CHAPTER XII. 



: PROPAGATION AND THE RAISING OF 

 NEW KINDS. 



The grape-vine may be propagated from Eyes, Cut- 

 tings, Layers, Seed, and by Grafting, 



Eyes. — An Eye is a short portion of a branch having 

 only one bud, Fig. 22. This method is most commonly 

 made use of for increasing the exotic varieties, and is 

 equally applicable to the natives; it is the best for all 

 purposes, where there is the convenience of a glass frame 

 or hot-house. The process is as follows : rig^^22. 



Any time from the beginning of Febru- 

 ary to the last of March take well- 

 ripened yearling branches, and cut into 

 as many pieces as there are buds, so 

 that one remain to each portion ; reduce the wood above 

 and below, by a slanting cut, diverging from the bud on 

 both ends ; have in readiness as many pots, propagating 

 pans, or shallow boxes with holes in the bottom, as may 

 be needed, throw in an inch or two of small lumps of 

 charcoal or broken crocks j over this, place a layer of 

 moss, and fill up with soil, of loose but moderately fertile 

 texture ; make it somewhat solid, and press the prepared 

 buds into it, an inch apart, so that the tops be level with 

 the surface; place them in a gentle hot-bed, or a house 

 where a night temperature of ^5° to 60** is maintained ; 

 keep the earth moist, but not too wet, as the young shoots 

 when they begin to protrude are liable to be injured by 



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