88 MANUAL OF MODERN VITICULTURE. 



phenomenon are first, sufficient moisture to prevent the 

 desiccation of the tissues of the graft; second, sufficient 

 temperature to promote the rapid formation of new cells 

 within the generative layers. 



The first condition is so very important with vines that 

 the graft can only be performed with success underground, 

 the surrounding soil preserving the necessary amount of 

 moisture which cannot exist in the surrounding air. 



The Romans grafted vines, and this operation was 

 formerly exclusively used in the South of France. It is 

 possible with this method of propagation to change the 

 nature of a vineyard without wasting any time, and it was 

 used in the He"rault to replace old cepages by Aramon, or 

 cepages sensitive to mildew (Carignan, Grenache) by others 

 resisting this disease better. Grafting also hastens the 

 fructification of varieties naturally ripening their fruit late 

 in the season. Cazalis-Allut recommended it for Muscat of 

 Frontignan, which only gives a complete crop the fifteenth 

 year.* It rapidly recuperates the production of vines 

 weakened by age, and is, as we have already seen, the best 

 method of hastening the florescence of young seedlings. It 

 may be used for the rapid multiplication of rare and expen- 

 sive vines. Finally, by grafting European varieties on 

 American resistant stocks, it prevents the extermination of 

 the former by phylloxera, and preserves 'their undoubted 

 superiority. The reconstitution of vineyards by this means 

 gives to this operation greater importance than ever. 



(A.) Grafting operation. We will study the following 

 items : 



1. Age at which the stock can bear the graft. 



2. Selection of scions. 



3. Best time for grafting. 



4. Different methods used. 



5. Grafting machines and implements. 



6. Ligatures and waxing. 



7. Care to be given to grafts. 



8. Conditions of application of grafting. 



9. Value of different stocks with regard to their 



knitting power. 



* Memoires sur V Agriculture, la Viticulture et VCEnologie, bj Cazalis-Allut. MontpelUer. 

 1848, p. 73. 



