f 



BENCH-GRAFTING RESISTANT VINES. 221 



The cuttings were all treated in the same way for the 

 various experiments as follows : They were cut into sections 

 of from 6 to 9 inches ; the lower cut was made through the 

 knot of the bud ; the last internode of the upper end was 

 left as long as possible, as the internodes were of rather 

 short length, sometimes scarcely long enough for the graft- 

 ing cut. Special care was given to the perfect removal of 

 all of the buds of the stock, a deep cut being made in order 

 to remove not only the main bud but also the small adven- 

 titious or dormant buds which surround its base, and which 

 often grow out when not carefully excised and form suckers, 

 which grow at the expense of the graft. The cuttings thus 

 prepared were sorted into three sizes according to their 

 thickness, put up in bundles, and placed vertically in a tub 

 of water, so that the lower end was covered with water ; the 

 cuttings thus remained fresh and sappy, which facilitated 

 greatly the making of cuts. The cuttings remained in the 

 water until they were needed for grafting, that is to say, 

 from six to eighteen hours. 



The washing and placing in water had also the object of 

 cleaning the cuttings from all adhering dirt and sand, which 

 would blunt the edge of the sharpest grafting knife in a 

 short time. 



The scions were prepared in. a similar way, with the excep- 

 tion, of course, that the eyes were left. Two kinds of scions 

 were needed for the experiments ; one with the one eye, the 

 other with two eyes. The first kind was cut through the 

 second knot so as to leave the eye protected by a closed inter- 

 node, which on the one hand prevented penetration of moisture 

 and of fungi, and on the other hand drying out of the part 

 above the eye. Scions of the second kind (with two eyes) 

 were treated differently in order not to make them too long, 

 the upper cut being made about an inch above the second 

 eye. 



The scions were also sorted into three sizes corresponding 

 with those of the stock, tied up in bundles, and put in water 

 to keep them fresh and sappy. 



Methods of Grafting. Before grafting, the cuttings of 

 both stock and scion having been carefully sorted into three 

 sizes, and the eyes of those of the stock cut out deeply with 

 a sharp knife in order to prevent the production of 

 suckers, the greatest care was taken to prevent the 

 slightest drying out of the cuttings and afterwards of the 

 grafts. 



