Cultivation of Currants. 263 



Art. IX. On the Rust on Vines. By J. Wighton, Gardener to 

 Lord Stafford, Cossey Hall. 



In p. 9. of the present Volume, there appears a notice of the 

 old vine at Hampton Court having become diseased, during the 

 last year, by what is termed the rust; and you invite communi- 

 cations on the probable cause of that disease. I have often 

 vi^itnessed it on vines ; and am aware that much difference of 

 opinion exists among gardeners as to its cause. I am acquainted 

 with a sfentleman who resided for several years in Portugal : and 

 he gives it as the current opinion in that country, that the rust 

 is caused by unusually hot weather. He has often observed 

 that it never appeared on both sides of a bunch of grapes, but 

 only on the side exposed to the sun ; and that it prevailed most 

 in seasons of intense heat, when the leaves of the vine were 

 paixhed and fell off, thus exposing the grapes still more to the 

 hot sua. 



My own opinion is, that the rust on vines is an external dis- 

 ease, produced by friction in various ways. It is observed in 

 the article above alluded to, that the early vines at Hampton 

 Court are not infected by the disease. I have seen it on early 

 vines, but not so frequently as on the late ones. If it be en- 

 quired why the late vines are more liable to be infected with 

 rust than the early ones, I think it can be satisfactorily ac- 

 counted for, by the fact that early grapes are in general taken 

 most care of. The head gardener usually thins the berries of 

 early grapes himself; but the late vines are left to the attendance 

 of his men. Their hands are generally very rough with labour ; 

 and, in handling a bunch of grapes, they can scarcely avoid 

 scratching some of the berries ; and such scratches on the tender 

 skin of the grapes are sure to produce rust. I do not affirm 

 that the disease is always so produced ; but I believe it to be 

 uniformly caused by some kind of rubbing or scratching. I hope 

 that these observations may elicit further remarks from your 

 correspondents, and that the question may thus be satisfactorily 

 solved. 



Cosse^^ Hall Gardens, Feb. 28. 1837. 



Art. X. On the Cultivation oj" Currants. By T. Symons. 



Currants being a very useful fruit for the table, as well as 

 for tarts, preserving, &c., a hint may not be amiss to such as fail 

 in cultivating them to that perfection which they are capable of 

 being brought to by summer pruning. My method is this : — 

 At the time they are about to set the fruit, I cut back, or pinch 

 off, all such shoots as are not likely to be wanted for next year's 



s 4 



