422 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Observations on the germination of buds on the grapevine, 



Y. Vanni'CCINI {Atfi. li. Acad. UcoHODiico (((jrayi(( Fircnze, 7:J (l^'^Oi), 

 pp. b2-U3). — From the results of pot experiments on cuttings and grafts 

 of the grape the author conchides that the temperature and moisture 

 content of tlie soil, as well as the temperature of the air, have their 

 intlnence in starting the bud. Wlien it is desired to keep cuttings for 

 a long time without starting the buds into growth he recommends tlie 

 avoidance of water or wet soil, and advises that they be placed in soil 

 but slightly moistened. 



The author investigated the cause of the earliness of growth of buds 

 on the upper part of a slioot as compared with those on tbe lower 

 portion. To show that this was not due to differences in tbe tempera- 

 ture of the strata of air in which tbe buds at different lieiglits on tbe 

 stem were located, he cited tbe results of experiments in wbich tbe 

 buds on the extremity were tbe tirst to germinate when tbe sboots 

 were trained horizontally or even inverted. 



Three lots of sboots were cut from grapevines, and after dividing 

 these into equal lengths, thus giving top, middle, and bottom cuttings, 

 all were placed in vessels with their lower portions in water. Tliose 

 from tbe top were the lirst to start buds, but tbe sboots made by the 

 middle sections were more vigorous. ."Nlanj^ of the buds on tlie bottom 

 cuttings did not develoi^ at all. 



Certain buds were coated witli gum lac before growth began. This 

 coating greatly retarded their opening. The later o^^ening of the buds 

 on the lower part of tbe sboots is attributed to the greater degree of 

 lignification in that region and to the greater resistance thus offered 

 to the swelling of tbe buds. lie f )und the growth from the buds on 

 the middle of tbe slioot more vigorous than from those at tbe base. This 

 he attributed to tbe slight development and premature fall of the 

 leaves, in the axes of which the lower buds are situated, together with 

 the greater resistance to swelling encountered by tbe buds iu this 

 position. 



From experiments and observations tbe author concludes that prun- 

 ing has no intlueuce in retarding tbe opening of the buds unless it is 

 practiced before tbe fall of the leaves in autumn or after the sap has 

 begun to circulate in the spring. When bleeding occurred he found 

 that generally the buds remained dormant until the wound healed and 

 the discbarge ceases. He cites an exi)eriment made by MUntzin which 

 on vines pruned September 15 the buds had Just germinated March 27 

 lollowing, at which date there were sboots 1.2 to 3.2 in. long on vines 

 pruned in January. This retarding influence of i^runing practiced 

 before the fall of the leaves be attributes to the failure of the wood so 

 treated to store up a normal amount of reserve nutrients. 



Vine training, J. Craig [Canada Rvptl. Farms Bpt. 1893, pp. 110- 

 11^). — The results of an exi)eriment carried on for 3 years to t-est the 



