48 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA. 



of Martinez, Contra Costa County. The University imported a number 

 of selected resistants, and asked Mr. Swett to make some comparative 

 experiments with the selected re-imported resistants and some non- 

 descript varieties of the same species he had from a Nebraska importation. 

 He grafted the two kinds side by side on the same variety of vine of the 

 same age, and found that while the selected varieties gave, in one hundred 

 and twenty days, twenty-one foot canes over \ inch in diameter, the other 

 gave about one fourth the growth and size. The balance of the cuttings 

 were planted at various points in the State, and few of the canes were 

 large enough for cutting grafting; though, of course, they were large 

 enough (though there were few of them) for use as cuttings used in the 

 old-fashioned way. Hence, to all those who desire to propagate improved 

 varieties, in order to get what cuttings they can the first year, we would 

 recommend that they graft these cuttings on old, vigorous vines. It 

 might be well also to advise here, that much more available wood can 

 be made if care is taken, during the early growth of the vine, to pinch 

 off all secondary growth, and confine the energies of the vine to forcing 

 the main canes. This is easily and cheaply done, and pays handsomely 

 on the few hours' time expended in this work. After the first pressing 

 needs in supplying cuttings have been satisfied, a few can be planted on 

 some rich, moist land, and these can be kept for all time for propagating 

 purposes. Vines thus preserved are called " mother-vines." 



Many suppose that it is necessary to scrape, or slash, the bark of a 

 grapevine in order to facilitate the throwing-out of roots. This is only 

 partly true. It is never necessary, but in the case of certain vines that 

 root with difficulty, such as the Lenoir, Herbemont, Solonis, etc., it may 

 do some good, in facilitating the penetration of water into the tissue of 

 the cane, to replace that which has been lost by evaporation from that 

 part above ground. In the case of cuttings that have been slightly 

 dried out, this scarring or scratching is sometimes profitable. 



The most important thing in the preparation of a "cutting-stock" is 

 the removal of all the buds or eyes from the stock, even the one at the 

 very base of the cane. It will not suffice to pinch these off with the 

 finger-nail. They should be carefully cut away with a knife, so that 

 they cannot possibly grow out again. Mere pinching off of the bud 

 causes four or five others to grow out around the one suppressed. These 

 live at the expense of the whole vine, and greatly hinder the formation 

 of a proper joint. 



This precaution is especially necessary in the case of the Rupestris. 

 This species is accused of "taking" very poorly from cutting-grafts. 

 It would seem, however, that the reported failures in this case are due 

 solely to the fact that the buds were improperly suppressed. 



In the case of the Vialla or Riparia one can merely pinch them off; 

 but in the case of the Rupestris, etc., they must be cut off with a very 

 small portion of the bark, leaving a clearly-cut shield-shaped cut. If 

 Rupestris cutting-stocks are thus cut they "take" better than almost 

 any other. Hence, we may advise that in all cases of cutting grafting, 

 the buds of the stock should be carefully removed. Prof. Viala tells us 

 of 45,000 grafted Rupestris cuttings that he planted, and made 80% 

 grow well. 



Mr. H. Lefranc, of San Jose, last year imported a number of grafted 

 cuttings of Rupeptris from France, and made 70% grow, and these had 

 been treated in the same way. 



