ON THE PROPAGATION OF VINES. 69 



may be at such a distance from the surface of the 

 soil, as will best promote their vegetation. 



The cuttings being thus prepared, must be planted 

 immediately, for which purpose make holes in the 

 ground (about a foot apart each way, if the plants 

 when raised are to be subsequently transplanted) with 

 a stick about the size of the cuttings, and insert the 

 latter, so that the uppermost buds shall be just even 

 with the surface of the ground. Press the mould 

 close round each cutting, in order to prevent the sun 

 and air drying up its juices. If the mould should 

 subsequently sink down, and leave the buds above 

 the surface, more must be added to keep them even 

 with it. After the first of May, care must be taken 

 to keep the soil round the cuttings constantly moist. 

 For this purpose, supply each cutting as often as 

 required, according to the state of the weather, with 

 about a pint of soap-suds ; and continue so to do, until 

 it has formed a communication with the soil, which 

 will soon be rendered apparent by the protrusion of a 

 shoot, and its daily elongation. When the bud bursts, 

 the process of evaporation commences, and if the 

 moisture in the cutting be consumed quicker than the 

 latter can absorb it from the soil, the young leaves 

 turn yellow and die, and the vitality of the cutting 

 will be in danger of being destroyed.^ It is indispen- 

 sable, therefore, that the soil round each cutting should 

 be constantly kept inoist. in order that the latter may 

 absorb sufficient nourishment to supply the bud with 

 food, until, by the emission of roots, it has established 

 a communication with the soil, and is thereby enabled 

 to feed itself. As soon as the cuttings have protrnded 

 shoots about three inches long, and their leaves have 

 a healthy appearance, watering may cease for a time, 



* If the first shoot that pushes from the cutting should die off, which, 

 at times, it will do, even after it has grown five or six inches in lengtli, 

 the cutting must not on that account he taken up, because another shoot, 

 produced from the bottom bud, will most probably push througli the 

 socket of the decayed one about the middle of the summer, or as soon as 

 the bottom bud becomes sufficiently warmed by the sun to emit roots, and 

 thereby form a communication with the soil. 



