46 



Journal of ^Agriculture, Victoria. [10 Jan., 1917. 



One-third of the thickness of the stock is removed, and in its place is fitted 

 one-third of the scion cane hearing a hud. This hud rots and makes way for 

 two or three smaller buds which develop around it, sending out canes of three 

 and four yards long the following season. 



After the lOth August (February in Australia) the work may be continued, 

 the buds being taken from tlie current season's canes. After the 10th September 

 (March in Australia) cold rains are likely to render results uncertain. During 

 the currency of the whole summer it is difficult, a month after grafting, to tell 

 that there has been a graft at all so perfect is tlie union. Needless to say, scions 

 for grafting until July should be preserved in nearly dry sand and in the dark 

 if possible. Should the first graft fail, another can be placed in position in 

 August (February in Australia) about an inch below it. Should this fail also, 

 the ordinary cleft graft can still be practised the following spring, thus assuring 

 thorough success throughout the whole vineyard. 



The vigor of plantations thus established is much superior to those planted 

 with grafted rootlings up to the fifth year; afterwards, the difference is less 

 noticeable. This enhanced vigor is explained, first, by the suppression, so to 



Fig. 4.— Graft similar to "Yema," recommended by M. J. B. Mais. 



speak, of the graft (the union being so perfect), and second, by the fact that 

 when wild vines (ungrafted resistant rootlings) are planted they have often ten 

 or fifteen roots, whereas with grafted rootlings there are sometimes only one or 

 two; furthermore, by leaving the wild vine to itself during the whole of the 

 first season, it grows much more than its grafted neighbour, and as a result its 

 roots penetrate more deeply and develop more vigorously, thus stimulating the 

 growth of the scion much more during the second j'ear. 



If grafted in August-September (February-March here) all the canes of the 

 stock should be severely topped in order to give a check to the sap, such as will 

 bring about a rapid union (soudiire). 



One man can easily do 350 to 400 grafts a day. The scions should be cut before- 

 hand and kept fresh in a piece of wet bag; in order to make rapid progress, it 

 is necessary to have a choice of scions, owing to the difference in diameter of the 

 stocks. 



In spring it is well to drive in a small stake to each vine ; owing to their 

 vigor, the wind might break them out, thus causing blanks. 



Fig. 4 is reproduced from Mr. Mais' article. 



