1888 . ] 
171 
AERIAL ROOTS UPON VINES. 
ing young shoots, being slightly checked at the junction with the last year’s 
wood, and favoured by the still and comparatively moist atmosphere of the 
house, causes roots to be emitted in a manner similar to that which takes 
place when a young Vine shoot is laid in the soil, and is as much a sign of 
vigour as of anything else. At all events, I am certain that in the present 
instance neither a bad border, an excessively moist atmosphere, nor ill-ripened 
wood, can be assigned as causes ; and in proof of this I may mention that one 
of the canes which was left 18 feet long as an experiment, broke regularly 
throughout its entire length, and showed from two to four bunches at even’ 
shoot to within 1 foot of the ground. 
Wortley Hall Gardens. J. Simpson. 
« ?HERE are many causes which predispose the Vine to generate spon- . 
■) gioles upon the stem ; in short, anything which checks, injures, or 
WGj obstructs the free growth of the proper roots will, I believe, tend to 
create them; but they will not become developed roots, nor even 
protrude through the bark, unless an over-moist atmosphere be also 
present. My first particular acquaintance with stem roots was made some 
years since, when I had part charge of four large vineries, in one of our 
principal establishments. Each house contained about a score old Vines 
of various kinds, which had been planted in borders precisely similar to 
each other; all were started into growth at the same time (March), and 
they were treated as nearly alike as possible, in every respect. The natural 
surface of the ground was flat; the subsoil was composed of a heavy, viscid 
clay, in which an excavation had been made for the borders to the depth of 
5 feet, a portion of rubble being placed at the bottom, but no drainage 
beyond this having been attempted. The borders were composed of strong, 
tenacious loam, 4 feet deep. The Vines grew as well as could be expected, 
and produced fruit of medium quality in favourable seasons; but they pro¬ 
duced aerial roots, in one house only—Why? Three of the houses were 
heated by immense flues, with furnaces sufficiently large to contain 5 cwt. 
of coal at once. One house was heated by a small half-buried flue, with a 
small furnace ; it was also partially shaded by trees and by a wall at one 
end. The order was, “ Give plenty of heat.” The consequence was that the 
three houses were at all times dry, and the one house always damp. No 
aerial roots appeared in the former, but in the latter they were particularly 
vigorous and abundant. This appeared to me conclusive evidence that if 
atmospheric moisture was not the only, it was certainly the chief cause of 
their origin, and the sole cause of their becoming visible roots. 
Afterwards I determined, if possible, to ascertain what particular amount 
of atmospheric dryness would prevent them growth, yet at the same time 
prove sufficiently humid, for the healthy development of foliage and ripen- 
