THE AMEK1CAK GRAPES. 231 



special soils and subsoils will develop strong one-year-old 

 vines witli long and strong roots. 



225. Growing Vines from Single Buds. The growing 

 of vines from single buds is mainly practised with new 

 varieties where rapid propagation is desired with a limited 

 stock of new wood. It is also practised with such Varieties 

 as Delaware, that do not readily root from dormant 

 cuttings planted in the open air. The buds are cut from 

 thoroughly ripened wood late in autumn and kept in moist 

 cellar, where they will not get dry. In February or March 

 at the North the wood is divided into cuttings, as shown 

 in Fig. 64. The cuttings are stuck in shallow boxes filled 



FIG. 64. Single-eye cuttings. ^A, usual plan of cutting; B, some 

 grooves shaved off the lower side. 



with pure sand, inserting at an angle so the bud will be 

 upward and not more than half an inch below the sand. 

 The filled boxes are placed in a propagating house with 

 gentle bottom heat. 



The best temperature of the air is about fifty degrees and 

 that of the sand about forty degrees. When the leaves begin 

 to expand the heat can be increased, both of air and sand. 

 The sand is kept uniformly moist, but not wet. When the 

 cuttings have made a growth of two or three inches they 

 are potted in two- or three-inch pots. The pots are placed 

 where the air is confined and quite moist for a few days, 

 when they can be gradually exposed to the outer air when 

 spring is sufficiently advanced. With some care in ventila- 

 tion the boxes of cuttings can be placed in a hot-bed for 

 rooting. Grape-cuttings are often made from unripe 



