136 OPEN AIR GRAPE CULTURE. 



We believe the converse of this was first shown by 

 Knight, from whose papers we make the following 

 extract: "Every bunch of grapes commences its 

 formation as a tendril, and it is always within the 

 power of every cultivator to occasion it to remain a 

 tendril. The blossoms are all additions, the forma- 

 tion of which is always dependent upon other agents ; 

 and if any considerable part of the leaves be taken 

 off the branch prematurely, or if the vine be not sub- 

 jected to the influence of the requisite degree of heat 

 and light, the tendrils will permanently retain their 

 primary form and office ; and it is very frequently 

 observable, when much of the foliage of fruit-trees 

 has been destroyed, by insects, or when the previous 

 season has been cold and wet, that blossoms are 

 not formed at all, or are feeble and imperfect, and 

 consequently abortive. * 



" The tendrils of the vine, in its internal organiza- 

 tion, is apparently similar to the young succulent 

 shoot and leaf stalk of the same plant, it is abun- 

 dantly provided with vessels, or passages for the sap, 

 and it is alike capable of feeding a succulent shoot or 

 a leaf when grafted upon it. It appears, therefore, 

 not improbable, that a considerable quantity of the 

 moving fluid of the plant passes through its tendrils ; 

 and that there is a close connection between its vas- 

 cular structure and its motions." 



