﻿112 SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT 



this object is necessarily frustrated in proportion as the graft forms 

 roots of its own. 



There are two methods of grafting above ground, which I have 

 every reason to believe may be made more successful than grape 

 growers have hitherto been led to suppose. The first is by temporarily 

 making a false surface and grafting in the ordinary manner just de- 

 scribed, i. e., instead of digging away the earth and inserting the cion 

 two or three inches below ground, it should be inserted two or three 

 inches above ground and the earth thrown up around it, to be removed 

 only after the graft is thoroughly and permanently joined. There will 

 then be no danger of the graft forming its own roots ; and it is cer- 

 tainly as easy to throw the earth around tlie vine as to dig it away, 

 while the mechanical work can be much more conveniently and agree- 

 ably performed above than beneath the surface. No doubt this mode 

 of grafting needs greater care to make it successful, especially in a 

 very dry season, as the mound is more apt to dry out than the level 

 ground. Yet there is not lacking evidence that this method will work 

 well in our soil and climate. Mr. Jno. Vallet, of New Raven, a grape- 

 grower of much experience, has had eminent success in thus grafting 

 above ground, employing flax twine and paw-paw bark for bandaging. 

 He considers that the vine grows more vigorously and that there is less 

 danger of separating the graft when once formed, as there is no neces- 

 sity for going below ground to destroy the suckers, the doing of which 

 sometimes loosens the graft.* 



The second method is by inarching. This system of grafting does 

 not seem to have been much practiced in this country, yet while it 

 requires great care, and success may not as often crown the efiort as 

 in the former methods, I hope more attention will in future be given 

 to it. 



The operation is comparatively simple : A slice two or three 

 inches long is cut from one side of the vine to be grafted, and a simi- 

 lar slice from the vine which is to serve as stock, as near the base or 

 butt as possible. The two cut portions are then brought face to face, 

 so as to fit as neatly as possible, and are then bound together with 

 cord, basswood bark or other grafting bandage, which should be kept 



*Mr. Vallet informs me that in 1861 he grafted above ground for Emile Mallinckrodt, in St. Louis 

 county, a number of Catawbas on Isabella stock; that they did admirably, and subsequently produced 

 from 60 to 80 bunches to each vine. lie also, in the same manner, in the years 1802 and 1863, grafted 

 Uelaware onto Isabella, 12 miles from St. Louis in Mr. Layton's vinejard on ihe Olive street plank 

 road. The grafts did splendidly, and subsequently gave line crops. By contrast to this experience, and 

 interesting from the Phylloxera standpoint, he grafted for Miller & Bates, of New Haven, Virginia 

 Seedling on Catawba, (1.500 in 1868 and l.'iOO in 1867,) and no grapes resulted, onlj' five per cent, of 

 the grafts growing. 



