46 Propagation of the Grape Vine. 



Art. III. On the Propagation of the Grape Vine; with Observa- 

 tions on its Management, Pruning, S^^e., in the Green-hojise and 

 Grapery, and the Formation of Vine Borders. By J. W. Russell. 



Ever since the introduction of the grape into Great Britain, it has 

 been highly esteemed, and extensively cultivated. Large vineyards 

 were formerly existing in many places, and wine equal to that of 

 Burgundy, was prepared from grapes growing in the unfavorable 

 climate of England. Its first introduction into the forcing depart- 

 ment, was about the commencement of the eighteenth century ; and 

 this was done by fires, kept burning in hollow walls, upon which the 

 vines were trained. Since this period, houses for its cultivation alone 

 have been erected, and scarcely a garden can be called complete, 

 unless grapes are one of its principal productions; and it has at once 

 been the pride and boast of the English gardener, to raise to perfec- 

 tion this excellent fruit. Various methods and plans have been sug- 

 gested, for the proper construction of houses to facilitate their culti- 

 vation; and numberless opinions advanced, in regard to propagation, 

 pruning, training and management: but perhaps, after all, not so 

 much depends upon any one method of proceeding, as upon the 

 knowledge of the management of an artificial climate. As the grape 

 vine is now becoming extensively grown, in green-houses and 

 graperies, in this country, and as some observations to aid its success- 

 ful cultivation may be useful to your readers, I here offer such prac- 

 tical remarks as are the results of a method I have pursued, with 

 scarcely an instance of disappointment. 



The vine is propagated from a single eye (or bud) with two or 

 three inches of the preceding year's wood ; this method I prefer to 

 any other as yet known by me, for the following reasons: they pro- 

 duce more abundant roots, — grow shorter jointed, — and will, if judi- 

 ciously treated, come into bearing the second year. Those who 

 wish to propagate the vine from eyes, must prepare for making a hot- 

 bed to forward their growth : I should recommend the bed to be 

 made about the first week in April, rather than earlier in the season ; 

 nothing is gained by beginning sooner, as there will be more difficul- 

 ties to contend with, and the vine, when checked in its infancy, 

 rarely, if ever recovers. An equal portion of oak leaves and stable 

 manure, well blended together, makes the best hot-bed; if oak leaves 

 cannot be obtained, any hard-wood leaves will answer as a substitute. 

 It would forward the work, by mixing the compost intended to make 

 the bed of, a week or ten days before it is wanted for use, into a 

 round heap in some sheltered place. If the ground is level where 

 the bed is to be made, I should recommend as a preventive against 

 water after heavy rains chilling it through, brush-wood or the prun- 

 ings of trees, laid about a foot in depth, which will remedy the evil. 

 Take the dimensions of the frame proposed to be used, and measure 



