The Canadian Horticulturist. 



119 



GRAPE PRUNING. 



ROPAGATORS differ as to the best time for cleft graft- 

 ing the grape vine, but probably it may be done with 

 best success in spring, just before the buds begin to 

 swell. Any one familiar with the ordinary method of 

 top grafting the apple tree, will have little trouble. The 

 vine is cut off three or four inches below the surface of 

 the ground, splitjwith a grafting chisel, and held open 

 with a wedge until the scion is fitted to its place. The 

 scion need not be over six inches long, and should have 

 a wedge-shaped end, smoothly cut, to fit the cleft in such 

 a manner that when it is allowed to close, the bark of the old and new wood 

 will be in close union. Use no grafting wax ; but, if necessary,[tie the cleft with 

 a string, and then heap the earth carefully about the graft, leaving but one bud 

 of the sc'on above the surface (Fig. 642). 



Or, if the stump is old and knotty, you may 

 splice graft a smaller branch. Do this at a 

 distance of two or three feet from the stump, 

 and then lay the grafted branch down carefully. 



Fig. 642.— Cleft Grafted Grape. ' Fig. 643.— Grafted Cane of Grape 



fasten it in place with a peg, and cover the graft with earth, pressing it down 

 firmly. Leave one bud above ground, and when you see signs of growth rub 

 off all others between the branch and the main stump (see Fig. 643). 



The earlier the scions are cut the better, while the buds are quite dormant ; 

 after they have begun to swell the scions would be useless. They can be kept 

 in earth, or in green sawdust until needed. The wild vines can be grafted as 

 well as the cultivated varieties. 



Relations of Nitrogen to Fertilizers. — Experiments have shown 

 that nitrogen is essential to the growth of plants ; that the quantities of nitrogen 

 available as plant food are very small ; that nitrogen is one of the first elements 

 in the soil to be used up ; that, of all fertilizing elements, nitrogen is and always 

 has been the most expensive. 



