WINE-MAKING IN CALIFORNIA. 121 



in a condition to grow vigorously. Do not get discouraged 

 if the majority of the scions do not show any progress for a 

 month, for those which start so early generally wilt back and 

 do not amount to much. I have had grafts to start in Au- 

 gust, and make a very satisfactory growth. As long as the 

 scion is fresh and green, it shows that it receives sustenance 

 from the stock, and may start at any time. They should be 

 examined from time to time, as the suckers from the old 

 stocks may intefere with their growth, and just as soon as 

 .these appear they should be removed, by digging down to the 

 place from where they start and taken off clean, for if any 

 part of them remains they will throw up four or five in place 

 of one. The suckering should be done twice, at least, tak- 

 ing care, however, not to disturb the grafts; once at about a 

 month's time from grafting, and the other at about two 

 months; the remainder, if any appear, may be pulled up 

 easily at any time. 



As soon as the young growth on the grafts appears, they 

 should be staked, putting the stake on the side from which 

 the prevailing wind blows. As the young shoots are very 

 succulent and tender, they are very easily blown off by the 

 wind, and should be tied as soon as six inches to a foot high.. 

 If the stocks are strong, they will grow with astonishing rapid- 

 ity, and twelve to fifteen feet of growth is very common. I 

 generally leave all their laterals and pinch off the leader when 

 it has reached the top of the stake, which will make them 

 grow more stocky. If on strong vines, they will generally be 

 ready to bear nearly a full crop the following summer, so that 

 there will be little, if any, loss of time. They should not 

 be tied too close, so as to give them room to expand, only 

 to offer the proper resistance to the wind, with some soft 

 material, either with strips of the Phormium Tenax (New 

 Zealand Flax) recommended and distributed by Prof. Hil- 



