Inside the book

At the time, the wine industry urgently needed effective treatments to protect crops and livelihoods. Cavazza carried out pioneering research and field trials on the biology and control of the disease. He was among the first in Italy to advocate the Bordeaux mixture, a copper sulfate and lime fungicide, and proved its effectiveness in preventing and controlling infection.
His writings offered practical guidelines for vineyard management, stressing the timing and frequency of fungicide applications, the value of canopy management to reduce humidity, and the close observation of disease cycles to optimize intervention. Cavazza also spread scientific knowledge among Italian winegrowers through lectures, bulletins, and technical manuals, bridging the gap between research and practice. His efforts played a crucial role in saving Italian vineyards at a time when peronospora threatened to devastate the industry, following closely on the heels of the phylloxera crisis.
The work includes a table showing the average number of rainy days and temperatures in 1889, illustrating how humidity influenced the growth cycle and correlated disease infection with weather patterns. Remedies discussed include sulfur-based products, copper and iron sulfite preparations, Roussin brand copper fungicide from Marseille, and the use of soaps, along with an overview of spraying technology. Cavazza reassured vinegrowers and landowners that careful management, moderation, and avoidance of excess remained the most effective method.