PROPAGATION OF THE VINE. 191 



support the plant, and greatly facilitate its forming a 

 union with the stock. 



" I have constantly had fine grapes, and the grafts 

 have made good wood, the first season, by every 

 method of grafting, but particularly by the last. In 

 which it is obvious that the graft has a double sup- 

 port, viz. : from the stock, as well as from the plant in 

 the pot. 



" In this method it will be necessary to let the clay 

 and bandage remain two or three months after the 

 graft has formed a union ; for if taken off at an 

 earlier period, the grafted part of the plant will be 

 very liable to spring from the stock. 



" The pot should be plentifully supplied with water 

 till the month of August, when the graft should be 

 separated from the plant in the pot. Two or three 

 inches of wood below the bottom of the graft may be 

 left, but should be taken clean off at the next winter's 

 pruning." 



Grafting is a common practice in the vineyards of 

 France. Chaptal's directions are as follows : 



" Having selected a healthy stock, it is, just when 

 the sap is beginning to flow, taken off with a clean 

 cut an inch or two below the surface of the ground. 

 The upper portion of the stock, which must be per- 

 fectly free from knots, is split evenly down the centre 

 and pared quite smooth within, of a sufficient size for 



