VINE CULTURE,

Otago Witness, Issue 2561, 6 May 1903, Page 10

VINE CULTURE,

A city correspondent writes that he has suffered badly by blight on his vines, and that several of his friends are in the same plight, E-ad that some information as to a preventive or remedy would be very acceptable. In previous notices we have dealt with details as to modes of treatment adopted by different successful grape growers in the Old Country, who have brought almost to perfection the art of raising new and improved varieties, describing the most suitable soih, manures, temperature, ventilation, pruning, training, thinning, and diseases, and enemies, as well as almost every other particular necessary to bs obeerved to become successful as producers of the highly-prized and justly-merited luscious giai->e.

No branch of the science of gardening yields greater pleasure or possesses greater interest than the culture of the grape vine. In every step in the process, from selection and planting onwards to full fruition, the o'osest observation, d;. crimination, and watehfuluess jiusc be ohseived, for a single om.usion may prove disastrous. To Thomson, of Olovenford, is generally ascribed the merit of being among the first in Britain to make grape-grov. ing a successful remunerative speculation. In the earlier days, v, hen hend gardener to the Duke of Bticcleueh, at Dalkeith Palpee, he devoted a gieat portion of his mental energy in studying the varied requirements of giape culture, and judicious experiments enabled him to produce bunches superior ;n; n exc°llenco for the ta,b'e to any rai&ed by the most careful \igr.ercns in the n? f ive homes of the plant. Others soon followed in his footsteps, among them being the Buchanans, of Kippen, who not only had a high standing for the superiority of their products, but have al=o, by hybiidising, isvscd new varieties commanding attention by their grand qualities as fruit, and in one instance by the shape and variegation of the leaf. The re-cult of combined and individual effort ha 6 bsen to place Scotlaad in the front lank as a grape-producing country. As a matter of course, this could only be attained by the u=« of glass to protect and perfect the occupants of the house*.

To ensure success first principles must be rigidly followed. The coil being properly prepared, it is placed in the border co hold the roots. The border should be raised above the level of the ground 6iirrounding the house. Not only is thorough draiuing on all sides imperative, but tho floor of tho rinery itself must be. strictly attended to, v/rll drained, poroua, and sweer, no spot or corner omitted in which wet ?an stagnate to breed disease. Too much importance cannot be attached to this point, it being a recognised fact that from damp the germs of fungoids which cause the blights preying on tho leaves and fruit principally ari=e. Far better to provide against the cause of the evil than to seek for and apply after remedies.

Proper ventilation is an equally important point. It would not do to have the air ; a the vinery dry and parching. If this wore allowed, the whole labour would be lost, the fruit small and shrivelled. Equally disastrous would it be- to have the atmosphere moist and humid. There is a happy mean, which can b& kept by judicious use of the syringe or sprayer and a mild watering of the floor. Any surcharge of moi.'ture in the air will readily escape by the ventilator in the roof of the house, the extra heat maintained by the gla'-o causing it to ascend and pa<*>; outside. Ficigoids or their germs producing blig-ht or blister on fruit or lea\es r.re not considered as posse&sing vegetativ; or insect vitality. They are looked on as festering or cankering Eoree, very obscure as to oiig.n, .'.isastrous or fatal in effect. li.?cct pests can be traced and followed in e\ery fctage, and <• radicated ; the fungus acts as a pestilence, moving secretly, unseen, and unfelr, yet terrible in its results. For a time certain insects weie blamed as the immediate cause of the trouble by pieie-ir-g the tender skin, and leading, like the wa^p or bee, the Pting or poison to effect the deadly purpose. Recent and more minute research has, however, demonstrated their innocence in this respect. They possibly are u»ed as agents in unwittingly carrying tho g.'rm on c ome pi>rt of their anatomy, and having it rubbed off or attached by some prut of the plant, thu3 leaving -t behind to fulfil its unwelcome purpose, ju>t ns they carry the pollen of come of our choicest flowers and most useful i lant.i reid trees, thus fertilising the leeip.cut, which without their intervention wcu'.d be barren and unfruitful.

To combat tins third source of blight, tho stem and branch of tho vines should be carefully examined, every looso piece of bark taken off, every device or wound probed, and repeated liLoral spraying or painting with ci» insecticide indulged ir. The ok' paying that cleanline c «s is next to ffod!ine-i holds true, and it may be held indisputably that in plant culture it is of paramount necessity to s>ecuie the desired end.

To yet another cause is tho pre^nee cf the bhglit as-igned. Some ecientisto a\<>r that tho germ is first produoed mi the Foil, aVworlwd by the plant roots in tho> moisture forming the ascending sap, and by this mf-ars is transferred to every other portion — tl.e tender petals of the flower, the bud, the leaf, branch, and fnut in duo time manifesting its certain undesirable presence. This thpory, wrapped up as it is amid, greater nntiieacie«, is qvwte conbifctent with other wc'll-thought-out observations of plant life It is not considered the prevailing range, being only noticeable in certain ca^ps wliern all other precautions have been taken, and mu->t therefore sprnie from =omo unwholesome mgiedient or condition of tho coil. In and of itself a healthy plant cr animal cannot be supposed to form an enemy so detrimental to its own existence, beaut}-, or ti^fulncss So eKcwheie the hiding place of the culprit mu°t he sought for, and to the soil our susp-ieion^ are brnt. Everyone knows a dead loe: ir deeajiuq vegetable matter produe?3 fucueoids, v. it!i thfir spore?, in immense" profusion. So a chip of wood, sawdust, or the remains <~.f a defunct inject bear the RCrm tnllv mixed with the =oil in its nrenaration, ond tliey rar.re the mj^hiff Theie is nothiiisr forced or unnatural m tl.e <om h.sion that ths plant in .ts ea<rer --.eareh for j-us-tpmince. greatly lnrrea-ed and enhanced by the forcing < ondirions wo imno-e on it to gratify our pei'-onal desires, leadily üb*oih=, alontr with the moisture it its roots the invisible, impalpable genre it rray conlain, jus l ~s m drinking the purest pprinq or l am JYHtei «9_B»jiiaK_JßXliftfila Si aflimakulea.

on whioh, if we looked at them through a microscope, we would be startled and disgusted. As a matter of course, then, where the plague exists, the soil, as well as the other elements— watei and air — must be critically examined, and, if wrong, put right.

From these four sources the blight is fcund to spring, so every effort must be made to avoid the possibility of its existence, and apply a remedy where it has taken a hold. Success in all cases cannot be assured — only, having done our duty, we may patiently await the award. The climate of Otago is not so severe and trying, but it is less reliable than that of Scotland. Still, the same lines of" procedure, but somewhat modefied, should be followed. Glass structures are indispensable, whilst a much smaller degree of artifioial heat can be done with, so if superb bunches of grapes, unsurpassed in bloom, flavour, and delicacy of flesh, arc desired, and not attained, the blame largely rests with the cultivator, who has omitted or o\erlooked some essential conditiona, always remembering that in every case prevention is simpler, easier, more effective, and more permanent than cure.

The longest, brightest sunshine, a generous, mellow soil, thorough, efficient drainage, a pure, warm atmcephere, a constant, observant eye, quick, well-founded observation, prompt, well-considered conclusion, immediate remedial applications, unwearied watchfulness toy day and by night are imperious demands -\\hich, if attended to, will enable the patient waiter to achieve a brilliant triumph for himself and for the colony. I. M. I.