WINE-MAKING IN CALIFORNIA. 



process which we call surface layering, for the purpose of 

 raising a large number of young plants from hard wood 

 varieties. 



Choose a young cane of last seasons growth, starting as near 

 to the base of the vine as possible. It will be well, the sum- 

 mer before, to leave some of the lowest shoots for that pur- 

 pose, growing them as long as possible. This cane is pruned 

 as long as it has well developed, sound buds; the ground 

 made mellow below the vine, and a shallow trench, say two 

 inches deep is drawn with the hoe as long as the cane. This 

 is then bent down into the trench, and fastened on the bottom 

 with small pegs or wooden hooks. (Fig. 3.) Each bud on the 



FIG. 3. 



cane will generally produce a shoot, which will grow upwards, or 

 should be made to do so, when the trench is filled up around 

 the shoots, which is done when they are about a foot high. 

 Each of these shoots will then throw out roots around its base, 

 and in fall or winter they are dug, beginning at the furthest 

 end of the cane, cutting the roots with the spade at 'pf^per 

 length; the plants are divided by cutting behind each 

 shoot with the pruning shears, when each will have its own 

 system of roots, the shoot making the stem of the vine, 

 which can be shortened in at planting to the proper length, 

 or this can be done when they are dug. (Fig. 4.) They make 



