ON TfTE SHANKING OF GRAPES. 
329 
I hope to prove, is the deficiency of roots, arising from the vine growing 
in too heavy and cold a soil. This tree is so ready a rooter, that no¬ 
thing but a bad or really defective medium will prevent it from extend¬ 
ing its roots far and wide in a short period. In very poor sand, with 
a little turf mixed with it, I have seen a vine push surprising roots: so 
in a soil of an open nature, with abundance of large flints, brick-bats, 
whole bones, &c., intermixed, the vine will grow luxuriantly ; its roots 
will throw out innumerable fibres. I witnessed this in opening a walk 
which ran in front of a vinery; it had been made with large stones at 
the bottom, and the roots—the fibrous roots I mean—had nearly for¬ 
saken the border, which was of a cold, ungenial nature, and had betaken 
themselves to the walk, which they evidently liked much better. This 
is an important fact, for it clearly shows the sort of materials which 
ought to be employed in making a border, not only for the vine, but 
for almost all fruit-trees. 
Gardeners are aware of the good effect produced on plants growing 
in pots by keeping the soil open, and even lumpy, particularly if the 
mould be of a heavy, loamy nature ; for otherwise, by constant water¬ 
ing, it will become sodden—a state in which nothing can thrive, for 
the roots decay, or are so disabled as to be unequal to the task of duly 
supplying the waste produced by the leaves, &c. 
I have seen vines in pots grown on a very extensive scale; and I 
intend to make some observations upon some plants which were forced 
in the winter of 1833, with the hope of obtaining a few bunches early 
the following spring. 
The vines being in good condition for bearing, were placed in a pine- 
stove in the month of November; they all, or nearly all, showed fruit, 
and four to nine bunches were retained on each. The plants grew 
well, and made excellent wood; but many did not set their blossom 
well; but as they continued to look healthy, the defect was attributed 
to the sorts. Setting aside this, the vines did well; the bunches and 
berries attained a good size. As the pots were small, constant atten¬ 
tion to watering was very necessary to prevent flagging ; but this fre¬ 
quent application of water upon a naturally too strong loam, caused 
soddening of the whole ball about the period of the last swelling of the 
fruit. As the bright gleams of spring came on, the plants showed their 
exhausted state by flagging, though the mould in the pots was quite 
moist: scarcely a day passed without the foliage being scorched; in¬ 
deed the injury was so extensive, that not a leaf remained entire. The 
fruit was so imperfect, that not a bunch was fit to go to table; most 
of the bunches had shanked more or less, and required curtailing as far 
as the disease extended. 
VOL. V.-NO. LXIII. 
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