476 [ THE VINE. 



be expended on their formation would go to increase the 

 production of good cuttings. It should be noted, how- 

 ever, that cuttings exceeding i c.m. in thickness are 

 undesirable, so that in order not to have canes of exces- 

 sive thickness with two much pith, it is advisable to allow 

 or favour the growth of numerous shoots, which will also 

 result in a larger yield of cuttings. The number of 

 mother-plants to be grown, of course depends on the 

 extent of the vineyard, but as a well grown mother-plant 

 will yield from 30 to 50 cuttings, a small reserve of 10 

 to 20 mother-plants will be sufficient to provide cuttings 

 to fill up. the gaps which may take place from year to 

 year in a vineyard of about two hectares. 



The cuttings intended as stock for grafting may be 

 taken at any time from November to February, and 

 should be long from 20 to 30 c.m , and are carefully 

 disbudded, that is all their buds with ths exception of the 

 uppermost are cut off cleanly to prevent the formation 

 of suckers from the stock of the grafted plant. They 

 are then planted either in their final quarters, where 

 they may be grafted in the following winter, or in 

 nursery beds where they will receive better treatment, 

 and will furnish grafted and well rooted plants in two 

 years, of the type and strength most desirable for plant- 

 ing out in the vineyard. In the nursery bed the cuttings 

 are planted in a straight or perpendicular position, in 

 soil which has been deeply tilled or trenched, and 

 manured, and are stuck at a depth of 20 to 30 c.m. with 

 the uppermost bud at ground level or slightly above it, 

 many good growers preferring to cover up the uppermost 

 bud with soil which is ridged up over the bud to a height 

 of about 5 c.m. The cuttings are best planted in alter- 

 nate double or treble rows, 20 c.m. from one row to 

 another. The distance between the double or treble row 

 and the next should be from 40 to 50 c.m. to allow easy 

 access for the necessary cultural operations. The cuttings 



