The San Francisco call., 1905-08-14
in the following paragraphs by Mr. But


Ter:
The disease that we have denominated the
grape -shrivel is not yet at least so far
as known, of any great economic importance;
but, owing 10 the circumstances under which
it occurs. it is highly probable that 1t exists
elsewhere in the RECONSTRUCTED vineyards of
California and may, therefore, assume. at
any moment, more than local interest. The
fact that we observed the grape-shrivel In the
East Sonona experiment plot, where II took
the place of the red-eaf disease. is sug-
gestive enough. even though it was not OBJ
served at either Of the other experiment plots.
or in vineyards visited.
Description OF the Grape shrivel-The grape
shrivel as it's name implies, is characterized
by the shriveling of the berries. In fact, this
shrfveling Is the only diagnostic character OF
this disease the symptoms which appear in
7 the leaves being easily referable to drought. or
imperfect nutrition.
The grape-shrivel develops quite rapidly. as
shown by the fact that while no symptoms of
the disease were observed on the 9th of
were We're affected. BY the end of July practically
every vine in the experiment plot showed the
Characteristic shriveled grapes Of this disease.
The distribution of the grape -shrivel Is al
first somewhat irregular, then general. The
grapes weak vines mot necessarily dying
vinesl and strong vines are equally affected
The fruit on weak shoots and strong shoots
is affected alike The general health Of the
wine seems to bear no relation whatever to
the distribution and intensity of the disease
Vigorous weakly and dying vines (all with
affected grapeS commingle; there are not the
usual regular ,,or or depressed
Erect of the Disease on the Grapes-The
Grape-shrivel, as already mentioned. is char
acterized by it's effect upon the fruit. The
berries lose their clear, turgid appearance and
become dull and 1sbby (but never blotched
as in the red-leaf disease). irregularly wrinkied
and as 1t were, thck-skinned; as the drying
progresses the wrfnking becomes more pro-
parallel to the axis of the berry When com
pietely dry the berries are uniformly blush
in some cases where exposed to the sun
washed with red; they are tightly shrunker
around the seeds. and coriaceous.
From the description of the grape shrivel
and the manner and circumstances under
which II develops, 1t is evident that the dis
ease Is q peculiar manifestation of imperfect
leaves. beginning at the base of the shoots, Ii
characteristic Of vines suffering from want OF
water Premature ripening is also conse-
quence of lack of water The fact that the
coioration and whiting Of the foliage, does no,
invali6ate this contention; for. 1t may be
shown that under the influence OF drought, o,
a paucity of free water in the soil, the fruit
Of the French prune will shrivel even when the
foliage is healthy and luxuriant.
In combating the grape-shrivel on grated
vines two things must be taken into account
First the affinity between the stock and ths
graft second, the resistance of the stock t.
the phylloxera.
The affinity land by affinity we mean ali
the necessaries to conjoint life) between sfocL
and scion is to be maintained in equilibriurr
by tudieious pruning, supplemented by thorougf
fertilization.
The resistance OF the stock to the phyIloxers
will be indirectly heightened by fertilization
but IL then found to be insufficient ii should
be changed for more resistant one Ths
of low resistance from the attacks of ply,
lloxera, is not at present economic posi-.
bilitV.