INSECTS AND DISEASES 7Q 



twist around on the stepladder before getting into position and so may easilj' 

 touch a launch with his hair without knowing it. Tiierefore, it is advisable to 

 guard against anything that may bring on rust. 



SHANKING 



1 his disease, or wluite\er one ma>' ciioosc to term it, botiiers many growers. 

 A crop may look in excellent condition up to the coloring period, and we may i^e 

 elated over our good prospects when, all of a sudden, the trouble will appear. 

 It does not take long to detect; a few berries only may be affected, or again the 

 whole point of the bunch may be lost, spoiling its shape. It begins with the dry- 

 ing up of the individual fruit stem, then the berries develop no further, either 

 in color or in flavor, consequently, all so affected are sour and useless, requiring 

 that every berry with a dry fruit stalk must be cut out. This shanking has 

 occurred at times with apparently perfectly healthy vines. It is due to different 

 causes. Overcropping is a prevalent one; this occurs when more Grapes are left 

 on the vines than the foliage is able to develop. In a broad sense, shanking is 

 the result of some overstrain; either the root or the foliage is not performing 

 its proper functions. This serious trouble may be attributed to different causes — 

 destruction of foliage by insect pests, chills or sudden changes of temperature; 

 also a border with imperfect drainage. 



Grapes should be handled very carefully when tiie\ begin to color, as a 

 check at this stage may also cause shanking and, if not that mischief, then a 

 deficiency of color. Both of these faults are a sore trouble to the cultivator. 

 When Grapes begin to color, more air should be admitted, but not so much as 

 to check the crop. Many a crop of Grapes has been carried along in full health 

 and vigor up to this stage, and has then fallen away. Shanking is further due 

 to various other causes: if the roots get into cold subsoil, poor root action will 

 follow; excessive dryness at the roots when the \ines are in full growth — all 

 these defects promote shanking. If the fault lies with poor root action, sour 

 border, etc., the surest and best remedy is to clear the \ines out, make up a new 

 border and start up afresh. Vines which have fallen into an unhealthy condition 

 may at times be brought around by renovating the bo'rder. But this would 

 be only a halfway measure, and it is better to replant than to try to recuperate 

 sickly, wornout plants. 



