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otherwise obtained. Grafts will often make from ten to twenty 

 feet of wood the first season, and are quite likely to bear the 

 next year. 



Practical vineyardists disagree as to the best time for graft- 

 ing the vine, but all agree that cleft-grafting below the surface 

 of the ground is the most successful method. Husmann, of 

 Missouri, grafts about the middle of March ; others prefer May, 

 after the leaves have expanded. Fuller performs the operation 

 in the fall, covering the graft with an inverted flower-pot, and 

 then with litter, to prevent freezing. He claims that the scion 

 and stock will form a junction during winter, and will start 

 sooner in spring. I have had no experience in grafting the vine. 



RINGING THE VINE. 



This process consists merely in removing a ring of bark from 

 a cane early in June, when it parts readily from the wood, 

 below one or more branches of fruit. The effect is to check the 

 return of sap from the leaves, and cause an enlargement of 

 the cane and fruit above the ring, and hasten maturity. The 

 clusters will be so changed in size and season as hardly to be 

 recognized, unless the cause should be suspected. Fruit thus 

 produced is always ruled out on the exhibition table, and ring- 

 ing is seldom practised, except as a matter of curiosity. It 

 seems now to be admitted, though formerly denied, that the 

 quality of the fruit is equal to that grown in the ordinary way. 

 A similar effect may be produced by winding the cane below the 

 cluster tightly with a wire or strong cord, or even bending the 

 vine back on itself, making the bow as short as we may without 

 breaking. The effect of ringing is said to continue for several 

 years, causing no injury to the vine. 



GRAPE-VINES FROM SEED. 



There is no skill required in growing vines from seed, but 

 whoever embarks in this business will find it a lottery, where 

 the prizes are extremely rare. As in case of other fruits, not 

 one seedling in a thousand will prove superior to its parent ; 

 but prizes have occasionally been drawn, and it may pay for 

 any one taking an interest in grapes to invest a little time in 

 this scheme. 



The question will arise as to the best method to pursue in 



