512 
tile vines, and also the advisability of rejecting any cutting from 
them for the purpose of planting. Other constitutional causes as 
well influence the bearing of vines and lead to imperfect setting. 
The bunches are loose and contain berries of various sizes, 
with numerous blanks between. A lowering of the vitality of the 
plant consequent upon attacks of oidium, or other fungous diseases, 
predisposes vines to this form of bad setting. | 
This accident may also be caused by a sudden drop 
in the temperature, by continuous rain at blossoming time, 
or by hot blasts of drying wind. Although a few ber- 
ries which set properly grow to their full size, numerous 
small ones never grow very large, and are devoid of seeds. They 
ripen and are as sweet as the others. The Black Morocco grape is 
particularly subject to this form of bad setting or shanking. The 
explanation given of this peculiarity is that for one or other of 
the causes mentioned above, a few flowers only set and the others 
are blighted. A number of the more backward blossoms, which 
generally fail to set when the first blossoms have turned into fruit, 
then open and form fruit. These, however, located on the same 
bunch alongside others which are grow- 
ing rapidly, are checked, remain small 
and seedless. 
Amongst the remedies suggested to 
counteract the effect of bad setting 
are:—Selection of cuttings from fertile 
vines, pinching back of shoots, ring- 
barking, sulphuring at blossoming time, 
and grafting on the sterile plants. 
The shape of the leaves often fur- 
nish an indication regarding the fruit- 
fulness of vines. In every vineyard 
may be noticed plants, often very 
vigorous, growing leaves which are 
comparatively more deeply indented 
than others on vines of the same 
variety. These plants are generally 
less fruitful than the others; they 
carry smaller and fewer bunches, or are 
not fruitful at all. They are known as 
“wild” vines by the growers. Being 
particularly luxuriant, cuttings are at 
times selected from these plants which, 
however, almost invariably transmit 
to the vines issuing from them the same Fra. 12.—Bunch badly 
characteristics of sterility and of exces- i 
sively vigorous growth which were exhibited in the parent. 
