FKl'IT, 173 



rent of air, and an over-moist atmosphere ; but whether any 

 of these be a cause of it or not, they should be all carefully 

 watched, and as much as possible avoided. 



Scalding is an injury to the berry at a more advanced stage 

 of its growth. The main cause of it is an unnatural condition 

 of the air through the want of a free circulation. Too high u 

 temperature in the morning before ventilation is given, and 

 too early closing with much heat in the afternoon, are fertile 

 sources of it, and must be strictly guarded against. 



Shanking is a disease affecting the foot-stalks of the berrj'. 

 It appears in two forms and at different periods ; first about 

 the time of stoning, when a dark line may be observed moving 

 along the centre of the stem or foot-stalk in the direction of 

 the fruit, soon after which the berry begins to shrivel. The 

 second begins about the time of colouring by a dark ring en- 

 circling the foot-stalk, which ultimately turns black through- 

 out. Instead of the berries shrivelling, as in the other case, 

 they retain their plumpness for a considerable time, although 

 quite useless. Muscat of Alexandria is most subject to the 

 first form of disease, while the second attacks the Black Ham- 

 burgh and other varieties. Defective root-action is probably 

 the origin of the first, and the second may be ascribed gene- 

 rally to a want of vital energy in the plant, possibly from lack 

 of nourishment, or the weight of the crop being greater than 

 the plant can sustain. In well-managed vineries this disease 

 rarely occurs. 



Shrivelling is a natural condition of all grapes if allowed 

 to hang long enough, but when it appears prematurely it is 

 obvious something is wi-ong. Early shrinking of the berries 

 chiefly arises from the imperfect condition of the saccharine 

 matter, resulting probably from the adverse circumstances 

 under which the fluids have been assimilated in the leaves, and 

 thence secreted in the berries. A dry warm atmosphere, or 

 any check to leaf and root action, is productive of shrivelling. 



It is imperative that every precaution be taken to preserve 

 the grapes from the attacks of insects and all diseases which 

 blemish and spoil their appearance, so that they may be staged 

 without a speck and in the highest state of perfection. 



