Cuttings. The most general mode of propagating the Grape Vine is by 

 cuttings, which root with great facility. They should be made from well- 

 ripened wood of the previous season's growth, taking care that the shoots- 

 are free from disease of any kind. Some difference of opinion exists as to 

 the best length for cuttings, but this point must, to some extent, be 

 decided by the locality in which trey are to be grown. The proper 

 length will range from nine to fifteen inches, with from three to six 

 joints, and as a rule the cuttings should be inserted so as to only leave 

 one or two buds above the ground. In the warmer and drier districts^ 

 where the dry seasons are severe, the cuttings should be planted deeper 

 than in cooler localities, and consequently they must be proportionately 

 longer. There is, however, no other advantage in using long cuttings,, 

 and for ordinory conditions shorter ones are preferable. The best cuttings 

 are those that are taken from the lower portions of the shoots, and these 

 should have the preference when they can be readily obtained. Some- 

 times cuttings are used with a base of two-year-old wood, and these are 

 called, from their appearance, " mallet cuttings." These cuttings strike 

 freely, but only from the portion at the base of the last season's shoots 



Strong Cutting with 

 two joints. 



Cutting with three 

 joints. 



Mallet Cutting. I 



Shield or Heel 

 Cutting. 



and the old wood is liable to decay. To get over this drawback, some 

 growers make it a practice to merely leave a " shield " or " heel " of the 

 old wood, as shown in the illustration. Cuttings may be either planted 

 directly where they are to remain or rooted in nursery beds. Each plan 

 has its advantages and drawbacks. As regards the first, Grape Vines do 

 nor bear shifting so well as ordinary fruit trees, and are often seriously 

 checked by removal. On the other hand, when cuttings are planted out 

 directly they often fail through the effects of dry weather unless they 

 receive special attention in watering and keeping them free from weeds. 

 The writer considers that the surer and more economical method is to 

 strike the cuttings in nurseiy beds, and plant out the following season. 

 When this plan is adopted, a large number of plants can be obtained from 

 a small area that can be readily attended to by the cultivator. The 



