AND WINE MAKING. 23 



Here, the best success generally is attained when we 

 graft in March, although it may be done as late as May. 

 Dig away the ground around the vine, until a smooth 

 place upon the stem is found, then cut it off smoothly, 

 and insert one or two scions, as in common cleft 

 grafting, taking care to cut the lower part of 

 the scion to a very thin wedge,, as shown in 

 figure 3, leaving two eyes on the scion to insure 

 better success. Care should be taken to insert 

 the scion properly, as the inner bark or liber of 

 the vine is very thin, and the success of the 

 operation depends upon a perfect junction of 

 the stock and scion. If the vine is strong 

 enough to hold the scion firmly, no bandage is 

 necessary ; if not, the scion should be tied with 

 a ligature of bast, or Bass-wood bark, applied 

 evenly and firmly. Finish the operation by 

 pressing the earth firmly around the cut, and 

 fill up with fine soil to the top of the scion, or 

 cover it up with sawdust. Examine the stock 

 often, and remove all suckers that appear from 

 time to time, as they will rob the graft of its 

 nourishment. Do not be discouraged if the 

 scion does not start at once. Scions will often 

 remain dormant for a month, and then start 

 and grow with astonishing vigor ; such are gen- 

 erally more sure to grow than those which start 

 prematurely, before a firm junction is effected 

 between the stock and graft. This is an old 

 method of propagating which has been very 

 successful with me. Another, and a very good 

 one, is the following: "Make a slanting cut GRAFTING. 

 in the stock, from the side, downwards towards the 

 middle, then cut your scion to a simple wedge, and 

 push it down on one side, so as to join the bark of the 

 stock. This has the advantage that the stock need not 



