256 THE VINEYARD. [MARCH 



to turn out of the pots in July, with the balls of earth, wherever 

 they are intended to remain ; and from thenceforward they may be 

 treated exactly in the same manner as recommended hereafter for 

 plants raised from cuttings, only that they will require some slight 

 protection from the frosts of the ensuing winter. 



PROPAGATION BY LAYERS. 



"When the vine is intended to be propagated by layers, the best 

 shoots of the preceding season that can be most conveniently brought 

 to the earth, are to be chosen for that purpose. After making the 

 ground light and fine with the spade, each shoot must be fastened 

 with a hooked stick about five or six inches below the surface, with 

 the tops somewhat erect, and cut so as to leave but two buds above 

 ground; this work may be done at any time when the weather per- 

 mits, from the middle or beginning of October till the end of March, 

 or rather until and at the time of spring pruning; for, if done much 

 later, the top of the layer where cut, and even the parts bent in the 

 operation, would bleed, which would injure it considerably. Some 

 give them a slit where inserted into the earth, but they will root 

 freely with or without such. 



During summer, if the weather proves dry, a little water occasion- 

 ally would be of use to them, just as much as will keep the ground 

 'in a moist state. The autumn, or spring following, the layers may 

 be taken off from the mother plants, their tops pruned, the extreme 

 ends of the stems beyond the young roots cut off close to them, and 

 so planted where they are to remain; but I would prefer doing this 

 early in March. 



This is a very useful and necessary operation when any of your 

 plants in the vineyard are bad kinds, or in an indifferent state of 

 health, for you can extend the end of a long shoot from a neighbor- 

 ing plant to where the bad plant was, or stands, entering it into the 

 earth as before where you wish it to grow, and the next season you 

 will have a fine vigorous plant ; observing then to detach it from the 

 mother vine by cutting off the connection close to its new established 

 roots ; or you may lay it all the way in the earth from the mother 

 plant to where you desire its top to grow, and in a year disconnect 

 them near to the old plant ; this will be the better way, provided 

 you lay it in deeper than the ordinary culture to secure it from being 

 disturbed thereby. This the French call Provigner la vigne. 



PROPAGATION BY CUTTINGS. 



The method of propagating the vine by cuttings is in more gene- 

 ral practice than by that of layers, and very justly; for plants raised 

 in the latter way are found to be much inferior to those raised by 

 cuttings, both in point of vigor and durability. 



The particulars necessary to form a good cutting are principally 

 these : 1st. The eye or bud should be large and prominent. 2d. The 

 shoots moderately strong, round, and short jointed. 3d. The texture 



