WINE-MAKING IN CALIFORNIA. Ill 



come in at two or more different times, so as to diminish the 

 rush of its vintage, and enable us to use it for grape blends, 

 in different combinations which otherwise would not be pos- 

 sible until after fermentation. Excellent opportunity for 

 observations on these points will be presented at Mission San 

 Jose during the season of 1887. Thus far the present sea- 

 son's experience, and that of others who have had opportun- 

 ity for comparative observation, does not tend to show as 

 great a difference as might have been looked for. 



CHAPTER VIII. 



GRAFTING THE VINE. 



I hardly need call attention, after the foregoing chapter, to 

 the importance of this operation, on which so much of the 

 success of our vineyards depends. But it is not alone the 

 advantage it gives us in transforming a non-resistant vine into 

 a resistant one. Its advantages are manifold, and may be 

 summed up as follows : 



1. The facility by which new and rare varieties may be 

 rapidly increased, by grafting on old, healthy vines, often 

 making a growth of from 10 to 20 feet the first season. 



2. The short time it takes to fruit new and untried varie- 

 ties, as the grafts, if strong enough, will bear a few bunches 

 the first season, and nearly a fuli crop the second. 



8 



