BLIGHT ON THE GRAPE VINE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XIII, Issue 8, 9 January 1878, Page 2

BLIGHT ON THE GRAPE VINE.

To thk Editor ,py thb 'Evening ;Miiii.'a Sxh—Disease era so important a tree as the grape seems naturally to cause some alarm, and I am glad that Mr Sunley haa j recorded his experience, showing that he has carried out my suggestions fully and heartily, resulting, as I confidently *in (consider- / able, if not in absolute, success.' '1 tjrust that the importance of .the subject will be a sufficient excuse for my troubling yo|i w#b.ra~ few lines'. Creosote I deem 'quitle sfup'er-'"* fluoua, and an unnecessary expense, j Carbolic acid possessing the # same properties in an exalted degree I have operated-on - grapes, and I am in hopes the result will be successful. lam of opinion that it would be a very excellent plan to go to the root of the evil in the winter or spring before the sap rises and place impure carbolic acid on the soil, which would be absorbed" after a shower of rain. A very. small quantity .would ..besufficient. lam indebted to a gentleman in Nelson for the information that in Australia -: the Eucalyptus Globulus (oil .of ■, the.. 1 blue gum) is inserted into the sap of the grape vine for the blight, and with success. Although carbolic acid is obnoxious to vegetable life in excessive quantities, 1 think that if carefully and judiciously used a good' deal of trouble and risk will be saved to the horticulturist. It is well known that the properties of this acid are eminently and strongly disinfectant, and that ail insects hate it. It does not agree with their comfort, and they cannot and will not live near it; hence it is that the fungoid causing this, blight being a low form of vegetation-gives * way at once in using the diluted acid-for putdoor vines. A small wineglassf ul to a bucket of water (made lukewarm is better) • will be' quite sufficient. —l am, &c, , E.,Prichabd. Nelson, Jan. 8, 1878. '; ,-j: