526 ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND FACTS FOR THE PEOPLE. 



three inches above ground and the earth 

 thrown up around it, to be removed only 

 after the graft is thoroughly and perma- 

 nently joined. There will then be no 

 danger of the graft forming its own roots; 

 and it is certainly as easy to throw the 

 ■earth around the vine as to dig it away, 

 while the mechanical work can be much 

 more conveniently and agreeably per- 

 formed above than beneath the surface. 

 No doubt this mode of grafting needs 

 greater care to make it successful, espe- 

 cially in a very dry season, as the mound 

 is more apt to dry out than the level 

 ground, yet there is not lacking evidence 

 that this method will work well in our 

 soil and climate. Mr. John Vallet, of 

 New Haven, a grape-grower of much 

 experience, has had eminent success in 

 thus grafting above ground, employing 

 flax twine and paw-paw bard for bandag- 

 ing. He considers that the vine grows 

 more vigorously and that there is less 

 danger of separating the graft when once 

 formed, as there is no necessity for going be- 

 low ground to destroy the suckers, the do- 

 ing of which sometimes loosens the graft. 



The second method is by inarching. 

 This system of grafting does not seem to 

 have been much practiced in this coun- 

 try, yet while it requires great care, and 

 success may not as often crown the effort 

 as in the former methods, we hope more 

 attention will in future be given to it. 



The operation is comparatively simple: 

 A slice two or three inches long is cut 

 from one side of the vine to be grafted, 

 and a similar slice from the vine which is 

 to serve as stock, as near the base or butt 

 as possible. The two cut portions are 

 then brought face to face, so as to fit as 

 neatly as possible, and are then bound to- 

 gether with cord, basswood bark or other 

 grafting bandage, which should be kept 

 moist with moss. In the course of a fort- 

 night partial unison takes place, when the 

 bandage should be somewhat loosened to 

 admit the expansion. In six or eight 

 weeks, if the operation is successful, the 

 stock and cion are firmly united, when 

 the bandage may be removed. The graft 

 immediately below the union and the 

 stock immediately above it should then 

 be partially severed, and in a week or so 

 more, entirely cut loose. 



The following description of the method 

 has been furnished us : 



For this method it is desirable that two 

 plants, one each of the variety which is to 

 form the stock, and one of the cion, be 

 planted close together, say about one foot 

 apart. In June, (the first year, if the 

 plants make a sufficiently strong growth, 

 if not, the second year), or as soon as the 

 young shoots become sufficiently hard and 

 woody to bear the knife, a shoot is taken 

 from both the stock and the cion vine, 

 and at a convenient place, where they 

 may be brought in contact, a shaving is 

 taken out from each of these, on the side 

 next to the other, for a length of two to 

 three inches. This must be done with a 

 smooth cut of a sharp knife, a little deeper 

 than the inner bark, so as to obtain on 

 each a flat surface. They are then fitted 

 snugly together, so that the inner bark 

 joins as much as possible, and wrapped 

 securely with some old calico torn in 

 strips, or soft bass strings. Besides this, 

 it is well to place one tie a little below, 

 and one above the grafted point, and also 

 to tie the united canes to a stake or trellis 

 to insure against all chances of loosening 

 by the swaying of the wind. The rapid 

 swelling of the young growth at this 

 period of the year makes it desirable that 

 the grafts be looked over after a few weeks, 

 replacing such ties which may have burst, 

 and loosening others which may bind so 

 as to cut into the wood. A union will 

 generally be made in the course of two or 

 three weeks, which will be further consoli- 

 dated in the course of six to eight weeks, 

 when the bandages may be removed and 

 the grafted portion left exposed to the 

 sun, to thoroughly harden and ripen it. 

 The shoots themselves are to be left to 

 grow undisturbed for the rest of the sea- 

 son. In the fall, if a good union has 

 taken place, the cane forming the cion is 

 cut close below its union with the stock 

 cane, which in its turn is cut close above 

 the connection. Supposing the stock to 

 have been a Concord and the cion 3 

 Delaware, we now have a vine of the 

 latter entirely on the strong, vigorous root 

 of the former. Of course constant vigih 

 ance must be exercised to prevent suckers 

 from starting out of the stock. It is well 

 to protect the grafted joint the first few 

 winters by a slight covering of straw or 

 soil to prevent the frost from splitting it 

 apart. 

 The party in giving his experience, 



