70 THE GRAPE CULTURIST. 



planted, throw out new roots from the cion above the 

 point of junction with the stock, and in a year or two 

 the original root will usually die, and the plant will be 

 no better than one raised from a cutting or layer. But 

 in grafting the one-year-old canes the cleft or wedge- 

 graft should not be used unless the canes have grown 

 very strong, and are, at least, five-eighths of an inch in 

 diameter ; but instead of it, splice-graft them as follows : 

 Select one-year-old wood for the grafts, as near the same 

 diameter of the stock as possible ; cut the stock obliquely 

 upward and the cion downward, with a corresponding 

 inclination, t;o that the two shall fit nicely together, care 

 being taken that the bark on one side, at least, of the 

 graft and stock shall meet exactly. Fig. 22 shows the 

 manner in which they are united. Bind them snugly 

 together, and proceed to cover, etc., as with the cleft- 

 graft. But if more convenient, the small stock and 

 cion may each be split, to form a tongue on each, and 

 these fitted together as in the ordinary splice-graft used 

 on small pear and apple stocks. It does not make much 

 difference how the stock and cion are joined, provided 

 they are so united that the sap can flow readily up 

 through the cells of the wood. One-year-old well rooted 

 cuttings may be employed as stocks, where it is desirable 

 to multiply weak-growing varieties, or those which do 

 not strike root readily from ripe wood cuttings. The 

 ci'ons may be inserted, as shown in Fig. 22, or as in 

 Fig. 23. 



Sometimes it is desirable to graft a whole vineyard, 

 and if the vines are young and healthy it is perfectly 

 practicable to do so ; but if the vines are, as is often the 

 case, old, stunted and diseased, it is better to dig them 

 up and plant new ones. Because, if very large and old 

 vines are cut down and grafted, a large portion of their 

 roots is very likely to die in consequence of the severe 

 check they receive by having all the top removed ; and 



