16 



THE VALUE OF PLANTS ACCORDIKG TO THE METHOD OF rRODUCmON. 



gettintr flie stock so low that opportunity will T)e afforded for roots to 

 form :!t the proper depth from the new vine. 



The best course of proceeding is to set the vines at least one foot 

 fuither from the place which the stocli Is to occupy than would be done 

 if vines on their own roots were used, and tlien, by laying one year 

 ranre, pnod vines on their own roots will be obtained. 



The stocks have also a strong disposition to throw off the new vine, 

 and are constantly throwing up shoots of their own, which must be 

 suppressed soon after their appearance, or they will take all of the ac- 

 tion, and leave the new vine to die. This not unfrequently occurs ; 

 and those wlio do not understand the case, by leaving the new shoots, 

 which are the strongest, have found their vines, at the time for fruit- 

 ing, all of the kind used for stocks. Tliia has occurred in numerous 

 Instances. Those who are watchful have no difficulty in detecting the 

 shoots of other vines, in case of the Delaware ; but when the similarity 

 It great, as between Union Village and Isabella, it is difficult for any 



one to see which should be suppressed, without exrralnation under tiM 

 surface, which Is very difficult. 



Very strong vines at one year old are easily made by grafting ; but 

 besides the objection named, is that of imperfect growth, unless treated 

 as just mentioned ; the union being so imperfect that the roots of the 

 stocks are not induced to form the small, active fibers. The largest , 

 specimens are often produced by young, grafted vines, the imiierfect 

 union having the same e^ect as tlie annular incision. Plate No. 16 

 represents a grafte'* /me, as they ordinarily appear, at three year* 

 old, when dependent entirely on the roots of the stocks. Tliey are 

 destitute of fibers, and not in vigorous health. In Plates 11, 13, 14, 15, 

 and 16, are seen marks to direct in root-pruning preparatory to planting. 



The foregoing statements are the result of very extensive experience 

 and observation during the past fourteen years, and my desire has 

 been to make tliera trustworthy and useful, so that purchasers may 

 know what to obtain to avoid disappointment. 



IMMIil 



Plate No. 20. 



THE VALUE OF PLANTS ACCORDING TO 

 THE METHOD OP PBODUCTION. 



Vine plants differ in character and also in value, according to the 

 plan of propagation ; but they vary so much more according to the 

 conditions of treatment, under the different plans, that no statement 

 that will precisely and universally define their quality, according to 

 plan of propagation, can be made. 



The best possible plant that can be made is the best possible layer 

 of one year old, grown under the best possible conditions, for removal 

 from the place in which it is grown, to be set in place for fruiting. 

 Plants grown in crates, or baskets, by which the vines are removed 

 and reset, (transplanted, transported, and replanted,) without disturb- 

 ing their connection with the soil, so as to check their productive 

 ability, fulfill all of the important conditions. The best possible plant, 

 in the most favorable condition, is the Box Layer, which undergoes no 

 more disturbance in removal than the root-pruning which it requires. 



This statement must be made with a possible reservation, for a 

 plant from single-eyes of best selection, by repeated transplanting, 

 root-pruning, and growing in large crates, or baskets, for a series 

 of seasons, may be made to equal the best plant of one j'ear before 

 named. This would be so troublesome and expensive that it would 

 scarcely be done. 



We may then say, with general truth, the best layer, under ordi- 

 nary circumstances, is the best of plants, and the best uncovered layer 

 the best of uncovered plants. But it is possible, by the best degree of 

 skill, to make a root-pruned transplant equal to a naked layer, al- 

 though only by a painstaking and expensive process, that has never 

 been resorted to for the production of plants for sale. 



It will give an impression, generally true, to say, that the next best 

 grade of planto 'ncludes two kinds, each, under the most favorable con- 

 ditions, by a sUii:ht advantage, for special uses, but both excellent for 

 all general uses. These are root-pruned transplants from the best 

 single-eye plants, .and the best single-eye plants. A plant from two 

 eyes can be made just as good as a plant from one eye, although the 

 case rarely occurs ; but a plant from two eyes, in open ground, un- 

 aided by a house and bottom heat, can not be made nearly equal in 



Plate No. 19. 



value to a plant from a single-eye, aided by a honse and its proper ap 

 pliances, under the most favorable conditions. 



Green cuttings, under ordinary circumstances of production, are vl 

 ferior plants, but I can, and often do, make plants from preen wood oi 

 such excellence that I do not like to part with them, preferring to re- 

 tain them, in consequence of their superiority, for my own use. I have 

 not room here to state the particulars in regard to green cuttings, but 

 must ask readers to take my statements made after extensive trials 

 during eight years, or read the full exposition in Landmarks. 



The process of making the best plants from green cuttings is too ex- 

 pensive to be generally adopted, but inferior plants, by this method, 

 are very cheaply produced. 



Grafts may be made to be very good for the proper course of treai- 

 ment, but for ordinary treatment, and under ordinary conditions, they 

 are much less valuable than single eyes. 



The best long cuttings can not be made to equal the best of any of 

 the kinds that have been named by any ordinary process, and the plan 

 may, therefore, be said to be inferior. 



The manner of executing this plan is generally so defective that the 

 plants produced by it are unfit for any purpose. They are produced 

 and sold in great numbers for less than one fourth the price that plants 

 by this plan would actually cost, which would be called good of this 

 class by those who understand the matter. These are generally bought 

 by cultivators of the least knowledge, who think all abatement of price 

 so much saved. 



Plants, under the foregoing view of the case, may be said to rank lo 

 value, according to the method of propagation, as follows : 



First. Box Layers, or Layers in the soil. 



Second. Naked Layers, or Layers taken from the sofl. 



Third i Transplants, root-pruned, two years' old. 



• j Single-eye plants, or short cuttings, rooted by bottom liesl 



Fourth. Best green wood plants. 



Firth. Grafted plants. 



Sixth. Plants from long cuttings, well treated. 



These grades refer only to plants honestly and skillfully produced 

 There nre imitations, whose rank in value is too low to be st-ated. Vay 

 many " improved plans, by which vines can be produced at the folloT- 



