238 THE VINEYARD. [MARCH, 



ed in a hot-house, green-house, or under the protection of glasses, 

 till spring, they would then more freely vegetate. Or, sow the 

 seed in February or March, and plunge the pots into a temperate 

 hot-bed ; when the plants appear, they will require, from time to 

 time, gentle sprinklings of water, and protection from frost and 

 cold. When so far advanced, as to have three or four joints each, 

 they must be carefully shaked out, and planted each in a separate 

 pot. 



The greatest care will be required in the performance of the 

 above operation, as it will be beneficial to preserve as much of the 

 earth to the roots as possible : then plunge the pots into a gentle 

 hot-bed ; give the plants a little water, and occasional shade from a 

 strong sun, till they have taken root ; after which, give them plenty 

 of air occasionally, so as to inure them to the open weather, and have 

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

 wherever they are intended to remain ; and, from thence forward, 

 they may be treated exactly in the same manner as recommended 

 hereafter, for plants raised from cuttings, only that they will re- 

 quire 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 mak- 

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

 fastened with a hooked stick, about five or six inches below the sur- 

 face, 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 permits, 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 occa- 

 sionally would be of use to them ; just so 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 pre- 

 fer 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 neigh- 

 bouring 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 



