284 VILLA GARDENING part hi 



Peopagatiox. — Cuttings and layers are the best methods of 

 raising young Vines, and their propagation by single eyes is of 

 course a form of striking them from cuttings. In raising them 

 from layers the stems should be split, or a notch cut just beneath 

 a bud, for the purpose of arresting the sap at this particular point, 

 where it soon forms into granular matter, from which roots quickly 

 issue. The autumn is the best season for layering, and toward 

 the end of the month of September or beginning of October the 

 work may be done, pressing the soil about their stems. Cuttings 

 7 or 8 inches long, taken off if possible with a heel of old wood, 

 l^lanting them firmly in the border near the wall, at the right dis- 

 tances apart, which may be eight or more feet, or even nearer if the 

 wall is required to be covered soon. Single eyes may be cut from 

 well-ripened wood, with a shield of wood at the back of the bud 

 an inch or so long. Pieces of tough sod or turf 5 or 6 inches 

 square may be prepared from a Gr-ass field or common. A little 

 soil should be scooped out of the centre of each, one eye pressed 

 into it, and a little light, rich soil pressed firmly round it ; and 

 the sod may be started with a little warmth in a frame or pit, or 

 a close frame without artificial heat might do. When the plants 

 have made some progress place a stake to each, and as the season 

 advances, and the weather becomes more settled, plant out, setting 

 the piece of turf in the hole carefully without disturbing the roots. 

 Water must be given to cause the young plants to begin growth 

 at once, without let or hindrance. 



Varieties. — Black Cluster, Esperione, Muscat Lierval, Muscat 

 St. Laurent, Royal Muscadine, Ingram's Hardy Prolific Muscat, 

 Sweetwater. 



CHAPTER X 



"Walnuts and Chestnuts. — Apart from the value of their 

 fruit, which, in a good season, is considerable, these trees are very 

 effective in the home landscape and grow into valuable timber. No 

 greater inducements than those can be ofiered to a planter, and I 

 am rather surprised that planting is not more frequent. 



Walnuts suffer much from late frosts, and often the crop is 

 ruined from this cause, especially in low-lying situations; hence, 

 when grown chiefly for their fruit, rather an elevated, but, at the 

 same time, a somewhat sheltered site should be chosen. 



Propagation. — Walnuts are generally raised from seeds, though, 

 like most other fruits, the seedlings vaiy in character a little. 

 In making a jjlautation for fmit bearing, it is better to plant about 



