Management of the Vine. 215 



stopping, or pruning of the growing shoot, probably of ten- 

 fold importance, is left comparatively a matter of hap-hazard ; 

 stopping at a joint before the fruit, or leaving a foot or two of a 

 shoot to fill a gap, as it may happen. Now, the important func- 

 tions performed by the leaves considered, this, of all others, 

 would appear a matter deserving our attention, not only as 

 it regards vines, but all other plants, especially those that 

 bear some affinity in their mode of fruiting, as melons and 

 cucumbers. Such plants are generally stopped near the fruit, 

 ostensibly that the plant may not expand its energies in the 

 production of useless leaves ; a practice tenable only on the 

 supposition (which it clearly implies) that plants derive the whole 

 of their support from the soil ; that the juices forming this 

 support are collected by the roots, and by them forced up into 

 the plants, performing all their functions in their ascent; in 

 fact, that, independently of leaves, roots are capable of forming 

 plants and maturing fruit: but, as the reverse of all this is the 

 case, since it is evident that plants increase in substance more 

 readily without roots than without leaves; that a very con- 

 siderable portion of their constituent parts are supplied by air 

 and water through the leaves, and that watery juices supplied 

 by the roots are unavailable until assimilated and converted 

 into "true sap" by the leaves, benefiting as regards adding 

 to the substance of plants in their descent only; surely we 

 are entitled to pause before ruthlessly destroying so many in- 

 dispensable auxiliaries. The impossibility of any fruit ripening 

 without being preceded by a leaf to supply elaborated returning 

 sap shows the inefficiency of all those between the root and the 

 fruit (however numerous) to accomplish this. The lesson thus 

 enforced has taught us to respect one leaf at least, knowing 

 that upon its preservation, all hopes of success depend. We 

 have also proof from the very scanty portion of foliage often 

 left, that little is required to perform the task, that is, a single 

 leaf, properly situated, will do enough to prevent absolute 

 abortion : but the question is, would not an ample portion 

 of what is so indispensable perform that task more effectually? 

 This is hardly to be questioned : a leaf is requisite to mature 

 even a single bud ; and it appears highly improbable, that so 

 small a breadth of foliage can properly perfect the crude matter 

 contained in a bunch of grapes of 4 lb. or 6 lb. weight; which 

 renders an insufficient surface of foliage exposed to the action 

 of light one of the most probable of all the endless con- 

 jectures as to the cause of the shriveling of grapes; grapes 

 shriveled for lack of sufficient foliage, and peaches suffering 

 from the same cause, differ in nothing. 



Grapes grown in the open air being less affected by this 

 disease also tends to confirm the supposition. In this case, space 



p 4 



