62 THE GRAPE CULTURIST. 



spring or fall, and covered up at the time, leaving only 

 the end above ground. In this way a very strong vine 

 will be produced the first season. 



The layers may be separated from the parent vine 

 at the end of the first season or the spring following. In 

 taking them off cut them loose from the stakes, then 

 lift them, using a fork instead of a spade, and proceed 

 to cut them apart. First cut the layer close up to the 

 parent vine, and then cut off that portion that was above 

 ground and has no roots ; the next cut should be between 

 the first and second upright shoot near the first, and so 

 on to the end, leaving those roots on each plant below it 

 or toward the parent vine. I am thus particular in 

 showing how the vine should be separated, because I 

 have seen layers so separated that the roots left on them 

 were nearer the top end of the layer than the shoot was, 

 and the sap would have to reverse its course and descend 

 the layered cane to reach the new vine. It will do so 

 sometimes, but not readily. Where vines have been cut 

 down quite low, or from any cause several canes have 

 started from the main stem near the ground, these 

 may all be utilized the following season for layers, and 

 if quality is preferred to quantity, then each cane may 

 be bent down in the form of a bow, into a short and 

 shallow trench, and only a foot or more of it covered 

 with soil, thereby securing only one strong layer from a 

 single cane instead of several, as shown in Fig. 19. 

 Many other methods are practiced, in making layers, but 

 I think those described are the best. 



There is one, however, which has lately come into 

 use, that deserves a passing notice. It is that of making 

 layers of the green wood in summer. . An occasional 

 good vine may be made in this manner, but, upon the 

 whole, the practice is not only injurious to the original 

 vine, but the plants produced in this manner are gener- 

 ally feeble, as neither roots nor wood are fully matured by 

 the time they have to be separated from the parent vine. 



