Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-01-30

in Spain and Portugal it forms the essen
tial effect of the long and laborious tread
ing given to the grapes, and is the main
points in the after-treatment of ports and
sherries. 1t is not, therefore, an innoya-
ton, but well-proyed means of promot-
ing the fermentation, the soundness and
especially the clearing of wines. Its eff
cacy has been well exemplified during the
past vintage by the ready fermentation of
Zinfandels subjected to regular folttdge, to
over Is per cent. of alcohol. while Others
OF the same saccharine strength, but Ter
mented without aeration by the aid of a
submerged frame, have remained partially
sweet. Similarly the aeration in racking.
suggested above and forming good general
rule as well, promotes the after-termenta-
ton and will help to get rid of small rem
nants of sugar, up to l per cent. or there
abouts. With proper care in the after
treatment, such aeration involves no dan
ger of acetification or "pricking,' and
tends to prevent milk-sourness.
THE coPPER-LIME REMEDY FOR MILDEw.
As general answer TO questions adj
dressed to me on the subject, state the
reasons for which / think il desirable that
the copper-lime remedy for mildew, lately
recommended IN France and reported by
me in the Rural Press should be thoroughly
tested in California in comparison with
sulpLuring
1t is not correct that. as has been alleged.
there is nothing new in this remedy, and
that 1t has been previously recommended
and applied here. What has been recon-
mended and used here is sprinkling with
solution of copper sulphate or bluestone,
or the busting over with q mixture OF
powdered bluestone and plaster or gypsum.
In either case, light rain, or even a sue
cession of heavy dews, will soon wash
away the copper salt and leave the mildew
TO resume its growth unhindered. SINH
larly, in the case of sulphur. so soon as the
wind blows away the dust that has been
applied during dry time and the earth
: disinfects it so that no vapor can rise,
the dormant germs revive and repetition
of the sulphuring is necessary. Near the
coast three sulphurings are very commonly
needed and given, at considerable cost of
labor and material.
When, as prescribed by the French
method, milk of lime is mixed with a solu-
ton of copper sulphate hydrate of copper
is formed, which is practically insoluble in
water. When its mixture with lime is
sprinkled on the leaves, the drop in drying
adheres to the surface, and subsequently is
still farther fixed precisely like whitewash,
by the absorption of carbonic acid from the
air and a consequent hardening. Simulta-
neously with the lime, the copper bydrate
is transformed into bydro.carbonate and
both are somewhat soluble in atmosph ric
water, whether rain or dew. A very weak
solution of both is therefore spread over the
leaf each time the latter is moistened but
even strong rain cannot wash the active
drop entirely away. Ii remains and pro-
tects the vine during the season, as the
French experiments have shown, partly no
doubt. from the effect of fine dust abraded
and blown over the leaves not touched by
the sprinkling.
Similarly sulphur applied while the
leaves are wet, adheres and remains during
several months, making one sulphuring suf-
flee where two or three would otherwise
have been needed. The statement that
under these circumstances the vapor fails
to form is simply incorrect, as anyone can
ascertain for himself
One application never kills all the germs
the permanent presence of the antidote is
needed. This is what the copper-lime rem
edy accomplishes, and will do more surely
with US than in France, where summer
rains commonly occur and may wash off
the protecting droplets.
As the greater includes the less, the cop
per preparation, with its more powerful
antiseptic properties, viii be more effective
than sulphur against all kinds of mildews.
and will probably find its use against others
than those infesting the vine. The cost of
its application as against that of repeated
suiphurings is the question to be deter
mined by actual trial in California
E. w. HILGARD
Berkeley, January 15 1856.