State Agricultural Society. 487 



the better plan to plant cuttings in the vineyard, where they will not 

 again be disturbed by transplanting, or to plant them in beds, for rooting, 

 to be lifted carefully at one year of age and transplanted permanently 

 in the vineyard. 



Messrs. Snyder, Bugbey, and Swezy practice the former course, with 

 some exceptions; while Messrs. Chalmers and jSTickeson practice the 

 latter, and urge strong reasons for it. Bugbey takes the precaution to 

 plant two cuttings in each hole, to insure a growing vine, placing the 

 bottoms in opposite sides of the hole, so as not to interfere with the 

 roots of the one while lifting the other the following Spring, in case 

 both grow. 



Dr. Strentzel, speaking of this particular branch of the subject, says: 

 "If the growth of a cutting could always be secured, it would be pre- 

 ferred, as the first roots strike out regularly, the root end of the cutting 

 heals over smoothly, and it makes a healthier and thriftier vine. But 

 some soils are naturally too dry; some years the rainfall is scanty, in 

 others the ground cannot be put in condition until late in the season, 

 and under such circumstances one year rooted cuttings, carefully lifted 

 and set, insure a better stand." 



On the same subject, Mckeson says: "Plant good rooted vines, by all 

 means. Upon this depends till your future prospects, for if you plant 

 cuttings to remain in the vineyard, the results will be unfavorable, and 

 you will always regret it. Plant cuttings and they will strike out roots 

 at the bottom that will go down to the water, if possible, and never 

 throw out any surface feeders, which is necessary to get heat, light, and 

 air, that will produce good feed for the fruit. The natural tendency of 

 a cutting thus planted and rooted is to make an abundance of wood, but 

 not fruit. What fruit it does produce will be inferior in bunch and berry, 

 and destitute of saccharine matter that is necessary to make good wine. 

 I think the reason why we have so much poor acid wine in California is 

 attributable to planting cuttings instead of rooted vines. Nor is there 

 any economy in planting cuttings. The percentage in loss, and the 

 trouble and time in resetting, and loss of time in securing a bearing- 

 vineyard, makes this method of starting a vineyard cost more than to 

 plant good rooted vines at first." This distinction is entitled to more 

 consideration than is generally conceded to it. To insure good well 

 developed grapes of good quality, and a plenty of them, we want to 

 encourage side and surface roots, and planting rooted vines one year 

 old is the best way to make success certain. 



staking the vines. 



Every vine or cutting planted should have a stake by its side to which 

 to tie the young cane and insure an upright start, and to prevent the 

 winds or. teams from bending it over or breaking it off. This stake should 

 be as high out of the ground as it is intended to train the vine, and no 

 more, and should remain in its place until the body of the vine has 

 attained sufficient age and size, or strength, to maintain an upright 

 position unaided, even when loaded with fruit. Some cultivators place 

 these stakes before planting, as a guide in digging the holes, while others 

 set them after the vines are set; but this is a matter of convenience in 

 practice rather than of principle. But be sure not to neglect setting 

 them at all, as very much depends on securing an upright position of all 

 the vines in the vineyard. 



