118 



MANUAL OF MODERN VITICULTURE. 



The plantation should be made in very well mellowed 

 soil, and when it is not too damp. The grafted cuttings 

 must not be brought in large numbers on the ground, for 



Level of soil. 



'mm 



Fig. 99. Arrangement of Cuttings in nursery rows. 



they might become dry and get knocked about. They should 

 be placed in small bundles upright in buckets, the lower 

 parts submerged in water, or covered with a wet rag. 



Certain viticulturists incline the cuttings when they plant 

 them so as to allow the stock to be in the more superficial 

 layers of soil which get warmer and promote the growth of 

 roots. Complete covering of the graft prevents the desicca- 

 tion of short scions. Finally, the system of watering should 

 allow the water to penetrate to the stock without touching 



n 



Fig. 100. Straight-edge for placing cuttings in nursery rows. 



the scion, only giving the required quantity of water to 

 avoid the cooling of the soil, which would result from too 

 much water being applied. We know that heat is one of 

 the conditions promoting root growth. This is so very im- 

 portant that Messrs. Gre"goire and Co., horticulturists at 

 Denice (Rhone), place their grafted cuttings, in small bundles, 

 under heated glass-houses, and obtained in this way fine, well- 

 knitted grafts, made in March, ready to plant in May.* The 

 only inconvenience of this method is the difficulty of 

 acclimatisation in the open air of plants obtained under 

 such artificial conditions. 



The cultural care to be given to nurseries consists in fre- 

 quent hoeing and watering when possible. The water should 

 percolate through the soil without flooding it, to prevent 

 caking. With this object ridges are made along the rows of 



* September and October in Victoria 



