244 



REARING VINES FROM CUTTINGS AND EYES. 



speedily into a state of fermentation, when others will be slow 

 in that process, these opposite characters may injure both the 

 perfection of the wine and its preservation. 



Rearing Vines from Cuttings and Eyes. 



Various methods have been adopted and pursued in this 

 species of propagation, for while some persons differ in the 

 length and number of eyes allowed to each cutting, many vary 

 in regard to allowing a greater or less portion of the cutting 

 to remain above the surface of the ground, while others cover 

 them totally with the earth. 



A difference also exists in respect to position, and in placing 

 them either perpendicularly, obliquely, or horizontally in the 

 ground. Some writers insist that wood of two years old 

 should alone be used for cuttings, others that there should be 

 a portion of the old wood to form the base of the cutting, 

 while by others this is deemed of no possible importance, and 

 by some who prefer the young wood altogether, is considered 

 rather detrimental. The most common course pursued to form 

 cuttings, is to leave to each three joints or eyes, the wood 

 being cut smooth off close beneath the lower one ; these are 

 planted either perpendicularly or obliquely at a sufficient depth 

 to entirely cover two of the eyes, and to consequently leave 

 one above the surface. In some cases the earth is then raised 

 so as to entirely cover the upper part of the scion, but that 

 portion is more generally left entirely free and open to the air 

 The same method is adopted by others with this difference, 

 that but two joints are allowed to each cutting which conse- 

 quently only admits of one to be beneath the surface. 



It might perhaps be advantageous where the upper part of 

 the cutting is left exposed to cover the end with a composition 

 of beeswax and rosin, but I do not recollect to have ever seen 

 this measure adopted. French writers advocate the use of 

 long cuttings containing four or five joints, in order that by 

 placing them for a greater length in the ground, they may 

 thereby form from the several joints distinct sets of roots. 

 But so far as experience has tested the fact among us, the 



