400‘ ON THE DISEASE CALLED “ SHRIVELLING” OF GRAPES. 
ON THE DISEASE CALLED “ SHRIVELLING ” OF GRAPES. 
To the Editor of the Horticultural Register. 
Sir, —At page 350 of the September number of the Horticultural 
Register, Mr. John Mills has solicited the assistance of yourself and 
your correspondents to the elucidation of a disease incident to grapes, 
commonly called “shrivelling,” or “shanking.” You have given your 
opinion; but, as I think you are labouring under a misconception of 
the disease, I take leave to hand you a few bunches of grapes for your 
examination, and likewise a hint or two on the subject. 
Seeing the importance of Mr. Mills’s inquiry, I have taken a deep 
interest in the subject, and have consequently turned over the pages of 
all the horticultural works I could procure, but, I am sorry to add, 
without arriving at any definite conclusion as to the “ cause, preven¬ 
tion, or cure of the disease.” In looking over the sixth volume of the 
Gardener’s Magazine, I find this subject has been treated on by Messrs. 
Archibald and Gordon. Mr. Judd has also given the subject his con¬ 
sideration in the Horticultural Transactions. Mr. Judd attributes the 
disease to the non-admission of fresh air early in the morning, or, in 
other words, to the want of an orifice by which the vapour in the house 
might pass off without condensing on the grapes ; “ for,” observes he, 
(speaking of the condensed vapour,) “ this is the destructive material; 
for as the temperature of the house is increased, an effect equal to 
scalding is produced on the cuticle of the berries, and hence the diseased 
appearance which they assume; and should the sun break suddenly out, 
the destruction becomes complete.” 
Messrs. Archibald and Gordon think the disease has its origin in the 
root, and that it is owing to the absence or inefficiency of the absorbent 
orifices of the fibrillse ( spongioles ) to supply the plant with sufficient 
nutriment wherewith to support the crop ; and as a proof of this hypo¬ 
thesis, Mr. Gordon cites an instance of a “ friend of his, whose crops of 
grapes had suffered more or less for several years. Mr. Gordon visited him 
in June, 1816, when his grapes had suffered to a very great extent, and on 
examination, he found the border completely covered with a heteroge¬ 
neous mass of vegetables, which, at his suggestion, ivas immediately 
cleared away, and the border pointed over. Since then the vine-border 
has been held perfectly sacred. In 1827 very few of the grapes suffered, 
and in 1828 they invariably remained perfectly sound.” But, with all 
due deference to the opinions of so distinguished an individual as Mr. 
Gordon, I beg to ask one question, and that is, “ If the disease origi¬ 
nated from the inefficiency of the spongioles, or absorbent orifices, to 
supply the crop with the required aliment, would not the whole consti- 
