556 Journal of KgriculUire. [8 June, 1908. 



wood !)}• means of four cuts of the grafting knife ; into the gap thus made, 

 whicli reaches nearly to the centre of the cane, the properly cut eye is 

 carefully fitted and securely bound with raffia. Care must be taken in 

 fitting the bud into its place that the cambium layers of stock and scion 

 correspond as accurately as possible. When tving, the raffia must first 

 be placed over the bud and bound round and below it so as to insure 

 thorough contact at the base of the graft. 



This graft is best suited for cases where there is but slight difference 

 in diameter between stock and scion, as is the case when a one or two 

 year old rooted vine is grafted in the vineyard. The upper part of the 

 stock is not cut off but continues its growth, the flow of sap which is 

 then maintained enabling the union to take place under most favorable 

 conditions. The graft knits but the bud remains dormant until the follow- 

 ing spring when it makes very vigorous growth. 



August is the best month for the execution of this graft in Spain. 

 This corresponds to Februarv in Victoria; a convenient time, falling, as 

 it does, between harvest and vintage. As soon as the \oung shoots of the 

 current year are sufficiently lignified to provide a properly ripened bud 

 the operation may be performed. The bud is grafted on at about the 

 level of the ground which is then heaped up around it into a high mound 

 to protect it from changes of temperature and desiccation. 



This graft practically gives the vigneron "two strings to his bow." 

 When the time for ordinary or " Espiga " grafting comes round (early 

 spring) it is possible to see if the bud has taken or if it is dead ; in 

 the latter case the stock is cut off half an inch below the bud graft and 

 regrafted in the ordinary wav. 



The unions obtained 1)\ means of this graft in southern Spain are 

 really magnificent, though I have heard that they are less perfect in 

 cooler climates. I was much struck by the regularity of the vines and the 

 perfection of the union on a large block of 3 vear old vines reconstituted 

 in this wav at the Castello de Macharnudoi. 



At the well known Tula vineyard of ^lessrs. Gonzalez. Byass, and 

 Coy., this style of grafting is in great favor. "Espiga nc vale nada'''' 

 (The espiga graft is no good) said the Capatas (overseer) of Tula to me. 

 He assured me that with the Ycma a larger percentage succeeded and 

 that the unions were more perfect. I have collected full information con- 

 cerning this interesting graft and feel sure that it is at least worth a 

 careful trial in the warmer parts of Victoria where climatic conditions are 

 so similar to those of Andalucia. and where the perfect union it gives 

 will no doubt render it popular. 



SUBSOILING AND ESTABLISHMENT OF THE ViNEYARD. 



Sul)soiling is looked upon as an absolutely indispensable operation. It 

 is earned out by hand to a depth of from 2 to 3 feet. I saw one case 

 of a rejjlanted vineyard subsoiled 2 feet deep where the owner complained 

 that the vines had suffered from last season's drought more than they would 

 ha\e had the trenching been deeper. 



Trenching is usually performed in summer, especially where spear 

 grass is prevalent as it is then destroyed by exposure to the hot sun. Sub- 

 .soil and surface are mixed thoroughly. In most of the viticultural 

 districts of Europe I visTted, I was struck by the fact that this is the 

 usual procedure — and by its strong contrast to our Victorian experience, 

 where the stirring of the top different layers of soil to a depth of a 



