134 



THE GRAPE. 



plant. The most common process is to merely cover with 

 soil, leaving the ends protruding, any time from the fall 

 of the leaf until the rise of the sap, but as there is a 

 " best" in all things, so in this, and we may as well show 

 it. Early in the summer, when the young growth has 



Fig. 26. 



attained to the length of six or eight inches, bring down 

 the branch intended to be laid, cover the M'hole length to 

 the depth of three inches, and peg it down, leaving the 

 tops that were the previous laterals above the soil; during 

 the summer roots will be emitted at every joint, and of 

 course there will be as many plants as there are shoots. 

 The same operation may be performed any time up to the 

 middle of July, but if sooner done, a better stock of good 

 and well-rooted plants will be the result. It sometimes so 

 happens, that an increase is wanted from some favorite or 

 new variety that may be in bearing and 

 trained in the grapery, without having 

 to wait so long as the more ordinary 

 methods require. In such case, one or 

 more of the side branches may be drawn 

 through the bottom of a flower-pot, the 

 hole of which has been made large for 

 the purpose, or the pot may be divided 

 into halves and again fixed together by 

 a copper wire ; at the same time a sharp 

 knife should be passed round the stem 



