94 Journal of Agriculture, Victorui. [10 Feb., 1917. 



scion and the stock has become very complete and perfect. The only 

 drawback to this last method is that rather more care and attention 

 are necessary; if too much get away for the sap of the stock is allowed, 

 by omission to stop back and severely limit the stock shoots, the scion 

 bud may fail to shoot, and remain dormant, even though completely 

 knitted to the stock, f A course recommended by a vinegrower of wide 

 experience consists in pruning as shown in Fig. 9 (a, a, a), in August, 

 and stopping the stock shoots (t, t, Fig. 10) in September or October, 

 finally beheading tte stock (x, Fig. 10) at hai-vest time (November, De- 

 cember). This will probably be found gener.ally the most satisfactory 

 methods. 



Staking. 



When suppressing the top of the stock the young vine should also 

 be staked ; if intended to be so trained the permanent stakes can now 

 be placed in position. If the vineyard is to be trellised, the insertion 

 of a temporary stake will be necessary. On no account must staking 

 be omitted ; the bud grafted the previous February or March sends 

 out, in September, a strong shoot (see Fig. 10) which n^ay almost be 

 compared to an asparagus sprout; this grows with extreme rapidity 

 and, together with its foliage, presents a large surface to the wind. 

 The bud is only held in position by the recently formed callus tissues, 

 which are still soft and rather spongy, and not yet consolidated by the 

 woody fibres which will shortly make their appearance. If not care- 

 fully tied to a stake, there is great danger of breakage by wind, in 

 which case it is not alone the young shoot which is broken off, but the 

 whole scion bud is often lifted right out, callus and all ; the graft, of 

 course, being irreparably destroyed. 



This same rapid growth, which constitutes a danger, if not guarded 

 against by staking and tying, is largely responsible for the great per- 

 fection of the unions resulting from the Yema graft. In the case of 

 ordinary spring grafting, it is usually necessary to wait until the vinos 

 have sprouted and bear shoots several inches long before they can be 

 grafted ; the stock is then cut right back. The vine is thus compelled 

 to make a second start. With the Yema, however, from the very com- 

 mencement of the season, practically the whole of the sap sent up from 

 the stock goes into the scion bud, the growth of which is extraordinarily 

 vigorous. New tissues form around its base in great abundance, thus 

 resulting in a very perfect union ; the rapidly developed vessels are 

 large and direct, so that a Yema graft, if properly executed, will pre- 

 sent less obstruction to the free flow of sap than most other forms of 

 graft. 



The temporary stakes need not be very long ; two feet out of the 

 ground will suffice to insure protection against breakage and a straight 

 stem to the young vine. It is well to dip the lower ends of the stakes 

 in kerosene, before driving them into the ground, as a precaution 

 against white ants. 



t An interesting case came under the writer's notice recently near Rutherplen. Some resistant 

 stocks, planted in August, 1914. were "Yema" grafted in FelTuary, 191,^. Owing to insufficient cutting 

 b!icl( of tlie stock in September. 1915, numerous buds failed to sprout. It was assumed tliat tliey were 

 dead, and tlie stoclcs were again grafted by the same method in Fel)ruary. 1916. On the stock being cut 

 back severely in September, 1916, both grafts grew, thus provins* that the 191.T ones were not dead, but 

 dormant. 



