50 MANUAL OF AMERICAN GRAPE-GROWING 



Before that there is too much danger that heavy rains may- 

 keep the soil soaked for several weeks — a condition very 

 unfavorable to the formation of good unions. In any case 

 the grafting should not be done while the soil is wet. Graft- 

 ing may continue as long as the cuttings can be kept dormant. 

 It is difficult to graft successfully, however, when the bark of 

 the stock becomes loose, as it does soon after the middle of 

 April in most localities." 



As in the East, it is necessary in California to remove suckers 

 from the roots and roots from the cions once or twice during 

 the summer. Suckers should not be allowed to overshade the 

 graft, though it is best not to remove them until danger of 

 disturbing the graft is past. The grafts should be staked and 

 the vines looked after as recommended for eastern conditions. 



Bench grafting. 



The resistant vineyards of France and California are now 

 started almost entirely with bench-grafted vines. It has been 

 learned m these regions that a grafted vine, to be a permanent 

 success, must have the consorting parts perfectly united, and 

 that the sooner the grafting is done in the life of stock and cion 

 the better the union. Cions of the variety wanted are, there- 

 fore, grafted on resistant roots or resistant cuttings in the 

 workshop and then planted in the nursery. Bench grafting 

 has the advantage over field grafting in time gained and in 

 securing a fuller stand of vines. 



Bench grafting really begins with the selection of cuttings, 

 since success largely depends on good cuttings of both stock 

 and cion. Cuttings are taken from strong healthy vines and 

 are of medium size, with short to medium joints. The best 

 size is one-third of an inch in diameter, that of stock and cion 

 being the same since the two must match exactly. The cutting- 

 wood may be taken from the mother vines at any time during 

 the dormant season up to two weeks before buds swell in the 



