126 



our hothouse borders, many of which contain mate- 

 rial sufficient for thrice their extent. (Hort. Soc. 

 Joarn. i. 52.) 



We cannot but think, in re-examining this subject, 

 that shrivelling is chiefly caused by an insufficient 

 supply of the pabulum necessary to sustain uninter- 

 rupted progress in the berry. It does not follow, 

 however, that it must, of necessity, be a case of non- 

 elaboration. It more frequently arises, in our opinion, 

 from torpidity of root, brought on by various causes ; 

 amongst which, as chief, may be named the cold and 

 continuous rains of wet periods during the growing sea- 

 son. Such, acting on borders already become too 

 close, and " sour" through age, and imperfect tex- 

 ture, produce utter stagnation, if not destruction 

 of fibre, at the very period when the greatest demand 

 is made on the root. How can such end otherwise 

 than in debility ? 



Shanking, we conceive, is generally caused by the 

 unnatural disagreement of temperature between the 

 root and top, independent, in the main, of the ques- 

 tion of moisture. It generally occurs with vines 

 which have been somewhat forced ; seldom on open 

 walls — seldom with vines forced in pots or tubs. 

 The obvious prevention of shanking is securing a 

 congenial relative temperature to the roots and foliage. 



Rust. — This disease, affecting the berries of the 

 grape, comes in the form of a rough, rusty appear- 



