10 



PROPAGATION OP THE GRAPE VINE. 



excellent plunging material is cocoa-nut refuse placed over hot-water 

 tanks. The eyes themselves strike root most readily into this 

 material when it is mixed with a little sand, only the roots formed 

 do not make a sufficiency of fibres, so that they remove badly. The 

 soil should be gently watered after putting in the eyes, and be kept 

 moist, but not at any time allowed to become soddened. When 

 these " eye-cuttings " commence to form a callus, the buds will, at the 

 same time, be bursting into leaf. This is the delicate and critical 

 period, for every part is tender and easily destroyed. It is necessary 



Fig. 4. VINE EYE STARTED. 



at this stage to be extremely careful as to the watering and the 

 temperature. Once, however, that the top is growing, and the roots 

 started, as in fig. 4, reaching to the side of the small pot, they are 

 comparatively safe ; and this, if all circumstances have been favourable, 

 should be in about a fortnight after inserting the eyes. About the 



