330 VILLA GARDENING part iv 



Diseases and Insects — Of the former, perhaps, shanking and 

 spotting are the most common and disagreeable. Up to a certain 

 period in their growth the Grapes may look healthy and flourishing ; 

 then suspicions discolouration of the stalks of the berries are 

 visible, which gradually assume a darker tint ; the berries become 

 limp and cease to swell, their colour becoming a dingy red. I 

 suppose everybody who has had a vinery knows what this shanking 

 is. Speaking generally, it is caused by a want of support at a 

 critical period in the growth of the Grapes — at the commencement 

 of the last swelling, and when a large demand is being made upon 

 the energies of the plant. Whatever may have led up to it, de- 

 ficient root-action is the jirimary cause. If the drainage is out of 

 order — if the border lias become sour and pasty from heavy 

 nianurings — if the roots have descended too far down so as to 

 be di-awing their supplies of moisture from a colder strata — if, in 

 short, there is any disorganisation of the roots which prevents them 

 keeping up the supply of nutriment to the bunches of Grapes at 

 all times, but especially during the early ripening period, shanking 

 ensues. Often irregularities in cultural details may weaken the 

 forces of the plants and lead to slianking. Permitting the lateral 

 growth to extend beyond due limits, and then cutting all back at 

 once, has been known, by the severe check it gives, to induce 

 shanking, or rather to lead up to that condition of health which 

 precedes it. On the other hand, very close and severe pinching 

 lias, by its dwarfing tendency, the same effiect. Drought will 

 produce shanking, though it is not diflicidt to distinguish between 

 the shanking caused by drought and that produced by a wet sour 

 border. Shanking and spotting are sometimes attributed to unripe 

 wood, but then unripe wood very often proceeds from deficient 

 root-action ; and root-lifting in both cases is the proper remedy, 

 and when brought back near the surface everything should be 

 done to keep them there. On no account should anything be 

 planted in a vine border, whatever space the border may occupy. 

 In the majority of cases, if the roots were more thought of, the 

 borders need not be so wide. It is very rare to find these wide 

 borders so well furnished with roots as they might be. Fill the 

 border full of roots, and feed them Avell to keep them there. In 

 dry weather rich top-dressings and liquid manure, with artificial 

 stimidants in moderation, will be the means of keeping the roots 

 in health, and enabhng them to perform the work they are re- 

 quired to do. 



Scalding causes injury to some kinds of Grapes. Muscats and 

 Lady Downes sufi'er from it about the time the berries begin to 

 ripen. Just as the Grapes begin to colour, the sides of the berries 



