PROPAGATION BY SINGLE BUDS. 21 



Vines properly grown from single buds are certainly 

 equal to those propagated by any other mode ; but if 

 improperly grown, they are of but little value, and often 

 entirely worthless. 



The buds used for propagating should be large and 

 well developed, and at no time of their growth should 

 the plants be allowed to receive a check, either by being 

 too cold or too hot. "While it may be necessary to keep 

 up a vigorous growth, it must be borne in mind that the 

 plants may be forced too rapidly by the use of stimulat- 

 ing manures, and by subjecting them to too great heat, 

 the result of which will be soft, spongy, unripened wood 

 and roots. Sometimes the roots will have small tuberous 

 appendages at their ends, which is often caused by the 

 presence of too much stimulating food. When vines 

 are propagated from single buds, and are kept in pots 

 during the entire season, the enlargement of the ends of 

 the roots will usually occur upon all those that grow out 

 until they reach the sides of the pots. This does not 

 show disease nor overgrowth, but merely that the roots 

 are crowded, and that they need more room. But when 

 these little tubers are found on the small roots all 

 through the soil, it shows that they have been made 

 unhealthy by injudicious treatment, or have been at- 

 tacked by the grape louse (Phylloxera), which will be 

 described in another chapter. 



Mode of Operation. Cut the wood from the 

 vines in the fall, after the leaves have fallen, but before 

 it has been severely frozen, and put away in moist earth 

 or sand in the cellar, or bury it in the open ground, 

 where it will be protected from the frost and can be 

 reached when wanted. The last of February or the first 

 of March is the usual time, in this latitude, to commence 

 starting the buds. There is nothing gained by forcing 

 the buds into growth too early ; better wait until the 

 season arrives when they naturally begin to swell, as 



