SEPTEMBER. 2(37 



give it up to other hands. I am glad to be able to say, that already 

 we may count on the support of two of* the largest public growers in the 

 kingdom. Rose shows are a great success ; Dahlia shows thrive, and 

 Carnation shows are prosperous. Why not an Auricula show? Let 

 the lovers of the flower manifest their zeal, and the thing will be done. 



D. 

 Deal, August. 



WHY DO GRAPES SHANK? 

 Much as has been written on this subject, we venture to again moot 

 the question, having had the above query addressed to us for the 

 hundredth time a short time back. 



Why, then, do Grapes shank ? Let us carry the question further, 

 and ask why do Peaches and other wall-fruit fall off? — why do Figs 

 turn yellow and shrink away ? — and why, in a hundred other cases, do 

 fruits of all kinds fail in reaching maturity? — all of which causes of 

 failure, in some degree or other, are attributable to the inability of 

 plants to carry onwards their crop of fruit to perfection, through causes 

 weakening or obstructing their powers of vitality, and preventing the 

 proper functions of those organs which supply the fruit with nourish- 

 ment. 



Again, let us go back to our first question, why do Grapes shank ? 

 One gardener states that the borders are too wet ; another, that they are 

 too dry ; a third says it is for want of a reciprocal action between the 

 roots and stem, the former being often in a very cold medium, while the 

 stem and foliage are luxuriating (?) in a tropical climate; another main- 

 tains the cause to be ill-drained borders and want of bottom-heat (!) to 

 the roots. Then it is stated to be caused only by house treatment ; — 

 want of air, too much night-firing or too little, or the house too damp, 

 or insufficient light, or too heavy cropping : these are a few of the reasons 

 which, from time to time, have been given as the cause of Grapes 

 shanking. 



Now we have seen Grapes shank under very different and opposite 

 circumstances. They will shank when growing in pots, with their roots, 

 of course, in the same temperature as the top. Indeed, we have seen 

 shanking take place under each and all of the circumstances mentioned, 

 and therefore we must not look at one cause in particular as doing the 

 mischief, and overlook the others. To be brief; Grapes will shank 

 whenever the general health of the Vines is disturbed, and whether 

 caused by one or more of the reasons so frequently given as causing the 

 mischief. 



To ensure Grapes from shanking the Vine must be healthy, and 

 there must be no interruption of the healthy action of all its parts. 

 The supply of sap from the roots must be uniform, and equal at all 

 times to the demand called into action by the leaves ; this infers that 

 the roots must be kept in a congenial medium, where their extension 

 can go on progressively and they can take up their supply of food 

 without intermission : this bespeaks a well-drained and properly 



