40 



The Grape Culturist, 



eties wliieh are very diffiicult to pro- 

 pagate^ can bo forced under glass, Ijy 

 grafting on small pieces of rooii^j 

 when nearly every one will grow. 



Having convined ourselves of its 

 utility, let us now turn to the opera- 

 tion itself. Let not our readers sup- 

 pose^ however, that the grape grafts 

 with the same ease, as the apple and 

 pear, and will take as readily. The 

 inner bark or liber of the vine is very 

 thin, and great nicety and care is 

 therefore required to effect a perfect 

 junction, as the successful operation 

 depends entirely upon this. To in- 

 sure success, the vine must be grafted 

 under ground, and as the operation 

 should be performed at a time when 

 the ground is yet cold, the work is 

 far from agreeable We have gene- 

 rally had the best success in March, 

 although wedo not doubt that sooner, 

 even in February, would be as well. 

 If you intend to graft only smaller 

 vines, say one' half to one inch in 

 diameter, a strong pruning knife for 

 cutting the stocks, besides a spade or 

 spading fork for digging around the 

 vines, some strips of basswood bark, 

 and a sharp penknife for cutting the 

 scions, will be all you need. If the 

 vines are larger, say one and a half to 

 two inches through, you also need a 

 grafting chisel and wedge, the first to 

 split the stock, the second to open 

 the cleft, while inserting the scion, 

 and a hammer or wooden mallet for 

 driving them. The implements as 

 well as the scions, are most conveni- 

 ently carried in a basket. 

 ""^Dig away the ground around the 

 vine you wish to graft, until you come 

 to a smooth place to insert your scion, 

 then cut it ort with a sharp knife, and 



insert one to two scions, according to 

 the strength of the vine, as in com- 

 mon cleft grafting, taking care to cut 

 the wedge on the scion very thin and 

 long, with shoulders on both sides, 

 making the inner side of the scion 

 somewhat thinner, so that the inner 

 bark of the scion and stock are closel}' 

 fitted together. The accompanying 

 cut shows the shape of scion. Press 

 the scion down until its shoulders rest 

 on the cut of the stock. In strong 

 stocks, which hold the scions firmly, 

 no tieing is necessary, but in smaller 

 stocks, you can tie firmly with bass- 

 wood bark, wound around the whole 

 length of the cut. No grafting wax 

 is needed, but you can press the moist 

 earth firmly on and around the wound, 

 and fill up tlie hole to the top of the 

 scion, vrith well pulverized earth. 

 We prefer two eyes on the scion, al- 

 though when grafts are scarce, one is 

 sufficient. 



Examine the stock from time to 

 time, and remove all wild shoots and 

 suckers which it niay throw up, as 

 they will rob the graft of nourishment, 

 and enfeeble it. 



Others prefer to graft in May, when 

 the leaves have expanded and the 

 most rapid flow of sap has ceased, 

 keeping the scions in a cool place, to 

 prevent the buds from starting. The 

 operation is performed in the same 

 manner, and ma}' be just as success- 

 full ; but the grafts which have been 

 put in early, have the advantage of M 

 several weeks growth over those put ■ 

 in later, and will generally ripen^their 

 wood better. 



Mr A. 8. Fuller, jn his Grape Cnl- 

 turist, recommends to perform the 

 operation in Fall, preventing the graft 



