40 



THE FLORIST AXD POMOLOGIST. 



[ February, 



'/ 



2. Cuttings. — This term is applied to Vine slioots having several 

 buds or eyes, as shown in fig. 1. This mode of inci'ease is that 

 generally adopted for the propagation of the Vine in the vineyards of 

 all the great vine-growing countries, where they are required by 

 thousands ; but it is rarely made use of for the Vine in this country. 

 We, however, adopt much the same method in the propagation of our 

 Currants and Gooseberries. The cuttings are selected and cut into 

 lengths of from Sin. to 12 in., leaving usually attached a small 

 piece of the two-year old wood — a " heel," as it is termed. The 

 French term such cuttings boutures par crossette. The Vignerons 

 are, however, not very particular as to the quantity of this old wood 

 which is left, or, indeed, whether there is any left, and it is quite 

 immaterial. The lower eyes or buds should be cut out, leaving 

 only two or three at the top of the cutting. In the vineyards these 

 cuttings are planted in the ground at once, in small trenches, and 

 treated as pei-manent plants ; but as I only allude to them here as a 

 mode of propagation, it is unnecessary to follow them further. It 

 is a method which has not been, and will never be, much practised 

 in this countr}'-. 



3. Eijes. — By this term is meant single buds of the ripened 

 wood of the previous season's growth. This is the mode of pro- 

 pagating the Vine almost universally adopted throughout this country, 

 and it is by far the best ; it is, however, only available for practice 

 under glass, so that it is suited to our necessities, and could not be 

 followed were we obliged to have recourse to open-air propagation. 

 Fig. 2 shows the eye as prepared for planting. There is no art 

 or skill required in the preparation. The rule is to select always 

 the most perfect eyes from the best ripened wood of Vines that have 

 been ripened early ; such buds will be found to start much more 

 freely than those from later ripened wood. It is the hard firm wood 

 with the firm plump eyes that have to be looked for, where a stock has 

 to be raised, in preference to the large soft wood, with seemingly for- 

 ward eyes. It is well therefore to be somewhat particular in selecting 

 the eyes, so that everyone of them may be depended on ; this is far 

 better than putting in a great quantity, and then having to throw 

 the half of them away. Having the wood selected, proceed to cut 

 out the eyes (as shown in the figure), about one inch or a little 

 more in length, that is to say, about half an inch on either side of 

 the eye. Some persons prefer cutting the wood straight across, 

 whilst others prefer a slightly slanting cut. I rather prefer 

 the latter, but it matters very little. Some consider it of 

 great importance to cut a small piece off the wood on the 



side opposite to the eye, but I have not obsen^ed any benefit from so 



Fig. 1. 

 Vine Cutting 



