13 



In addition to this non-setting or complete abortion in certain years, 

 it may be observed that although at first the fruit appears to have 

 set properly, after a short time differences 

 will be noticeable between different berries 

 of the bunch, all of which do not take an 

 even development, so that at vintage time 

 the bunches are loose and made up of uneven- 

 sized berries, some of which, containing no 

 seeds (which have been re-absorbed), are 

 scarcely larger than shot, and do not ripen 

 properly, while at the same time there are 

 some normal ones (Fig. 6). 



In French this is termed " miller andage.'"' 

 It may result from several causes. Some- 

 times it will be observed on diseased vines, 

 in which case it would appear to be due to 

 faulty nutrition of the plant ; but it occurs 

 far more often in Australia, especially when 

 cold wet weather prevails immediately after FIG. 6. 



the setting of the flower, the young fruit receiving a check to their 

 development, from which they are not able to completely recover. 

 According to M. L. de Malafosse, these small berries are due to the 

 development of some late flowers present in most bunches, which 

 usually abort, but are enabled to develop on account of the non-setting 

 of some of the principal flowers ; they are not, however, capable of 

 giving normal-sized fruit. Whatever be the manner in which this 

 " millerandage " be brought about, it may be said to result in the great 

 majority of cases from the prevalence of unfavorable weather imme- 

 diately after the blossoming. Once fecundated, the fruit develops 

 itself steadily during the whole of the summer, the rest of the plant 

 also increases in size to some extent, although it does not grow 

 rapidly after the blossoming. The leaves increase in size and number, 

 and in them the various substances found in the mature fruit are 

 elaborated. They are thus of the greatest importance; the fruit 

 cannot be formed without them. In the words of Macagno, another 

 eminent French authority, " the leaves are the laboratory of pro- 

 duction of glucose, the green branches the conductors of this precious 

 constitutive element of the must." 



