The Sun.
London, England, 1856-03-07 00:00:00

LITE BRAT RE.

-•-

An Inquiry into the Vine Funt,us, with Suggestions '
as fa,- a Remedy; By a Twenty-three Years'
Resident in Portugal: - -Saunders aid Otley.
A seasonable and praotical treatise on an im-
portant subject, pepped with highly-commendable
motives, and worthy of the most serious attention,
not only of the vine-growers and Government of
Portugal, but also of the commercial houses at
home whose welfare is dependent on. the successful :
cultivation of the vine in that country. As most -
of our readers are /aware,' the vineyarda of the
Peninsula have, during the last three years, been
visited by a mysterious disease, the consequences
of which, already disastrous, threaten to be fatal—
no, prospect of improvenient being forthcoming,
nor likely to be so unless energetic efforts be
directed, without delay, tot-raids its remoyal. Im-
pressed with this conviction, the author, who has
resided twenty-three years in Portugal, and not
only feels a deep . interest in her, welfare,,
but has also had considerable' experience in, the
cultivation of the vineiand is well acquainted with
the history and particulars of the disease, has;
stepped forward not merely to communicate the
immediate fruit of his reading and observation, but
alio to offer: suggestions well calculated in our
opinion to rescue the vine-growers from despair,
and direct them to the use of ,means 'whereby, the
pestilence may be stayed. Premising that nume-
rous circumstances lead to the opinion that the
1 proximate cause of the appearance of the Oidiu'in
Tucheri fungus 'is to be found in some abnormal
condition of the atmosphere, in conjunction with a
diminished power' of resistance—a theory which the
reader will find sufficiently fortified by facts in the
pamphlet he inquires into the 'causes of this di-
minution of power.,. These he discovers to a large
extent in the absence of rain during the three suc-
cessive winters ending 1851, the want of- proper
pruning, renewal of stocks and disintegration of
soil for some years-previous to 1851, owing to the
poverty; of the vine-growers, and the excessive over-
prodnction of 1846, 1847, and 1848—many old and
tine quintas in the'Douro district having from this
neglect diminished 50 per cent, and more in pro-
duction prior to, the appearance of the fungus in
1853. In 1851 rain commenced in October,
and continued with little interruption until May,
1852—the spring being both cold, wet, and late ;
with the appearance of the sun vegetation became
rank and luxuriant, through excess of moisture,
and the vines sent 'out branches twice or thrice
their usual length, and formed leaves of an enor-
mous size. No attempt was 'made to check this
growth, and the results were further enfeeblement
of the vines and an inferior vintage. The extreme
drought, he supposes, produced partial stagnation
of the roots, which subsequently engorged extreme
moisture, leading to a luxuriant and enfeebling
growth. In this excessive moisture, and a well-
established abnormal condition of the atmosphere,
lie recognises the; rxiost favourable circumstances
for the growth of the fungi in question, it being a
generally recognised fact, that innumerable fungi
are to be found in.perhaps every soil, ready, under
favourable circumstances, to spring up into life, the.r
pabulum, moisture, shade, and cold, and their seeds
being scattered in everydirection by the winds. Once
fastened on the vine, it has been unable, with its
diminishing strength, to.resist or cast off the per-
nicious parasite, add it is obvious, the efforts of the
Vine-growers must be directed to give it strength,
and otherwise aid it to do so. In order to this,
the author recommends a judicious system ef
pruning, according to the strength of the vine (say
also if we might suggest, ajudictous choice of periods
to prune—tor instance, as chosen at Hampton- court),
the clearance of the soil from weeds, the burning
of these with the pruniugs and the spread of the
ashes over the soil, its disintegration with pick-
axes, ire., the removal in June and beginning of
July of all defective grapes and bunches, ar,?cl burial
at the root ofYinestogether with superfluous shoots,
Sze., broken in small pieces, and the sparing use of
argot and nitrate of potash mixed in'the soil, also
in s nail pieces. Were these steps promptly
adopted, toe author is of opinion the vine would
speedily regain its strength and the fungus cease
from its ravages. , The vine-growers, however, ar.)
poor, and unable of themselves to do so. He
therefore looks .to the
,prudent foresight of the
bank jai3Will forthation, to the sympathies of wealthy
English 'houses, and, these failing, to the Portu-
guese Government,- to come to their rescue, and by
the advancement of a little capital enable them 'to
avert a catastrophe becoming every day more im•
' mineut. We cordially recommend the work for
' 'perusal, believing it likely to be productive of great
good.