48 Queries and Answers. 



Depend upon it, the most essential condition in vine culture is a dry bordei*, 

 by which term I would be understood to mean, a border so constructed as to 

 insure a ready passage of superabundant moisture in the wettest seasons. 

 The young fibrous roots of vines are exceedingly tender, and soon rot when 

 soddened in cold wet soil ; consequently the plant, being thus deprived of its 

 mouths, may starve in the midst of plenty. According to the extent of the 

 injury to the roots, so will the fruit suffer : thus, a partial destruction of 

 rootlets will check the free swelling of the berries ; the loss of a greater 

 number of absorbents produces imperfect maturation of the fruit, shown by 

 the absence of its natural colour and flavour ; and a still greater amount of 

 injury causes the pedicels to wither and the berries to shrivel. On the same 

 principle (deficient nutrition), overcropping will produce the same result, even 

 when the roots are in a healthy state. I have now under my charge a vinery 

 in which all the above-mentioned symptoms of debility are exhibited ; and I 

 know from examination that the vines have scarcely any fibrous roots, in con- 

 sequence of deep planting in a deep border. The Muscat of Alexandria and 

 the Frontignans suffer most, because the roots of those sorts are the most 

 susceptible of injury from wet ; the black Hamburg, being hardier, is less 

 affected ; while the white Muscadine, the hai'diest of all, bears some very 

 respectable fruit. I have lately destroyed the vines in a similar house, and 

 made a new border on the plan recommended at page 378., and I shall be 

 wofully disappointed if " shanking " is ever seen in this house. Let W. H. 

 try that plan, raising the roots of his vines near to the surface of the border, 

 and he will not find his soil " too rich." Let him also use the knife and 

 scissors freely, and I will venture to warrant that he will have no more 

 shanking in his grapes. — J. B. W. Nov. 7. 1840. 



Curling of Vine Leaves . — Vine leaves flag when the moisture they transpire 

 much exceeds that absorbed in the same time by the roots. This frequently 

 occurs in the dry sunny days of spring, when the difference of temperature 

 between the media surrounding the leaves and the roots may amount to 30° 

 or more. If permitted to remain in that state of desiccation the leaves 

 would most likely " curl," as described by Mr. W. Wilson ; but by a little 

 timely attention that injury might be prevented. When vine leaves flag, the 

 atmosphere of the house should immediately be saturated with moisture, 

 by swimming the floor, &c., with water; and a small-meshed net should be 

 spread over the roof, to break the force of the sun's rays : this will generally 

 restore the foliage to its usual freshness ; but with weak vines, forced early, I 

 have sometimes found it necessary to syringe the leaves in the middle of the 

 day, and to shade with mats, and I never had a curled leaf. Let your Knights- 

 bridge correspondent give his vines plenty to eat, and not roast them, and 

 they will not curl up their noses at him. — Idem. 



The Curlin Vine Leaves. Gai^d. Mag. for 1840, p. 568. — In answer to the 

 complaint of your correspondent at Knightsbridge respecting the vine leaves 

 in his grapery being curled, I would say that it is most probably owing to his 

 growing green-house plants in his vine border. That should be left without 

 anything to interfere with the roots of the vines, or to interrupt the action of 

 the sun upon the earth. Dr. Lindley says " vines and mulberries cannot have 

 too much manure ; " therefore they will ill bear being robbed by the roots of 

 other plants. I consulted two very experienced gardeners on the subject ; 

 one, who is particularly successful in the growth of grapes, said that the leaves 

 of vines would be subject to the curl at this time (October) of the year. The 

 other thought it might be owing to the red spider, which your correspondent 

 can easily ascertain by consulting some one experienced in the care of vineries. 

 I would add, I conceive the reason why some of the vines are affected and 

 others not, is, that some are of a hardier sort than others. The Muscat of 

 Alexandria or the grizzly Frontignan, are much more tender than the Muscadine 

 or Sweetwater. — S. Oct. 6. 1840. 



