Grape Culture. 41 



Shanking arises from many different sources, rather than 

 from any one in particular. It may be caused by the following : 



ist. Over-cropping. 



2nd. Destruction of the foliage by Red Spider. 



3rd. The stripping off of a great quantity of developed 

 foliage at a time. 



4th. Checks and chills through bad ventilation. 



5th. The roots getting into cold subsoil. 



6th. The borders becoming sour and sodden. 



7th. It may be caused by the border becoming dry at 

 the time when vines must have abundance of 

 water. 



Avoid all these evils and you will not be much troubled with 

 shanking. 



When shanking makes its appearance it is sometimes very 

 difficult to trace it to its true origin. If all vine borders where 

 vines had produced grapes that were subject to shanking were 

 examined, it would be found that nine out of every ten of these 

 borders were far too rich, containing abundance of organic 

 matter in which the vine will grow with great vigour, but will 

 fail to ripen their wood and their roots, the latter perishing 

 during winter. The following season a new supply of young 

 roots has to be made ; and so on from year to year. The roots 

 of gross vines, although plentiful, are very soft and spongy, 

 and when the strain upon the energies of the vines takes place 

 with a heavy crop of fruit to finish, the roots are not in a proper 

 condition to meet the demand made upon them, and in this 

 condition you may expect shanking. The first check will take 

 place about the time the grapes finish stoning, when you will 

 notice shanking putting in its unpleasant appearance, and will 

 visit the cultivator annually until the borders are put right by 

 lifting the roots and relaying them in sweet porous compost, 

 as described in Chapter 23. With this provision and over- 

 cropping avoided, chills prevented, red spider kept in check, 

 a change for the better will take place. But once let the roots 

 descend into the cold subsoil, shanking will again put in an 

 appearance. 



