THE GRAPE VINE. 1 33 



at the time — midwinter — when the soil was removed. 

 There was nothing to be seen but old, thick, brown- 

 like roots, and it was no wonder that the grapes 

 shanked most severely. Having shown the principal 

 cause of shanking, the remedy can be anticipated. 

 Vines under such circumstances must either be dis- 

 carded altogether, or lifted out of the wet retentive border 

 and planted in soil congenial to them. For this process 

 I refer to what has been said on renovating exhausted 

 vines, p. 106. Ample drainage, a free open soil, pro- 

 tecting the roots from winter rains, and a thorough 

 ripening of the wood and roots in autumn, with mode- 

 rate cropping, are the best preventive of shanking. 



Mildew. — It is generally admitted that mildew is a 

 very minute fungus, concerning the origin of which 

 there is yet great diversity of opinion. It is, however, a 

 very formidable enemy to the vine, and if allowed to go on 

 unmolested, it proves very destructive in some instances. 

 It can be easily prevented and eradicated when it does 

 make its appearance. An over-moist, cold, and stagnant 

 atmosphere is the condition under which it generally 

 attacks the vines, and I am not aware that it ever 

 appears when there is a circulation of moderately dry 

 and sufficiently warm air. 



I never had experience of it but once, and that was 

 during a season of dull, damp weather, in a vinery 

 considerably below the surrounding ground-level. The 

 water was coming intothefloor of the house at the foun- 

 dations, and the heating was not sufficiently powerfxil to 

 keep up the heat properly. The disease first made its 

 appearance over an open cistern of water. I at once had 

 the cistern covered up, and the house kept as dry and 

 warm as possible. On the first fine afternoon I mixed 



