Propagation of Grape -Vines from Green Wood. 153 



pots, and needed constant attention during the whole season of their growth 

 in the glass houses. By these means, however, an increased amount of 

 wood was produced ; and this being sheltered from the weather, and under 

 the perfect control of the cultivator, was thus protected from mildew and 

 from frost ; and the season of growth was extended for one or two months. 



Under these circumstances, so favorable to vegetation, the length of the 

 cuttings was reduced to the minimum ; single eyes, or buds only, were 

 used ; the propagation was commenced very early in the season ; and the 

 young vines were well advanced by the time the open ground and out-door 

 air were ready to receive them. Many of them would produce a growth 

 of laterals ; and the skilful propagator, possessed of proper appliances, was 

 unwilling to waste the trimmings, but used these laterals, or soft-wood cut- 

 tings, for propagating a new crop of vines, and often with the happiest 

 results. 



Now, it has unfortunately happened, that in the introduction of new varie- 

 ties of grapes, and in their exceedingly wide diffusion through the country, 

 we have overlooked two very important elements of success in our extreme 

 haste to forward the extension of grape-culture. First of these is the neces- 

 sity for selecting varieties that are perfectly hcaltJiy in wood, iuf and fruit, 

 as well as hardy and productive : the second is the proper adaptation of 

 j'(?//a«.r/t///7/iz/^ to the production and development of the grape-vine and 

 its luscious fruit. Both of these can only be learned by long-continued 

 and close observation, which we have not had the patience to apply, 

 Fcstina Imte is not a very favorite maxim with Young America ; and it has 

 certainly not been the ruling custom of grape-planters in most parts of the 

 country within the last decade, where every one has seemed to strive for 

 the most rapid possible extension of this branch of culture that was attain- 

 able ; and thousands of vines, of varieties that had not been fully tested as 

 to the requisites above indicated, have been planted upon hundreds of 

 acres of unsuitable soil, and in situations where the climatic conditions 

 were illy adapted or wholly unfit for successful viticulture. 



To these causes, and to the ignorance of the management of the plants, 

 which is necessarily incident to the introduction of a new branch of busi- 

 ness, may fairly be attributed the want of success that has attended so many 

 plantations. So also we may explain the frequent maledictions that have 



