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

LLOYD'S SHIPPING.—(This Day.)

i,oti-pori, March 7. —Wind this day at noon, strong
northerly breeze and dull weather.
PORTSMOUTH, March 6.--Wind N.E.—Arrived—Sul-
tana, from L9ndou, for New South Wales, and sailed for
Southampton. Sliled--Ann Powell, for Valparaiso.
SOUTHAMPTON, M.rch N.E.—Arrived—Sul-
tan (4.), kora Gibraltar, &c.
FALMOUTH, March 9.—Wind N.E.—Arrived--Irii,
from Havana. Off the port —Morse, from shanghai; Isa-
bella C. Jones, New Orleans.

PILL, March 6.—The Sabrina (s.), bewnd to Rork.
which got ashore on the Sweat' on the 10th Feb., .w. 48
towed off this morning, and proceeded for Bristol.
LIVERPOOL, March 6 —The Constitution, from New
York. _which to,,k fire in*the Mersey on the sth Dec.. and
was scuttled, subsequently turned bottom up, was lifted
and towed in the main last night.
SHIELDS, -- March 6.Wiud N.—Sailed—Lockwood, of
Cork, for Hondura3.
YARMOUTH, Match 6.—Wind N.E.—Arrived—Valiant,
from London, for Newcastle, with bowsprit cartied away
and other damage, having been run into whilst at a nchcr
Wiaterton, last night, by the Amelia, of Shields.
DOVER, March 6.---Wrind N.E., fresh.—A.rrived,—Meeta,
from Shields, for Rochefort,. with damage' having been
run into, whilst at anchor, by the Thopas Bell, of
Swansea. •

PLYMOUTH, March. G.—Wind E —Arrived—Persia,
from London, for Moreton Ear ; Shannon, Ports-
mouth, for :the West. Coast of Africa.
CARDIFF. March 6.—Wind E.N.E.—Arrived—Arctic,
trom London, with loss of bowsprit, from contact with
the Thetis.

SWANSEA, March G.—Wind E.N.E.—Sailed—Slains
Castle, for St, ,March
do Cuba ; Lady Prudhoe, Madeira.
GiBEALTAIt, March I.—. The weather has been. very
b..isterous, end mie or two vessels have been driven ashore.
The Jane Hudson, from Alexandria to Queenstown struck
the ground during the gale on the 1 th Feb.,.is leaky, has
started her stern-post, and received other damage;..,, she
has been surveyed, and will discharge part of her cargo.
OFF PLYMOUTH-Persia, from London, for Moreton
Bay; P,omanoe of the Sea, Shanghai ' • Harding. Demerara.,
. GRIMSBY, March s.—The Vigilant, from Hull to Rio
Grande, got ashore near Donna Nook yesterday, but came
off,to.day with assist/vice, after discharging.
LowicsToFT, March s.—The Gratitude, of Sunderland,
from Alexandria to Hull, put in to-day with, damage and
leaky, from conta..t with the Rose of Spay, of Banff.

LITERATURE.

-,-.4t.

An Inquiry into the Vine Fungus, with Suggestions
as to a _Remedy. By a Twenty-three Years'
Resident in Portugal. Saunders and Otley.
A seasonable and practical treatise on an im-
portant subje'et, penned with highly-commendable
motives, and'ivorthy 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 vino in that country. As most
of our, readers are aware, the vineyards 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 improvement being forthcoming,
nor likely to be so unless energetic efforts be
directed, without delay, towards its removal. Im-
pressed with this conviction, the author, who has
resided twenty-three years in Portugal,, and not
only feels a deep interest in hr welfare,
but has also had considerable experience in the
cultivation of the vine, and is well acquainted with
the history and particularta of the disease, has
stepped forward not merely to communicate the
immediate fruit of his reading and observation, but-
alSo 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
proximate cause of Ur: appearance of the Oidium
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-
oessive 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-
production of 1846, 1847, and 1848—many old and
fine quintas in the Douro district having from this
neglect diminished 50 per cent. and more in pio-
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, througa excess of moisture,
and the vines seat out branches twice or thrice
their usual length, and formed leaves of au enor-
mous size. Nu attempt was made to check this
growth,,and the results; were further enfeeblement
of the vines and au inferior vintage. The extreme
drought, he supposes, produced partial stagnation
of the roots, which subz.equently engorged extreme
moisture, leading to a luxuriant and enfeebling
growth. In this excessive moisture, and a well-
established abnormal condition of the atmosphere,
he recognises the most 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, trader
favourable cirk umstances, taspring up into life, the r
pabulum, moisture, shade, and cold, and their seeds
being scattered in every direction by the winds. Once
fastened on the vine, it has been unable, with its
diminishing strength, to resist or cast off the per-
nioious parasite, and 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 anther recommends a judicious system of
pruning, according to the strength of the vine (say
also if we might suggest, ajudicious choice of periods
to prune—forinstan ce, as chosen at Hampton- court),
the clearance of the soil from weeds, the burning
of these with the prunings and the spread of the
ashes over the soil, its disintegration with pick-
axes, &c., the removal in June and beginning of
July of all defective grapes and bunches, and burial
at the root of dines together with superfluous shoots,
Sic., broken is smaepieces, and the sparing use of
argol and nitrate of potash mixed in the soil, also
in 's nail pieces. Were these steps promptly
adopted, ttie author is of opinion the vine would
speedily regain its, strength and the fungus cease
from its ravages.' The vine-growers, however, ate
poor, and unable of themselves to do so. Hp
therefore locks to the prudent foresight of the
bank now in formation, to the sympathies of wealthy
English houses, and, these falling, 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-
minent. -We cordially recommend' the work for
perusal, believing it likely to be productive of great
good: