PROPAGATION 59 



in trenches made with plow or spade ; or tliey may be planted 

 in very shallow trenches with a dibble. After planting, the 

 grafts are covered with an inch or two of soil, thus forming a 

 wide ridge in the nursery row with the union of the grafts at 

 the original level of the soil. Cultivation should begin at 

 once and be frequent enough to prevent the formation of a 

 crust, in order that the young shoots may not have difficulty 

 in forcing their w^ay through the soil. Roots start on the 

 cions sooner than on the stock, the soil being warmer at the 

 surface, and help sustain the cions until the stocks are well 

 rooted, at which time all roots started on the cion are removed, 

 and at the same time the tying material is cut if it has not rotted. 

 Suckers are removed as soon as they show above ground. The 

 grafts are dug as soon as the leaves fall and the young vines 

 become dormant, after which they are sorted in three lots, 

 according to size of top and root, and heeled-in in a cool moist 

 place until they are to be planted. 



Nursery versus home-grown vines. 



The verdict of all vineyardists is that it is better to buy 

 nursery-grown vines than to attempt to grow them. The 

 high quality of the vines which can be purchased and the 

 reasonable purchase price make it hardly worth while to try 

 home-grown vines, especially since considerable investment, 

 experience and skill are required to grow good vines. 



"Pedigreed" Grape Vines 



Many viticulturists, in common with orchardists, believe 

 that their plants should be propagated only from parents 

 which have good characters, that is, are vigorous, healthy, 

 productive, and bear fruit of large size, perfect form, 

 good color and good quality. They believe, in short, that 

 varieties can be improved by bud selection. There is, however, 



