102 THE GRAPE CULTUETST. 



become soured, and the surface roots be destroyed in 

 consequence. With all the care that may be bestowed 

 upon the vine in regard to soils, manures, etc., much 

 will still depend upon the system of pruning and train- 

 ing adopted. 



CHAPTER XII. 



STEM APPENDAGES. 



There are various appendages to the stem of the 

 vine, such as spines, hairs, etc., which are of service to 

 the botanist, as they assist him in determining the differ- 

 ent species, varieties, etc. ; but those that are of the 

 most interest to the practical vineyardist are the later- 

 als, leaves, tendrils and buds. 



The mode of treating laterals has been given in a 

 preceding chapter, in which it was shown how they may 

 become injurious or beneficial to the vine, according to 

 the will of the vineyardist. Leaves are the most con- 

 spicuous appendage of the vine, and they are of the 

 greatest importance, as it can not exist without them. 

 They are sometimes called the lungs of plants, and many 

 beautiful theories have been brought forward in accord- 

 ance with the similitude. Their chief office appears to 

 be to assimilate materials which are taken up by the 

 roots, and to do this it is necessary that their surface 

 should be exposed to light. The greater surface of 

 leaves that a vine exposes to the sun. the greater power 

 will it have to take up liquids from the soil, and with 

 them those constituents which go to make up the whole 

 structure of the vine. 



This being the fact, it can readily be seen how, by 

 diminishing the number of leaves, we check growth, or 



