Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-11-16
SATURDAY. NOV. ls, 1859.
Rxperts am the vine Disease.

0A \ ~ ~ VA kNONs NV 1ceDs
Experts ana the Vine Disease.
Mr.. Newton B. Pierce, the expert,
who has been sent here by the Govern
ment to examine into the cause of the
vine disease, after spending several
months at Santa Ans, whore the disease
started, in studying the subject, has not
as yet been able to positively determine
the cause and origin of the mslady. He
says that it is similar in many respects
to an affection of the vine in Italy, and
that the scientists there have spent
years in its study and in trying to find
q curative with very little success. He
says that he has made a great many ex.
pariments, and taken observations in all
sections of Southern California, tracing
evidence of the disease into Lower Cali
fornia, and gathering information from all
a2urees, and he hcres that With care and
sufficient time at his disposal to fully ex-
plain the nature of the trouble. If Mr..
Pierce should succeed in doing this, the
difficulty of successfully treating the dis.
ease would probably be an easy matter
to solve. The origin and the nature of
the malady having been determined, the
correct mode of its treatment would nat.
urally follow. We can, however, hardly
reconcile the declaration of Mr.. Pierce
that no one has yet found out just what
the disease is or how it originated, with
another statement coming from him, in
which he says he has discovered
with his microscope the existence
of bacteria in the diseased vines.
That would seem to be getting
pretty near the cause. To be sure,
it would be difficult to cay whether the
bacteria were the cause or the effect Of
the disease. If they were the cause and
could be removed, that would seem the
way to the cure. If they are the effect,
the disease would probably be in the
sap. As Mr.. Pierce is of the opinion that
any solution drastic enough to kill the
bacteria would in all probability kill the
vine, we are brought to the end of the
circle, for there would be no use to try
to improve the character of the sap as
long as the bacteria remained, and if in
killing these he also gave death blow
to the sap, it would make no difference,
for the vine would die anyhow.
If this vine disease is destined to run
all over the State, as some believe, and
there is no cure for it, then it would seem
to US that the quickest way to overcome
the calamity would be for all whose vine
yards are seriously affected to root up the
vines as fast as they are touched with the
disease, apd plant the soil to something
else until the malady has run its course.
The people of Santa Ana have generally
done this, as we find from question pro.
pounded to Mr.. Pierce. In replying to
the inquiry, whether the people there
who had lost their vineyards seemed to
be in much distress, he said:
"Yes, but not 80 much as person
would suppose. Western people, notice,
are full OF resources. In view of the
vineyards that have succumbed tn the
disease in the Santa Ana valley, farmers
are already turning their attention to
citrus fruits, and other avenues of farm
production. The sugar beet is baing agi-
tated as desirable and profitable crop,
and stock raising and poultry are COM
manding more attention. While the
vine disease is damaging a great many
people, it is pleasant to see the farmers
ready to meet the emergency. This
spirit is just what is needed, and should
the disease finally be conquered the
country will take new life and grow
faster than ever. If you prove to capt.
alists that you can grow ssuperior quality
of sugar beets, and that there ara vast
areas Of land adapted to grow large and
profitable crops, [ d. not think there
would be any trouble to secure beet
sugar factories. As crop maturing
quickly it would be desirable to plant on
ground where vineyards have succumbed
to the disease, and if it can be grown
with success it would give a source of
annual income much needed by some of
the smaller former grape growers"
The man whose whole vim neyard is
radically injured and in the process of
decay, will show eood sense by pursuing
heroic course, and substituting trees or
beets. or something else that can be
raised with profit, for his infected vines.
But there seems to be very great differ.
ence in the character and strength of the
disease in different districts. The vine.
yards in some portions OF the county
have not suffered nearly as much as in
others; and there are places which
the disease has not reached at
all. II the experts should finally
determine that there is no cure for the
malady once it has attacked vineyard,
the sooner the attacked vines are
rooted out the better. But we live in the
hope that the origin and exact cause Of
the disease will be yet determined.
Then, if it is not beyond the possibility
of cure, we may succeed in saving a
very large percentage of our vines.