THE GRAPE. 



growth. Figure 30 shows such a layer after it has rooted. It is a 

 good plan to cover it not more than three inches at first and to fill 

 up the trench as the shoots grow. If covered four inches deep at 

 once the young growth will sometimes rot, though this seldom hap- 

 pens, and some skillful growers fill the trench full at once. In the 

 autumn roots will be found growing from each joint, and these 

 may be cut apart and treated as recommended for weak vines 

 grown from cuttings. If this method of propagation is to be used 

 to some considerable extent vines should be grown specially for the 

 purpose. It is not a good plan to use fruiting vines for layering to 

 any great extent, though it may be safely done in a small way. 

 The subject of grafting the grape will be considered* later in a 

 special chapter on grafting and budding. 



Location of the Vineyard. Some of the hardy, early rip- 

 ening but inferior grapes will mature in almost any situation, but 



the better kinds need a 

 warm exposure and free 

 circulation of the air about 

 them to insure their ripen- 

 ing each year. High south- 

 ern slopes generally offer 

 the best locations ; in such 

 places there is the greatest 

 amount of heat in summer, 

 very general immunity 

 from the late frosts of 

 spring or the early frosts of autumn, and a movement of the air at 

 all times; all of which are important matters in growing grapes. 

 Other slopes, and even level land, may be successfully used for 

 this purpose, but on northern exposure the fruit will be later in 

 ripening than if in situa- 

 tions where the plants re- 

 ceive the direct rays of the 

 sun. However, excellent 

 fruit may often be grown 

 on a northern slope if it is 

 near some large body of 

 water, which will help 

 maintain an equable tem- 

 perature, and especially to FIG. 29. The rooted layer separated, mak 

 keep off the early frosts of ing two plants 



autumn. In a vineyard closely shut in so that the foliage of the 

 vines does not dry off quickly after summer showers it will be 

 found very difficult to grow many of our better kinds of grapes, on 

 account of the prevalence of fungus diseases in such places. Trie 

 cutting away of a belt of trees surrounding a vineyard, so as to 

 allow a free movement of air through the vines at all times, has 

 often been the means of making the difference between failure and 

 success in growing grapes. 



FIG. 28. .4 Hooted Layer. 



