102 THE CULTURE OF THE GRAPE. 



ject, has practised my plan, every year since, with, the 

 most .complete success." 



Vol. 11, p. 493, the same author remarks : " In the 

 paper sent you and printed in vol. 10, page 137, you 

 omitted to insert what I think the most important mat- 

 ter. In the paper alluded to, ■ I considered it was from 

 the footstalk of the berry not being grown sufficiently 

 firm and hard, which I believe is the only cause. If the 

 grape is grown in a humid atmosphere, it elongates the 

 footstalk, and causes it to be of a slender, thin, delicate 

 texture, and, in case of a sudden change, even for a short 

 time, the footstalk is easily affected. When this injury 

 takes place, as I believe, from the delicacy of the foot- 

 stalk, the sap ceases to circulate in the manner required. 

 I think this disease may be remedied by keeping the 

 early-forced grapes with less humidity in the house than 

 some use when the crop is young, which helps to elon- 

 gate the footstalk. In later grapes, if there were more 

 air admitted, or artificial heat kept up in cold damp 

 weather, either would remedy the disease ; but, as I sta- 

 ted in my former paper, give air and artificial heat at 

 the same time. As I am making this second attempt to 

 impress on the mind of the reader that the cause is real- 

 ly in the footstalk, I can and will advance a few things 

 to make it more evident. 



" I was asked this season, by a gardener, what I would 

 eay to a vinery being left a little open all night at top ; 

 my reply was, I had not tried it, but I wonld not hesi- 

 tate in saying it was more likely to do good than harm. 

 He said that there were the finest grapes in a house so 

 treated that he had seen all the season. I was asking a 



