PROPAGATION OF THE GRAPE VINE : BY CUTTINGS. 



Fig. 2. 



VINE CUTTING. 



2. Cuttings. This term is applied to Vine shoots 

 having several buds or eyes, as shown in fig. 2. This 

 mode of increase is that generally adopted in the Vine- 

 yards of all the great Vine-growing countries, where 

 Vines are required by thousands : but it is rarely made 

 use of for raising them in this country. We, however, 

 adopt much the same method in the propagation of 

 our Currants and Gooseberries. The cuttings are 

 selected and cut into lengths of from eight to twelve 

 inches, leaving usually attached a small piece of 

 the two-year-old wood a " heel," as it is termed. 

 The French term such cuttings boutures par crossette. 

 The Vignerons are, however, not very particular as to 

 the quantity of this old wood which is left, or, 

 indeed, whether there is any left, and it is quite 

 immaterial. The lower eyes or buds should be cut out, 

 leaving only two or three at the top of the cutting. 

 In the Vineyards these cuttings are planted in the 

 ground at once, in small trenches, and treated as per- 

 manent plants. It is a method which has not been, 

 and never will be, much practised in this country. 



3. Eyes. By this term is meant the single buds 

 of the ripened wood of the previous season's growth. 

 This is the mode of propagating the Vine almost 

 universally adopted throughout this country, and it is 

 by far the best ; it is, however, only available for 

 practice under glass, so that it is suited to our necessi- 

 ties, and could not be followed were we obliged to have 

 recourse to open-air propagation. Fig. 3 shows the 

 eye as prepared for planting. There is no art or skill 

 required in the preparation. The rule is to select 

 always the most perfect eyes from the best ripened 

 wood of Vines that have been matured early ; such 

 buds will be found to start much more freely than 

 those from later ripened wood. It is the hard well- 

 matured wood, with firm plump eyes, that must be 

 looked for, where a stock has to be raised, in preference 

 to the thick soft wood, with seemingly forward eyes. 

 It is well, therefore, to be somewhat particular in 

 selecting the eyes, so that every one of them may be 

 depended on; this is far better than putting in a 

 great number, and then having to throw half of them 

 away. Having selected the wood, proceed to cut the 

 eyes, as shown in fig. 3, to about one inch or a little 

 more in length, that is to say, about half-an-inch on 

 each side of the eye. Some persons prefer cutting 

 the wood straight across, whilst others favour a slightly 



