112 GRAPE CULTURE AND 



3. The facility by which vines of worthless or inferior 

 varieties can be changed into valuable bearing vines of supe- 

 rior fruit. 



4. Varieties which will not grow readily from cuttings will 

 generally graft easily, and can thus be propagated faster. 



5. Most important of all, it gives us the means to success- 

 fully combat the phylloxera, as we can change a non-resis- 

 tant vine into a resistant one, by grafting on a resistant root 

 near or above the surface; or by reversing the case, grafting 

 eight or ten inches below the ground resistant cuttings on 

 non-resistant roots, when the scion will take root at the 

 junction, thus transforming itself into a resistant vine in time; 

 while the stock will furnish the sustenance temporarily, to 

 make it grow rapidly and vigorously. 



All these advantages are so great that they will be obvious 

 to any one. Being convinced of its importance, we will now 

 consider when and how the operation should be performed. 

 I shall not try to worry and confuse my readers with many 

 complicated methods, but only mention a few of the sim- 

 plest. Although the vine may not graft with the same ease 

 as some other fruits, as the cambium and inner bark of the 

 vine is very thin, yet it presents no serious difficulties, and 

 if properly performed, from 75 to 90 per cent, of the grafts 

 wjill grow. 



First, as to the proper time. Although it may be done in 

 this State as early as February; yet, if the scions are left dor- 

 mant, I would rather wait until April or even May, although 

 this will vary with the seasons and location. If the sap is 

 flowing rapidly at the time, no matter ; the junction will be 

 formed all the more readily, provided it is done rapidly and 

 well, so as to avoid exposure to the air in stock or scion. A 

 lot of grafts were put in by me the first week in April this sea- 

 son. As I was called away by business, I could not finish un- 

 til ten days later, and a few vines of new varieties were grafted 



