AND WINE MAKING. 193 



of the soil to induce moisture. Without this, it is 

 impossible. 



As to making the cuttings, the rules given in the firsu 

 part of the book will hold good here. It may be well, 

 however, to make them somewhat longer, say thirteen to 

 fifteen inches, and have about two buds above the 

 ground. To prevent suckering after grafting, the lower 

 buds may be cut off with a sharp knife, leaving the up- 

 per three buds, when there will be no further trouble. 

 To plant in nursery, the same rules as to length of cut- 

 tings, cultivation, etc., will apply, with the single ex- 

 ception that the cuttings are slanted more in planting, 

 to facilitate digging, while in the vineyard they are 

 planted almost perpendicularly. Cuttings can be pro- 

 cured for three dollars per thousand, but it is safer to 

 prepare them yourself. This can be done at any time 

 during the winter, as long as the wood is dormant, but 

 they should be kept fresh -from the time the wood is 

 taken from the vines. They can be prepared during 

 rainy days, tied in convenient bundles and heeled in in 

 a shady place to keep them dormant until wanted for 

 planting, which is generally in March or the early part 

 of April, by which date ample opportunity will have 

 been given for preparing the soil in the best manner and 

 allowing it to be warmed up by the rays of the sun. 



If it is convenient to irrigate the nursery, it can be 

 made a great help, but do not do it until July or August. 

 To irrigate earlier is unnecessary, as the soil contains 

 enough moisture for growth, whereas irrigation cools 

 the ground below the surface so much that the forma- 

 tion of callus and roots is retarded. Warmth is needed 

 then, as well as moisture. But whether planted in vine- 

 yard or nursery, do not fail to keep the lower ends 

 moist. This is best done by keeping them in a bucket 

 of water while planting, and when planted, by firming 

 the soil well around their base by trampling it down 

 13 



