begin to fancy there may be

something good in Radicalism
at the core, and even the
Church is endangered by. am
towards Romanism and schi
with sterling old Christopher
the repttblication of his .210 c.
refreshing reminiscence of 5...,
some Saxon. terseness and
did not hesitate to call a apt
caring who was offended;
" Zaidec.: a romance," gives
arrival at the denouement-.
Baltic,. in 1855," affords soxn'
mation, respecting a portion
if the war be prosecuted with
have promised, may become 61
gigantic and deadly contest tl-
- been carried on in the Crim
Literature—History," conta'
deserved strictures on the re
for the lives of Queens,.
by Miss Strickland, and imi
ing scale of merit. " From
klava ' is a pleasantly-writt,
from the Crimea at the e;
" Vedette," who, coxtribut,
a few months since some
culars of the recent crisis in Sp A;ag ~ to
the Holidays, No. II.," is, aceorii-ot do(
writer's account, a review of no.
the
co? 9,
a clever defence of critics against tirescaol":#
of authors, and then a rambling ,00i° 05
sundry sporting adventures, with utiors, 0
tire
ferences to the works of sporting
,tigifeodlisir
Old Contributor at the Sea-side • 64 de
001 sor If
amusing and truly graphic descriP eto ifb
parturefrom London, and his vorgee, til Jd, II
liglitful retreat on the coast of Frayndenotif,
abouts of which he does not c
ar if is
tool
enlighten his readers upon, for Tirifitcl,' jyr
their being tempted to invade his re ore,4or:st
however, well worth perusal, and '`i ov,ti6,d
h tr e
the conclusion of it next mont-'OO.OO j ty-
tion—a Dialogue" discloses a cood,ijoirsoa
Sydenham between Tlepolemns„otril. 00
Irenwus on various subjects, it the
evils a centralisation. We gill'
extracts : fel
es 1
NATIONAL COST1:°.0000', rliSe4
How beautiful is national costume' ceritrii 14°00_40
exists. In France, though much throng pet Aro;
of provincialism still' exists. Poss o sec "esoP Kg,
Brittany, the Vendee to Bordeaux, Y:ecalisety esoy
in each district, each becoming, about ~013111 9
from usage; there is no vulgarirYd you •-- 0i0e,,i9
yet dress them a la Parisienne, aurae is sstsge;ettrsi
immediately. Phis matter of cos' sight' olig
tit
important one than appears at nr? iota thew 0,0 I
as we all are, we are apt to fall a dres°lii, a :1,09
which we are dressed. Put me' leo; blo ;01
flreP • a eg
slippers, and I feel chained to the
...10; in ..,, ooh , ,
coat, and I want to be off to Nor; alotabilp:2o44
_,'". ,0
raooan'l.74o"born f 111$-$i r)
coat, and a feeling of inter's! retortL be ea :,,„t P',,,teg
me ; I would not for a considera lole%raiePof i
if you lifer Joe iVoclitoto i
in a dress coat,—do not, if
cal:oziag
of
of
ropecoo
dress coat at all unless
compensate for the pain—the
.sing fire the e irl/
watch s, th 0;11
standing Attic dinnreoro,m seasonedio a bbayn .
black and scarlet and white 51
intter dee9l ° of th.ne I/
the mastering melody. The utter is 00, the vriell I
tume amongst our working co*"
signs of our times, both in
ok-frock of r tell' vie
1,;
lingers alone in the sln° hich Bulvie hands°,,st t'
labourer—the garment in w
..,d to a ~. a .01- $ 1,
cestors fought at Hastings : "
hutch, ir 17 with
.13g
otil
lean for
church,
difieo la %it/
fellow, when put on clean
en lan, At least olorri
ing garment Butsepecialiy isas., Jos.., -ch e. illy ,
embroidery. the women I,
dress Inv sorri.o of)
with :ever remnant of class _ is 'hut
_abieb in
and self-respect; their ccTtulot e
h colours, "tit oi,41011000:1
of a lady's, where the brig
entirelY .° in "i's el
l°
are so tasteful, are I,antl whe ,it
.0
s whY" Yu 5' sail PE e
this is one of many reason ant than name ,ote
America is certainly more rally., another the es
-the countrau;e Is
used
of assumption or affectation rd
4 worth.
the mind of a false stauclar .
the world, vulgarity beingwohoicil
indicates