80 
THE FLORIST AND POMOLOGIST. 
tender Vines by inarching them on hardy ones; and also to give their fruit 
the particular flavour of that of the stocks. But the first does not accord 
with the fact, that the tops of Vines, like those of all other trees and plants, 
have nearly the same influence on the growth of their roots as these have on 
their tops, consequently, a tender Vine united to a hardy one will still remain 
tender. This may be observed on budded Roses, especially tender ones, w'hich 
are seldom so strong as those growing on their own roots, and shoots from 
the stock either below or above their parasite tops are still briars; which 
shows that the tops have little or no influence on the original sap. Now 
according to the theory of the circulation of sap or juice in plants analogous 
to that of blood in animals this might be expected ; or even by that of any 
of the other theories on the flow of juice in plants. It has just occurred to me, 
however, that there is no difference in the sap of varieties of plants, from that 
of their original species, like the difference of blood in distinct species of 
animals. But my subject may be better exemplified by grafted Apple trees 
bearing various kinds of fruits; and showing that there is some modification 
of nourishment in the parts united, differing from that in the stocks. This 
seems to be caused by the influence of the sun upon the various kinds of wood, 
in which the sap vessels also vary, but more especially on the leaves, which 
are the lungs of plants. These vary more or less in texture, and in this also 
as they advance to maturity, and so does the influence of the sun upon. 
Therefore, by that mysterious process, each variety has its proper nourishment, 
and ripens fruit according to its kind, the flavour of which depends 
much on the health of the leaves which conveyed the supplies. Hence, the 
saying, “ good foliage good fruit.” But there seem to be exceptions, for 
instance, in the disease of Grapes called shanking. In that case, however, 
the nourishment from the leaves cannot get properly into the unripe berries, 
the sap vessels being injured or closed by a diseased or dark speck on the 
collar or stalk close to each shanked berry; and in bad cases, larger ones are 
seen on the stalks of the unripe bunches. The late Mr. Crawshay, of Ottershaw 
Park, Surrey, was the first to call my attention to the small specks just noticed ; 
and when I asked the cause of them, the reply was a shake of his head. I 
may notice, however, that he tried to prevent the disease in Frontignan Vines, 
which have a bad name for shanking, both by very high and low temperature ; 
but the results were equally bad. Some think that the disease proceeds solely 
from damp borders, but last season mine were dry indeed, and yet shanking 
abounded with me and others. 
J. Wighton. 
REMARKS ON THE CULTURE OF CYCLAMENS. 
The different species and varieties of Cyclamen are very deservedly ad¬ 
mired for their pretty foliage, and neat, gay, graceful, and fragrant flowers; 
and yet they are by no means so generally cultivated as they should be. 
Flowering, as the varieties of C. persicum and C. coum do, during the winter 
and spring months, they are invaluable for decorating the drawing-room and 
conservatory at that season. 
All the varieties of Cyclamen suffer from excess of moisture in winter, but 
the varieties of C. persicum are more impatient of cold and wet than the 
others. 
All the sorts are readily increased by seeds, which should be sown, soon 
after they are ripe, in pans or boxes, well drained, and filled with a mixture of 
sandy loam and leaf mould. 
Those sown in spring, or any time up to July, should be placed in a cold 
