348 Terminology of the Vine. 



like the shoots from which they spring, are at first easily separated from 

 them by a very slight effort, and they seem to have a joint at their origin ; 

 but they become firmly united by woody fibres in the course of their growth. 

 Laterals have the same appendages as the shoots, and their buds are often 

 fruitful : indeed, in some varieties, they will produce better fruit and larger 

 bunches than the buds of the original shoot. 



Tendrils. — Opposite to the leaves, but not of every leaf, on the other 

 side of the node, an organ of peculiar character is found, which is called the 

 tendril. This seems to be simply furnished as a means of support to the 

 shoot. The tendril is often branched, generally in twos, or bifid. They are 

 round, and at first straight, stretching out to their utmost extent, as though 

 seeking some object of support : so soon as this is reached, they intvvine 

 closely around it, forming a well-defined spiral, which clings with great 

 tenacity. Many vine-dressers recommend the early removal of the tendrils 

 when they are soft and green and may be easily pinched from the shoot. 

 This may be useful to prevent the entanglement they sometimes produce 

 among the shoots ; but they are the natural and the best supporters of the 

 vine. They are intimately connected with the shoot by the deposit of woody 

 fibres, which unite them very firmly and persistently. In the fruitful vine, 

 the tendril undergoes a very curious morphological change, by which, 

 owing to the development of many branchlets, each terminating in a germ, 

 we have the production of the 



Cluster, or Bunch. — Strange as it may at first sight appear, the barren 

 tendril, useful only for support, and the fruitful bunch, are, at bottom, one 

 and the same organ. That such is really the case may be known by their 

 corresponding position on the shoot, — opposite to the leaves, and, in some 

 varieties, bearing a definite arrangement in relation to these organs. Many 

 tendrils have one of their arms partially tranSyformed into a cluster bearing 

 but a few berries : on the other hand, many bunches have attached to 

 them a portion of tendril that has not undergone any change. Like the 

 tendril, the bunch is firmly attached to the shoot by woody fibres, and may 

 remain for a long time in this connection without separating naturally from 

 it ; but, unlike the tendril, it does have a joint at some distance from its 

 origin, at which point it may easily be separated from the vine. The num- 

 ber of bunches that may be formed upon any shoot, and the size they may 



