1873.] VINES AND VINE-CULTURE. CHAPTER I. 39 



liave here a perfectly liardy evergreen of a most permanent claaractcr, suitable 

 indeed for clothing a -wall if desired for that purpose ; but also forming a very 

 handsome border shrub, and as such it should be grown in every collection of 

 hardy out-door plants. The leaves are of a dark green, very permanent, and 

 oval or elliptical in form, as the name implies. — William Eaeley, Valentines. 



VINES AND VINE-CULTURE.— Chapter L 



^^DrOPAGATION. — The Vine is a plant of most simple and easy propagation, 

 jM§/ roots being very freely and readily produced from every portion of its stem, 

 \r^ if only it be placed under favourable conditions. Let the natural or 

 ^ proper roots of a Vine become disorganised, and immediately the vhole 

 stem, if in a humid atmosphere, will become clothed with roots, which hang from 

 it like a long beard. These are generally called air roots, or adventitious roots, 

 but would, if allowed, fix themselves in the soil like the ordinary roots. 



Thus nature gives us the first lesson in the art of propagating the Vine. We 

 are by this means, at least, shown that roots are very readily produced from the 

 old or ripened wood. But never under any circumstances do we see roots being 

 produced from the young or growing wood ; and although by great skill and care 

 a few plants might be so propagated, the quantity would be quite infinitesimal. 



Various methods of propagation by means of the ripened wood are or may be 

 adopted, namely, by Layers, by Cuttings, and by Eyes ; also by Budding, Inarch- 

 ing, and Grafting. 



1. Layers. — This is the most primitive method of all, and might, indeed, be 

 temied the natural method. A branch from some cause touches the ground, and 

 it takes root ; it is cut off, and there we have a new plant. It is at best a rough 

 and clumsy method of increase, so far as regards the vine, and is only resorted to 

 by those who have little confidence in their skill in the art of propagation, or 

 but slender means for accomplishing it. For the information of those who may 

 wish to practise it, the mode may be thus described : — Take a branch of the 

 ripened wood, and bend it down so that the part at which it is wished to have the 

 roots emitted is slightly buried in the soil, the point being again inclined up- 

 wards. With a stout peg fasten it firmly in its place. It is not necessary to cut 

 the stem in any way, as roots will be emitted very freely without this, if the soil 

 is kept moist. When it is found that roots have been produced, the layered 

 portion may be partly or wholly severed from the parent plant. The Vine 

 stems may, of course, be layered either into pots or into borders, as may 

 be required. Pots with soil in them may also be suspended for the more con- 

 venient placing of the shoots for layering. A not uncommon practice is to lead 

 the shoot through the bottom of the pots, which is then filled with soil, into 

 which the vine readily takes root, and when rooted is dissevered. Very strong 

 Pot-Vines are obtainable in this way. Again, damp moss or any other similar 

 material may be tied round the stem, and roots will readily bo produced from 

 the parts thus covered, so that plants may be thereby obtained. 



