PROPAGATION BY CUTTINGS. 



increases the percentage of strikes. The water should be 

 allowed to percolate through the soil. If the soil is very 

 compact and if the quantity of water used is considerable 

 the cuttings will rot. 



Complete covering with sand checks the growth of the 

 buds and consequently the formation of leaves, which are 

 the principal organs of evaporation, but does not prevent 

 the formation of roots. It also acts as a kind of mulching, 

 preventing the desiccation of the soil. If the cuttings ure 

 iit a certain distance apart a small mound of sand is formed 

 round each of them, and if they are planted close together 

 in lines, continuous ridges are formed in that direction. 



Shade greatly diminishes evaporation through the leaves; 

 it may be obtained by canvassing or by placing the nursery 

 under trees with light foliage ; the green rays of light 

 which alone pass through the leaves are not conducive to 

 evaporation. 



We should not forget, however, that although shade helps 

 the strike greatly, it ultimately prevents the development of 

 young plants, which must transpire abundantly to obtain 

 food and rapidly increase in size ; therefore it should only be 

 used as a temporary means. 



4TH. MOST FAVORABLE TIME FOR PLANTING CUTTINGS. 



It was formerly thought, in the South of France, that 

 the earlier the cuttings were put into the ground the 

 larger the percentage of strikes, except in very damp 

 soils, and, as a matter of fact, early planting gave the 

 result vine-growers now obtain by stratification, i.e., 

 callusing. But, when cuttings are planted out early, they 

 are liable to suffer from the excess of humidity during 

 winter, and from the action of frosts. It is evidently 

 preferable to stratify the cuttings in sand and to plant them 

 out rather late, when the temperature is high enough to 

 induce prompt vegetation. 



It is towards the end of March and the beginning of April* 

 in the Mediterranean regions that these conditions seem to 

 be realized. However, the time for planting depends also 

 on the nature of the soil ; light, warm, well-exposed soils 

 should always be planted earlier than cold and damp soils. 



* Septeml>er and October in Victoria. 



