PROPAGATION 43 



given amount of wood. Varieties of some species, however, 

 cannot be propagated by cuttings, and with these layering 

 becomes of supreme importance to the propagator. Nearly 

 all varieties of Rotundifolia and some of ^Estivalis are best 

 grown from layers. So far as is known, all varieties of culti- 

 vated species may be grown by layering, and since the method 

 is simple and certain and the vines vigorous and easily handled, 

 this method is commended to small growers of grapes. 



Dormant wood layering. 



The work of layering mature wood usually begins in the 

 spring, but the vines from which the layers are to be taken 

 should have received preliminary treatment the preceding sea- 

 son. The vines to be layered are severely cut back a year 

 or more before the layering is to be done to induce a vigorous 

 growth of canes. Strong vigorous canes are laid in a shallow 

 trench, two to five inches deep, in which they are fastened with 

 wood or wire pegs or staples. The trench is then partly filled 

 with fine, moist, mellow earth which is firmly packed about 

 the cane. Roots strike and shoots spring from each joint. 

 When the young plants are well above ground, the trench is 

 completely filled, and then, or a little later, the young plants 

 are staked to keep them out of the way of the cultivator. The 

 following fall the young vines are ready to transplant. 



The essentials of layering have been given, but a number of 

 non-essentials may be helpful under some conditions. Thus, 

 dormant wood may be layered in the fall, in which case the 

 cane is usually notched or ringed at the joint to induce the 

 formation of roots. The less the number of joints covered, 

 the stronger the young vines, so that while the number is usu- 

 ally five, six or more extra vigorous plants may be obtained 

 by covering only one or two joints. In propagating Rotun- 

 difolia grapes, it is expected that lateral branches will make 

 the tops of the new plants. These, at the time of layering, are 



