PROPAGATION OF THE GRAPE VINE I BY GRAFTING. 13 



lias ceased to grow, while another part is still in a growing state, or, 

 .at least, is capable of growth. The object of the operation is to 

 secure adequate contact of the growing portions of the scion and of the 

 stock respectively. The difficulty of the process lies, not in the 

 operation itself, but chiefly in getting the stock and the scion into 

 iit condition for each other. The Vine is a plant in which, at 

 the commencement of growth, a most extraordinary quantity of 

 water ascends from the root, so much so that if any portion of the 

 stem is cut at that time, a very large outpouring of watery fluid takes 

 place, which gardeners term " bleeding," although there is no real 

 analogy between this flow of water and the efflux of blood in animals. 

 If cut in winter, this " bleeding " does not take place, neither after 

 the Vines have got into full leaf does this flow occur. Some growers 

 recommend grafting before the rise of this watery sap takes place, 

 when the plants are at rest ; this is not, however, at all a satisfactory 

 or successful time, and the reason why it is not so is chiefly this : 

 there is a want of moisture in the substance of the stock, to sustain 

 the vitality of the scion and facilitate growth, for in grafting or 

 budding, the tissues must be more or less turgid with moisture, but 

 in this case they are not sufficiently so, and so no union is effected. 

 To graft it as we should an Apple, just when the watery sap begins 

 to flow, would be fatal in the case of the Vine, on account of the 

 .great amount of liquid, which would continue to flow for days, and 

 thus prevent the union of the parts. The period which we have found 

 to be the safest and most satisfactory for grafting is just after the 

 first rush of watery sap has passed, when the cells, which constitute 

 the tissues or substance of the plant, are in a growing condition, and 

 before they get dried up. This is also about the time when the 

 first few leaves are fully expanded and the Vines are in flower ; but 

 it is dependent greatly on the strength of the plant, as a vigorous 

 plant will have the watery sap continuing to flow in full tide for 

 -a much longer time than a weaker one. A very good test for 

 ascertaining the exact period we have found to be this : With the 

 point of a knife, just prick the bark ; if a little moisture exudes, the 

 stock is in condition for the graft ; if there is none, it is too late to 

 attempt it ; but should it happen that there is a great flow, continuing 

 for some days, do not attempt to graft or to cut the stock any 

 more, until this flow has somewhat subsided. This pricking will 

 not, from the smallness of the incision, cause much harm, but injury 

 would assuredly result were the cut to be enlarged, as would be 

 required in grafting ; while from the amount of bleeding and the 

 exudation of the cell-contents the union could not, under such 

 circumstances, take place. 



The stock, then, being found in the right condition, it is necessary 

 to have the grafts so likewise they, of course, should also have been 

 properly cared for. To have the cuttings or scions in proper condition 



