192 AMEBICAN GEAPE GROWING 



CHAPTER XXXVIL 



PROPAGATION. 



By reason of our rainless summers, cuttings, or even 

 rooted vines, do not make much growth the first season, 

 but they become established, and after the rains of the 

 following winter and spring, start into vigorous growth. 

 Many, therefore, plant cuttings at once in the vineyard, 

 taking the precaution to put two at each stake, some- 

 what diverging at the base, so that if both grow, one 

 can be removed to fill vacancies where both have died. 

 Here, I think this is perhaps the best method, as it saves 

 the labor of planting cuttings in the nursery, digging 

 and transplanting; in addition, the cutting has made 

 its roots and sent them into the most congenial soil, and 

 it receives no check by transplanting. If care be taken 

 to plant only the best cuttings, made of medium, well- 

 ripened wood, if possible with a heel of the old wood 

 attached, there will be but few failures, and it saves a 

 great amount of work. I have seen vineyards, lately, 

 partly planted with rooted riparias and partly riparia 

 cuttings, and the difference was scarcely perceptible 

 after two years. Both were grafted the same spring, 

 about 95 per cent, of the grafts living, and some of the 

 grafts produced from eight to ten clusters of fruit. This 

 very gratifying result was reached under the personal 

 supervision of the proprietor, on a rich piece of soil care- 

 fully prepared, and he may expect a crop of three tons 

 to the acre the fourth season after planting, with graft- 

 ing intervening. That cuttings planted in the vineyard 

 where they can occupy the space alone, instead of being 

 crowded in nursery rows, will develop better and make a 

 stronger growth, is self-evident. The main condition to 

 this success is clean cultivation and frequent stirring 



