86 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
[ April, 
satisfactory way of deciding this vexed question would he to put it to 
a practical test. Let anyone, who has the opportunity, commence to 
force two vineries at the same time—say the latter end of October; the 
Vines to be of the same age, and to be subject to the same amount of 
fire heat. Let the atmosphere of one house be kept perfectly dry , admitting 
as much air as would be considered safe, and let the atmosphere of the 
other house be kept as close and humid as possible. The cultivator would 
soon be convinced of the real cause of Vines pushing forth air roots. 
Whether the Vine derives any benefit or vice versa from air roots is another 
question. It is well known that some sorts of grapes produce them much 
more freely than others. Can any one assign a cause for this ? 
The Gardens, Cobham Hall. B. Budd. 
AM by no means desirous to make converts. My object is rather 
to disseminate facts. The evidence I have produced in support 
to of previous statements has hitherto been met only by frivolous objec- 
c{h tions, which my opponents urge as conclusive. In discussing a ques¬ 
tion, an opponent ought to answer the objections raised by combating 
the disputed points. Mr. Cox says, “ It is very obvious to me why Vines 
plunged as described should produce aerial roots,” but he has not told 
us his obvious reasons. A little explanation might put an end to hosti¬ 
lities ; but instead of this, he has introduced matter entirely unconnected 
with the dispute. It has been repeatedly maintained that the emission 
of aerial roots is principally caused by a deficiency of bottom heat. Now, 
no discrepancy of that kind existed in the case I refer to, as the temperature 
was hardly, if ever, below 80°. I have constantly asserted that their 
appearance is alone due to the iwesence of atmospheric heat and mois¬ 
ture, quite independent of the state of the soil, and have offered valid 
reasons for holding this opinion. I argue, not for victory, but for infor¬ 
mation. It would be, however, superfluous to prolong the conflict while 
the evidence that I have adduced remains unrefuted, were it not that 
there is another point on which I would request an explanation from 
Mr. Cox and those who agree wuth him. How does it happen, -when the 
moisture has been reduced, for instance when the Vines are in flower, 
that the aerial roots shrivel at the extremity, and so remain till the former 
amount is restored, each root then producing two, or three, and sometimes 
four, young spongioles, which continue to lengthen till the grapes begin 
to colour, at which stage, more air being admitted and the moisture 
being permanently withheld, they lose their vitality altogether? Again, in 
an early vinery where the roots are confined to an outside border, pro¬ 
tected, and slightly heated by fermenting material, how is it that aerial 
roots are not so numerous, or at least not more so, than when the soil 
