74 MANUAL OF GENERAL AGRICULTURE. 



in loose soil and fill up the basin. From a soil mulch 

 by reducing this top soil to as fine a condition of tilth as 

 possible. Guard against setting too deeply, but allow for 

 the settling of soil so that when once established the tree 

 will stand about as it did at the time of removal from 

 the nursery. 



62. PROPAGATION OF THE GRAPE. 



The prevailing method of propagating the grape is 

 by growing from cuttings. 



There are two distinct types of vineyards. We may 

 establish a vineyard on its own roots; or establish a 

 vineyard on resistant roots. 



(a) VINEYARD ON ITS OWN ROOTS. 



1. Securing the Cuttings. A good cutting consists 

 exclusively of one-year old wood; that is, wood which 

 has grown the previous season. The cuttings can be se- 

 cured during the winter pruning (January), when the 

 vines are dormant. In a moist soil in a cool region they 

 should be about sixteen inches long but in drier regions 

 about twenty inches long. It is not possible to make all 

 cuttings exactly the same length because they should 

 terminate at each end at a node. Cuttings should be 

 from three-eighths to five-eighths of an inch in diameter. 

 Take great care not to injure the bud at either terminal. 

 Cut off all intermediate buds. Cuttings from the outer 

 ends of long canes are not so likely to root. 



2. Care of Cuttings. Cuttings should be kept dor- 

 mant until the time comes for setting them out. This 

 may be done by tying them in bundles of convenient 

 size, in this case put fifty in a bundle. After labeling 

 by means of a stick of wood tied to the bundle, dig a 

 trench as deep as the length of the bundles on the north 

 side of a tight board fence or shed, making the trench 

 wide enough to receive them. Place them in it in a 

 nearly upright position and cover with loose earth and 

 on top put some straw. They should be in moist but not 

 wet ground as too much moisture rots them. 



