74 ON THE PROPAGATION OF VINES. 



ed, of a medium size, and moderately short-jointed. 

 Cut them into convenient lengths of six or eight buds 

 each, leaving at the ends not less than a couple of 

 inches of the blank wood for the protection of the 

 terminal buds. Stick these temporary cuttings about 

 nine inches in the ground, in a warm and sheltered sit- 

 uation, where they will be effectually protected from 

 the severity of the winter. The best time to plant them 

 out is about the middle of March, but any time from 

 the first of that month to the tenth of April will do 

 very well. When this period arrives, if the young vines 

 about to be raised are afterwards to be transplanted, 

 choose such a situation for the planting of the cuttings, 

 as is well sheltered from the wind, and not too much 

 exposed to the sun. More than six hours' sunshine in 

 any day will be injurious rather than beneficial, and 

 with respect to the wind, if the cuttings be not pro- 

 tected from its injurious effects, they will scarcely 

 strike at all, even in the very best prepared soil. A 

 moderate portion of sunshine, and effectual shelter 

 from the wind, are absolutely necessary to ensure the 

 growth of the cuttings. Previously to planting them, 

 the soil must be well prepared for their reception, by 

 being digged to the depth of eighteen inches, and the 

 earth made very fine. If it be in any degree stiff or 

 heavy, take two-thirds of it entirely away, and supply 

 its place with light rich mould, or road scrapings. For 

 every cutting, add half a spit of well-rotted dung from 

 an old cucumber bed, and mix the whole well together, 

 making it as fine as possible. This being done, prepare 

 the cuttings in the following manner. Cut the shoots 

 into lengths containing two buds each, and let the 

 uppermost buds have an inch of the blank wood re- 

 maining beyond them. The extremities of these must 

 be cut in a slanting manner, and the slant sides be op- 

 posite to the buds. Take the other ends of the cuttings 



