608 Journal of Agriculture, Victoria. [10 Oct., 19] 7. 



SPRING GRAFTING OF THE VINE. 



By F. dfl Castella, Government Viticulturist. 



(Continued from Page 505.) 



If, when grafted, the stock is of such a size that scions equal to it 

 in diameter are obtainable, several courses are open. 



The ordinary cleft graft, described in last issue, may still be prac- 

 tised. In this special case, the canibinni sections of stock and scion 

 can be made to meet at the back as well as at the front of the graft, a 

 very neat union resulting, almost equal in fact to that obtained with 

 the whip-tongue graft. Should the scion happen to be slightly larger 

 than the stock, knitting at front and back can still be obtained by 

 trimming the scion in such a way that the apex of the wedge forms the 

 diameter of the cane ; in other words, the apex should be through the 

 pith and not to one side of it. The trimmed scion can then be squeezed 

 '' fore and aft," the pith yielding sufficiently to allow the cambium sec- 

 tions to be completely brought in contact. 



In addition the grafter has the option of three other grafts, namely, 

 the " mitre " or " aglet," Champin's and the whip-tongue grafts. The 

 first two are described in Aincrican Vinrti by Viala and Ravaz, and in 

 The Manual of Modern Viticidture by G. Foex (obtainable from this 

 Department).* Though capajble of giving good unions, they are inferior 

 to the whip-tongue graft, which is the only one of the three we need 

 here consider in detail. 



The Whip-Tongie Graft. 



This is certainly the best of all grafts. It is, in fact, the only theo- 

 retically perfect one. The cambiums meet at every point of the cut 

 surfaces, with the result that in the case of stout stemmed stocks it is 

 often impossible, after a few years, to discern the point of union. 

 Horticulturists, and particularly apple growers, have long been familiar 

 with this graft, but, as applied to the vine, and especially of recent 

 years, it has undergone such considerable modifications that they would 

 scarcely recognise it as now executed in the State Vine Nursery at 

 Wahgunyah as the same graft they practice. The main difference 

 lies in both stock and scion being cut to a nmch shorter bevel. This 

 shortness has, indeed, been considerably accentuated of recent years, 

 with excellent results, as will be shown presently. 



The older type of whip-tongue graft, as applied to the vine, will be 

 readily understood on reference to Fig. G. Stock and scion are pre- 

 pared in exactly similar manner; both are cut to the same bevel by a 

 single movement of the grafting knife. This bevel is at a somewhat 

 variable angle, but usually between 15° and 25°, according to different 

 authorities, f 



* Ameririii} T*i>)c\ ; their adaptation, raltiire. ijrujting and propagation ; by P. Viala and L. Ravaz. 

 KiiRlisli traiisl;itioii l.y l)iilicii« and Wilkinson (I'.lOl). Post tree. Is. IJd. 



M>iin'a! t>f Mn>h-ri, V itifult'irr : R'niustitiition with Amrrican Vines; by G. Fo6x English translation 

 by Duliois ami Wilkinson (nil)2). Post Irii-. Hid. 



Those two standard works by leading French authorities contain much valuable information 

 concerning vine graftinc. 



t Accordine to Foex, 16" to 18°. 



According to Pacottet. 14° for small canes, and 17° for Inrtier canes. Biolotti (Bulletin No. 180, 

 University of California, 1906) states that " the length of cut surface should be from three to four times 

 the diameter of cutting, the shorter cut for the larger sizes and the longer for the thinner. This will 

 correspond to an angle of from 1-1"5° to 19"5°. 



