50 THE DISEASES VINES ARE SUBJECT TO. 



consequence is, a tliorougli failure of tlie crop from 

 shanking, either resulting directly from want of proper 

 nourishment at this important period, or from some 

 other hidden cause which springs from this want. 

 The crop of fruit is lost as thus described, but the 

 vines seem in good health, and they make strong roots 

 towards autumn, again to share the fate of their pre- 

 decessors ; and so the round goes on. 



The proper remedy for such a state of things — and 

 I have never known it fail where over-cropping was 

 avoided, and the necessary care bestowed on the vines 

 in every other respect — is to raise the roots and remove 

 the rich damp soil of the border, replacing it with the 

 compost already recommended in this treatise, and re- 

 laying the roots carefully in it. Let me add that, if 

 the locality is a wet one, I would double the amount of 

 burned clay and lime-rubbish in making up the com- 

 post. The class of roots that will be formed in this 

 relatively poorer border will differ widely from those 

 formed in the richer one. They will be much more 

 numerous, smaller, and woody, branching in every 

 direction, permeating its whole mass. They will ripen 

 before the autumn rain sets in, and in such dry, open, 

 and light soil will survive the winter, and be ready for 

 action early the following season. If it is objected that 

 such a compost is too poor to produce heavy crops of 

 grapes, I reply that it is easy, during the growing 

 season, to give one or two good waterings with liquid 

 manure. What is wanted is a host of healthy, hungry 

 mouths. It is easy to feed them when they exist, but 

 when they are dead and gone no feeding can avail ; for 

 be it remarked, that if even the points of the young 

 roots or spongelets are decayed, absorption of sap can- 

 not take place to any extent till they are restored ; and 



