GLEANINGS ON HORTICULTURE. 



23 



leaves is quite sure to accompany a premature and false ripening, 

 caused by an insufficient supply of sap from the roots. Many 

 vines will blossom, set, and swell tolerably well, but when the 

 greatest demand is made on their root action,— which is when the 

 grapes commence their last swelling for ripening them, — the leaves 

 become discoloured. This ripening of the wood can only be 

 obtained by such an exposure to heat and air, as that the juices 

 may become highly elaborated, and pass from the circumference 

 to the centre. All other things being equal, the stronger the 

 wood (provided it is thus matured), the more fruitful it will be. 

 Hence, good grapes are frequently produced from small weakly 

 wood, and poor grapes from that which is strong and rampant ; 

 but in the one case the wood was like heart of oak, in the other 

 soft and porous as a willow. It is of importance to give lateral 

 shoots the permission of growing until the vines become strong, 

 so far as your space will allow, and they do not interfere with due 

 exposure to the sun of the principal leaves, because such growth 

 above will secure a similar expansion of the absorbing roots 

 below. In all cases, the leaves must remain so long as there is a 

 particle of green about them ; and thus the secretions formed 

 will be stored more plentifully in the beds that remain. The 

 runners of strawberries and the laterals of vines should be 

 allowed to remain, so as to secure a vigorous root action while 

 the fruit is setting, swelling, and ripening, and gradually removed 

 when these things are accomplished; because the juices raised 

 by the vigorous root action will be gradually lessened in their 

 quantity, and the secretions formed rendered more mature, by 

 each remaining principal leaf being more exposed to sun, air, 

 and heat. 



Mildew makes its appearance on the under side of the vine 

 leaves, because that has less light in proportion to the moisture 

 — circumstances favourable to the growth of all fungi. It is 

 communicable by contact, and may be stayed by picking off each 

 leaf as soon as it is perceived, or it may be the cause of a similar 

 disease in other plants. It is called oidium vitis, or egg-fungus 

 of the vine. The following solution will check it effectually, if 

 not entirely remove it. First, — Use a solution, not stronger than 

 four ounces to the gallon, of salt, and let the temperature of that 

 solution be the same as that of the vinery. Secondly, — Apply 

 the solution about six in the afternoon, and let it remain on the 

 eaves for twelve hours ; then syringe it off with plain water. 



