March.] THE VINEYARD. 247 



pagating is extremely pithy and spongy, like the figj for the nearer 

 we approach to nature's method, by having as little old wood as 

 possible about the root of a young plant, the better. 



When the cuttings are thus prepared they should be laid in 

 trenches close to each other, in some dry part of the vineyard, and 

 covered with earth to within two inches of their tops, where they 

 are to remain till you are ready to plant them; covering them in 

 frosty or parching weather with some loose dry litter, which is to 

 be taken oft' every mild day, that they may the more effectually be 

 inured to the open air. This is the best method of preserving them, 

 even during the entire winter. I do not approve of keeping cut- 

 tings for any length of time in close, dark, unventilated cellars; 

 for in such places they become weak, blanched, tender and sickly, 

 and seldom succeed well when planted out; besides, they have 

 nothing to imbibe whilst there but foul air, which vitiates their 

 juices, and brings on diseases and bad health. 



Method of Planting. 



Having your ground prepared and marked out with stakes, as 

 before directed, and your cuttings in readiness, so soon after the 

 middle of this month as you find the soil dry and in good order, 

 proceed to planting, in the following manner: — Take up a number 

 of your cuttings carefully, without injuring the buds, and place 

 them in a bucket of dung water about six inches deep, the bucket 

 having a handle for the convenience of carrying it from place to 

 place; then, at each stake, make a hole with a spade, about a foot 

 deep, and as wide as you please, but it will be better to have all 

 these holes made the day before you commence planting; into each 

 put one strong cutting, placing it a little sloping, and so deep that 

 the second bud from the top may be just on a level with the gene- 

 ral surface; immediately fill the hole with earth, pressing it gently 

 with your feet to the cutting, and drav/ing the loose earth around so 

 as to cover the second bud, before noticed, half an inch deep, which 

 bud so protected, will frequently make the most vigorous shoot, 

 and often succeed when the top bud, exposed to the weather, will 

 not; then drive down the stake, so as to make it firm, within three 

 inches of the plant. 



If your cuttings are not extremely good and fresh, and such as 

 may be depended on, it will be the more certain way to plant two in 

 each hole, the tops within a few inches of each other, and the lower 

 ends sloping in opposite directions for the greater convenience, if 

 both should succeed, of removing one without disturbing the other; 

 these extra plants may be made use of next season to fill up vacan- 

 cies, or to form a new plantation. 



Cuttings are generally preferred for this purpose to rooted plants, 

 as they are thought to establish themselves more effectually when 

 not removed; however, when such are to be planted, keep their 

 roots out of ground but as short a time as possible; and if immersed 

 when taken up in a pap of earth and water, or dung and water, the 

 better: plant them in the same manner as directed for the cuttings, 



