42 NEW METHODS OF GKAFTING AND BUDDING. 



compared with canes left spreading on the ground. The 

 first year we started budding, we did not have recourse to 

 this device, and found great difficulty in separating the 

 shoots, which were to be grafted, and, when this was done, 

 they generally had no leaves left on them ; the result was 

 retardation of the movement of the sap, during which the 

 buds suffered, many drying off. The expense of trellising 

 is greatly diminished when the tying is performed at inter- 

 vals, as the shoots lengthen, and, although they have to be 

 tied separately, one skilful workman may, in a day of ten 

 hours, tie up the shoots of from 100 to 150 mother-plants. 



One hundred mother-plants will, therefore, require three 

 days' work before they are ready for budding ; that is to 

 say, cost from 4*. to 5s. 6d. for the three successive trellis- 

 ings. We obtained last year with fine Riparia Gloire, four 

 years old, from 164 to 197 feet of wood suitable for budding 

 on each stock, plus vine cuttings, 3 feet in length, resulting 

 from the lengthening of the top of the shoots, after the bud- 

 ding had been performed ; while with stocks of the same age, 

 left spreading on the ground, we only obtained 49 to 81 feet 

 of wood for "budding. With the trellising method we, 

 therefore, gained 3,000 yards of wood per 100 mother plants. 



Other American stocks, such as Rupestris du Lot, Aramon 

 x Rupestris, Gamay Couderc, produce a little less than the 

 Riparia, but still more canes of J inch in diameter with the 

 trellising method. The budding of these trellised shoots 

 may start as soon as their internodes begin to lignify, which 

 may easily be recognised, with a little practice, by feeling, 

 or by the aspect of the bark, which passes from a light 

 green to a brighter colour, and is divided longitudinally by 

 stripes of a more intense green. With tomentose varieties 

 this moment corresponds to the time when the internodes 

 have become partially glabrous. 



Gathering of the Budded Cuttings. We should wait until 

 the leaves have completely fallen from the mother-plant 

 before gathering the budded cuttings. In our districts of the 

 south-west this generally corresponds to the second half of 

 November, and budding may be performed until February.* 



However, we think it advisable to gather earlier those 

 which were grafted last, because they are generally placed 

 on the upper part of the shoot which is always less lignified, 

 or, through having had less time to knit, the joint is weaker, 



* From the 15th May to the middle of August in Victoria. 



