Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-02-18
THE VINE PBsT.

THE VINE PRsT.
A. EXHAUSTIVE Report Showing the
Progress Of she Invess1Eatisn.
matter 81 Special Importance TO
vignersns and vineyardfsss.
EDrroRs HERAI.D: Approaching fully
the deep anxiety of the public in the re-
suit of our examinations into the causes
Of the "vine disease" and its remedies,
and in view of the fact that the vine
planting season is on us, ] herewith sub
NIT the reports of the Viticultural Com
missioners' expert, Mr.. Dowlen, which l
commend to the careful confederation of
all interested. am frequently asked by
parties directly interested for my opinion
of the remedies and their efficacy, which
are consequently appearing in the news
papers. The subjoined reports will
answer publicly these questions.
For the individual vignerons and the
State generally it is misfortune that the
Commissioners reports, appearing from
time to time, are not more generally
read. or if so, studied. Much loss OF
time and money could be avoided in
experimental efforts if that accurate
knowledge attended the work OF our
producers, which they could obtain in
the study of the reports referred to.
The Commissioners feel that after col
lecting all the important facts connected
with the wine and raiein interests
throughout the world, and putting them
in q convenient pamphlet form for
general circulation, and after using
proper efforts to have them distributed,
their duty to the State has been per-
formed.
/ regret that there is so much matter
in this publication, but do not see how
it could be abridged and at the same
time give the information sought. l
would be obliged to the press generally
if they would copy such portions OF this
communicated matter as their columns
will permit, and which the public inter.
est would seem to justify.
Respectfully yours,
J. DEBARTH SHORE.
SAN GABRIEL, February IL.
Hon. J. De Barth Shorb, State Asricul-
turdl Commissioner:
SR-Herewith / beg to hand my
twentieth weekly report. The decay oi
the Mission cuttings is quite similar
case to the death of the vines since prun-
ing. At present no diseased canes have
been found amongst the cuttings from
other varieties. In accordance with my
instructions, investigations are being
made, not only to find out the cause of
the disease, but also to obtain the best
remedy possible. To this end series OF
substances, both in solution and powder,
are being tried, and though the expert
ments are not vet completed have
thought it advisable, in view of the
probable early starting of the vines this
year, to enclose supplementary report,
containing extracts from the "Report of
the Commissioner Of Agriculture for
1887, PIP. 328-331 Section of Vegetable
Pathology" as to the use of sulphate Of
copper mixtures in combating fungus
diseases. I would draw especial atten-
ton to these extracts, as it seems PROB
able, though the chain of evidence is not
mpleted, that the fungus mentioned
in my later reports as appearing in the
bark and wood of diseased canes, is at
the bottom of the present trouble. Owing
to the already proved usefulness of the
various sulphate of copper mixtures, not
80 much attention has been paid tothem
as to some new mixtures which promise
good results, but of course full trial OF
the copper mixtures, as well as OF va
rious other substances, will be made 80
that the inquiry may be as complete as
possible, and the efficacy of all remedies
brought under notice determined scien-
tifcally as far as may be possible under
the present state of knowledge OF such
matters.
am yours faithfully,
ETHELBERT DowLEN.
WEEKLY REPORT UPON THE VINE DISEASE.
During the past week. whilst planting
out some Mission cuttings for expert.
mental purposes, several canes were met
with which were more or less diseased.
When these cuttings were taken from
the vines they were all fresh and green,
and extra care was exercised in their
selection. Now, at least sixteen per
cent. were diseased; some were alto
gether gone, cross section showing the
bark as q black ring, the wood being
brown and still moist. Others were de-
csyed through part of their section, the
decayed part running the full length of
the cutting; others, again, were decayed
ct the summit, i. e., the part which had
been farthest away from the main stem.
In all cases it was evident that the de-
cay had worked downwards. The
microscopic examination showed the
usual features of discolored cells, some
of which were filled up with brown de-
poeit, and the colorless threads of
fungus. The amount of fungus varied
considerably, some specimens showing
an abundance, others very few threads
anywhere. This decaying of the cut
tings is O parallel case to the death of the
vines soon after pruning, showing that
the disease is capable of spreading at
almost any time of the year.
Some specimens have also been col
lected from wild vines. These are in
every respect similar to diseased canes
from cultivated vines, showing like dis
coloration and deposit in the tissues,
and similar fungus growth both in the
bark and woody bundles. The vines
from which these specimens were taken
are undoubtedly attacked by the same
disease as that affecting the cultivated
vines.
Though complete success has not been
attained in tracing out the connection be-
tween the fungus growth in the bark and
that found in the wood of diseased
canes, there can be little, if any, doubt
as to the existence of such connection,
the larger filaments nearer the surface
of the bark having been found to change
their color according as they ran in dark
colored tissues, or in those almost color
less. ETHELBERT DowLEN.
February IL, 1889.