The Sun.
London, England, 1858-06-24 00:00:00

TIIE VINE DISEASE.

I The following new and important facts concern-
ing this operation form the subject of a paper just
pre4entecl to the Academy of Sciences by M. de is
Vergne :—" 1. The oidium does not spread to any
; alarming extent, except when the temperature is
day and night above 20 deg. Centigrade (68 Fehr),
as is the case in the neighbourhood of Bordeaux,
from the end of May to that of September. When-
ever northern winds prevail in the interval, or
frequent winds lower the temperature considerably,
the growth of the oidium is stopped, to acquire
fresh vigour as soon as the sun adds warmth to the
humidity with which the parasite is saturated. The
same vine plant is not always equally subject to the
attacks of the oidium, nor at the same time of the
year; nor are different species of vines equally in-
vaded in different soils orsituations. Hence, the °pc'
ration of sulphuring need not extend to every point
attacked, or be repeated during the whole duration
of the malady. 2. The action of the sulphur is
circumscribed, and almost strictly local. Its cu-
rative properties have no effect below the tempera-
ture of 20 deg. ; hence the warmth necessary for
its action is preciselythat which favours the growth
of the oi lium. As wind and rain carry off the sul-
phur, this substance can only protect the vine
during a limited period. Moreover, it does not re'
store grapes already spoilt to their normal condi-
tion. Butsulphur destroys the shoets of the oidium
of recent formation, and thus prevents it from
spreading. It is a great mistake to think that too
much sulphur cannot be administered to a vine;
the particles of flower of sulphur contain minute
portions of sulphuric acid, which, when accumu-
lated to excess, will burn the plant itself, often in-
juring it irretrievably. Fifty kilogrammes of sul-
phur per hectare, if properly administered, are
quite sufficient for a season. 3. As the vine-grow-
ing districts of France are deficient in hands, it bee
comes a matter of importance not to increase the
labour of cultivation unneceQsaaily by untimely
sulphuring. No vineyard is attacked by the oidium
at once throughout it whole extent ; there are al-
ways some vines' that are the first to betray the ex-
istence of the enemy, and it is they that point out
the proper time for sulphuring. They are generally
situated near buildings or ditches, or trees casting a
shade over them. Whenever a whitish or farinace-
ous spot appears on the leaves or stem of these
plants, in a temperature exceeding 20 deg. by night
as well as by day, it is certain that all the vines are
attacked, although the eye cannot discover a trace
of the fungus elsewhere, and then every plant of
the vineyard must be sulphured at once." While
we are on the subject, we may add a few practical,
remarks just published by the committee of the
Accademia dei Georgofili of Florence, appointed to
inquire into the results obtained from sulphur
during the years 185'6 and 1857. The committee
state in their report that although the oidium
appeared in those years to be naturally on the
decline, yet the beneficial effects of sulphur,
could not be denied. The operation was con-
ducted with more or less care in different
localities, which circumstance accounts for the dif-
ferent degree of success obtained The wines were
excellent • the slight sulphurous taste they some-
times haddisappeared in a short time. The wash-
ing of the grapes immediately after the tying of the
vines with from 51b. to 711'. of glue dissolved in
1001 b. of water, and with the addition of a little
flour or clay, had produced excellent effects.
Laying the vines down, so as to bring the grapes
as near as possible to the ground, had also been
found advantageous. Lastly, the report mentions
the curious fact that the grafting of American
vines upon those of Tuscany produces a great in-
crease in the quantity of grapes, and that vines r
graftt d are little liable, if at all, to be invaded by
the oidium. But this system is attended with two
serious drawbacks—the wine-grower loses the pro-
duce of two years, and the wine obtained, though
extremely abundant, is inferior in quality.—Ga/ig-
na e i's Msssenger.