The Fropagation of Plants. 



73 



end of the block, thrusts ii into the 

 ground until his foot touches the sur- 

 face of the ground, then drawing it 

 perpendiculai", leaving a hole of the 

 same iorra and size at the bottom, of 

 the ball of eai'th in the pot, which he 

 continues to make the proper distance 

 apart in the row. Another man fol- 

 lows, taking the plants from the pots, 

 holding them by the stem, places 

 them in the hole, pressing them gently 

 down, then giving them a thorough 

 watering, after which draw the soil 

 in around the plant, pressing it firmly 

 down with the hands. The so.il may 

 be mulched between the rows — v>-hich 

 are from tv\'elve to eighteen inches 

 apart — with forest leaves, straw or 

 any niateriad, convenient at hand, 

 congenial to the growth of the jdants, 

 remembering that deati cultivaiio7i is 

 necessary. 



Out of door propagation. Formerly, 

 for out door propagation, I used cut- 

 tings of from six to ten inches 

 in length ; but for the past eight 

 years I have made my cuttings from 

 four to six inches in length, preferring 

 single eyes, when they can be ob- 

 tained, of -proper length; if more than 

 one eye is necessary, I blind the 

 lower eye or eyes, so as virtually to 

 make my cuttings one eye. These 

 are cut up in the fall or early winter, 

 from wood which has not been per- 

 mitted to dry while pruning the vines, 

 and kept through the winter as di- 

 rected in my pi'ovious article. As 

 eai'ly ia the Sjjring as possible, pre- 

 pare the land intended for use, of 

 good fertilit}'' with organic material, 

 so as to make it mellow of guod 

 depth, lay it off into beds four feet 

 wide, of any convenient length, leav- 



ing a space twenty inches wide be- 

 tween the beds, for walks After 

 which make the beds, by raking &c. 

 of fine tilth ready for the cuttings. 

 After washing the cuttings, as pre- 

 viously directed for in door work, put 

 them in pails with water, carry to the 

 beds, stick them in rows, twelve in- 

 ches apart, and three to four inches in 

 the rows, across the beds, so that the 

 upper end of the cutting is quite be- 

 neath the surface of the soil, then 

 pack the soil firmly on each side of 

 the row of cuttings. After the bed 

 is filled, it will be well to give the cut- 

 tings a thorough watering. If mul- 

 ching is used, remember — it is an old 

 idea, and long ago used — that my 

 friend Mr. Wra. Gritiith has recently 

 obtained a patent as his invention. 

 Spent tan, sawdust, forest leaves or 

 straw is good. . If mulching is not 

 used, Avatering the rows thoroughly 

 three times a week until roots have 

 have well stuck, will save a large per 

 cent of cuttings that wouhi otherwise 

 be lost if mulching is not used. If 

 very dry weather should come on, a 

 continuation of watering the beds 

 once a week, to saturation, will save 

 many dollars to the pocket of the 

 grower. 



I suppose, that mulching after the- 

 plants are growing, will be no in- 

 fringement on my friend's patent; I 

 sincerely hope, that what I have heard 

 is true, that Mr. Griitith has generously 

 donated the use of his invention to 

 the grape growers of this Countr}-. 



I need not say to the readers of the 

 Culturist how necessary it is, that clean 

 culture should be strictly adhered to. 

 E. S. Bartholomew. 



