A few years since, the "mildew," a parasitic fungus, made its appearance upon the grape-vines of Madeira, and has since been extending itself over the vineyards of Europe, upon which I propose to make the following remarks, having given much attention to grape culture, and investigated, as well as I was able to do, the diseases to which the vine was subject in the United States. I felt sure, after reading the first printed descriptions of the evil, that it would prove to be the mildew of America, attacking! as it dogs, the Eastern and European varieties of the grape at midsummer, destroying the entire crop of fruit, so frequently as to discourage its cultivation. The occurrence of very dry, clear weather, in July, will prevent the vegetation of the sporules of seeds of the fungus; and thus the Chasselas and the Black and White Cluster Grapes will ripen fully in most of the New England States. This will happen not oftener than once in ten years; and it is then said we have had a fine, warm season, when the average temperature has not been greater than usual, and the actual cause, the dryness of the air in July and August, is overlooked.

The climate of a large section of the Northern States is well adapted to the cultivation of the grape. There are many varieties of the vine that will withstand winters of equal severity; such, for instance, as are cultivated in Germany, on the Rhine, etc. Why, then, have all attempts to grow these varieties in vineyards in this country proved failures? Because of the attacks of this fungus, as stated above. It usually appears, in Massachusetts, in foggy weather, in July and August, and not earlier. When first seen, it resembles white mould; and, if examined when in this fresh condition through a powerful microscope, it is very beautiful. In the Agricultural Report of the Patent Office for the year 1853, page, 311, there may be found an engraved illustration of this mildew fungus. It appears in a communication to the State Department from Nicholas Pike, Consul of the United States at Oporto. This is a correct representation of the American mildew, and leaves no room for doubt as to the identity of the two species. The marks of the mildew can be found on the imported graphs and raipins brought here from Malaga. This is similar to those made by our mildew on the same varieties of the grape. On page 312 of the same Report,, is an illustrated specimen, showing its effects upon the fruit.

When a grape becomes affected by it, the fruit will either dry up or crack open, as in this specimen, unless checked or destroyed before it makes much progress.

This so-called disease is a living plant, most rapid in its growth, and wonderful in its powers of reproduction and multiplication. It would appear to be a most serious evil to the people of the countries dependent upon the cultivation of the grape for their subsistence When a vine has once been infected by it, the seeds or spornles, in countless millions, lie waiting a favorable atmospheric change to spring into life; and when this does occur; so rapid is their growth, that in the short space of one day, the under side of the leaf, will be almost covered. If the vines are constantly watched, particularly on the under side, and, when the first appearance of the fungus is noted, the flour of sulphur is dusted upon the leaves; this will kill the fungus wherever it comes in contact with it, changing it from white to black, and then it is. dead. The difficulty here is in applying the sulphur to the under.side of the leaf. It is hard to make it remain in this dry state; and it requires so much labor to go through a vineyard in this manner, as to make the cost, perhaps, an unwarrantable outlay; unless it should prove to be the case, which I think may be so, that after two or three years' application of the sulphur, the seeds of the fungus would be exterminated.

I have found a wash quite effectual in destroying this fungus. It can be applied more easily and surely, and with less cost of labor and material. It can be applied on a large scale, with the garden engine; on a smaller, by the syringe or the rose of a watering-pot.

To prepare this wash, take one peck of lime, not slaked, and one pound of sulphur; put them together in a barrel, and pour hot water -over them sufficient to slake the lime; see that the sulphur is well mixed with the lime.; pour* on this three gallons of soft water, and stir the mixture well together. In twenty-four hours, it will have settled and become perfectly clear. This should be drawn off as clear as possible. Half a pint of this mixture, added to three gallons of water, will be sufficiently strong, and may be applied over the fruit and every part of the vine when the mildew first appears. It can be repeated every few days, if occasion requires. The first application, I have found, would kill the most of it; a second and a third is all that I have ever found necessary for the season. The fruit and foliage have ripened fully on the European varieties. The American or native varieties are less subject to the attacks of this fungus than the European. There is also a difference in these, the "Catawba" and "Isabella" being more attacked than some other kinds.

That this mildew, or fungus, requires a peculiar condition of the atmosphere to allow of its vegetating, is a hopeful fact for the people of the European grape growing regions. A series of seasons unpropitious to its growth may destroy the millions of sporules, or seed vessels, deposited upon their vineyards. Should not this occur, they are not without hope, as sulphur, and a preparation of sulphur, will destroy it. Perseverance with, its application, will keep it in subjugation until the favoring season arrives for its final extermination.