138 Anatomy of the Vine. 



ing downwards, as I said before, the descending sap of the 

 leaf. I could enlarge further on the important use of these 

 vessels, but I beg to defer it until I have described other ves- 

 sels, into which, I apprehend, they convey their contents ; and 

 I will endeavour to have it prepared for your June Number. 



Innumerable are the experiments that may be performed 

 on a vine, by those who have an active mind, and a know- 

 ledge of the vessels as set forth in p. 16. and 1 7. of this Volume, 

 with the assistance of the chemical tests ; and to the young 

 anatomist of vegetation I will apply the same words as those 

 which have so often been repeated by the able anatomists 

 of the human frame: "That it is only by dissection a tho- 

 rough knowledge can be acquired." What I can describe by 

 words or drawings will ever fall short of the sublime and 

 beautiful organisation of the different parts of a vine. For 

 instance (to simplify the subject), Jig. 23. is drawn, showing- 

 only the 9th, 11th, and 16th bundles of the vascular texture, 

 tamely branching off, each into two divisions j but, in the 

 original, the diversity of the separation and reunion of some 

 divisions of the joint can only be compared to the tracery or 

 open work of the upper part of a Gothic church window ; and 

 the divisions from a bundle, to the beautiful groining of the 

 arches of that style. I would recommend not only the ad- 

 mirers of this science, but those of the Gothic style of archi- 

 tecture, to dissect a joint : they will be highly gratified by the 

 elegant display of these bundles at the joint, before they take 

 their perpendicular direction into the upper collet. 



I purpose, in the autumn, to point out some interesting ex- 

 periments respecting the formation of the second year's liber ; 

 but it will require a previous preparation of the vine to per- 

 form them well. Those who are disposed to investigate the 

 subject should train some of the last summer's shoots, at least 

 1 5 in. apart, and nail the extending shoots of this year in a 

 regular open manner, stopping them at the 1 Oth or 1 2th leaf, 

 or 4- leaves above the fruit. But the part to which most atten- 

 tion should be paid is at the base of the shoot, where the 

 remains of the winter cradle is to be found, as shown in^ - . 1. 

 between the letters b and d. This rough part I wish to be dis- 

 placed by the fingers ; and, should any buds arise, these are 

 to be removed without bruising the cuticle ; and frequently, 

 during the summer, the place is to be rubbed gently with the 

 fingers, to keep it clean and smooth. 



I remain, Sir, yours, &c. 

 Bath, Feb. 7. 1830. Walter William Capper, 



I observe some of the letters of the figures belonging to 



