J. Jay Smith, Esq. - Last season I noticed a singular kind of spot on some of my grapes, which at first induced me to think they were about coloring very early, but which afterwards proved to be something of a very different nature. All such soon became hard and dropped off. I then examined them, " but not very minutely," yet made no discovery. Had this attacked only those that were subject to rot, it would not have puzzled me so much; for wiser ones than I, have been and are yet in the dark as to the cause of the dry, purplish speck which is so common in the grape-rotting seasons, and which at this time threatens to destroy all my Catawbas; although the Louisa, which entwines with one of them, is perfectly clear of it. But to return to the first subject, different persons wrote to me inquiring what that meant, whether I knew the cause, or could suggest a remedy. Each one stated that it was different from the common rot, but quite as fatal - a fact demonstrated to me to my mortification on my own grounds.

It appeared upon all my grapes - Louisa and Cassady excepted - whether refined, or Fox, with a skin as thick as calfskin.

About ten days since, I observed the same thing making its appearance on a covered vine, but paid no. particular attention to it. But it so happened that I gave all my vines a thorough dusting with lime, air-slacked, and flour of sulphur, equal quantities, applied after Mr. Read's mode, where the vines were trained high, but flinging it among them broadcast with the hand where it could be done. In a hot day, in passing these vines the sulphurous smell is quite apparent - to me, not offensive, but insects seem to have a dislike to it. That seemed to put an immediate stop to the disease, as I then thought it, but which I now feel satisfied is caused by an insect of the curculio class; as on examination, I discovered a worm in almost every one thus blotched, or rather a diffused color with sometimes a darker vein running through it. One was at least half an inch long, others half that length, and some so small that it took a magnifying glass to discern them distinctly. The disappearance of these injuries on the application of lime and sulphur, together with the discovery of the grub in the fruit, goes far to establish in my opinion that it is a species of curculio.

Can it be that the rascals are like Caesar of old, when the plums are all destroyed, they weep for another world to conquer? Lime and sulphur is too much for them, in the present case at least, but must be renewed when washed off by rains. All my vines, native and foreign, are free from mildew, except one, Canadian Chief, which I forgot to apply sulphur to; this was almost gone, having lost nearly all its leaves before I was aware of it.

Twenty-five native varieties are showing fruit with me this season, but it is discouraging to find that some which we pay high prices for, under high-sounding names, turn out to be old acquaintances. Isabella will have about a dozen extra names after a while. s. M.

August 2, 1858.