250 LAYERING OR PROVIGNAGE. 



vines, the plants can be preserved for centuries, which is 

 favourable to the quality of the wine, as is proved at the Clos- 

 de-Vougeot, Marcs-d'or, Migraine, and many other vineyards 

 where the superiority of the wine is derived from the age of 

 the vines, which are four or five hundred years old. In this 

 respect the vine culture of Burgundy is to be preferred. 



The inconveniences of the provignage in respect to the 

 young plants when separated from the parent vine, as is done 

 in many vineyards, are that it weakens them and prolongs the 

 period during which inferior wine is produced from a defi- 

 ciency in their age and strength. Some proprietors form 

 provins of a whole vineyard of old vines, in order to renew 

 it, which is considered an excellent course. It is also a good 

 method to replace by this plan any vines that have died, or 

 vacancies which may exist in a vineyard. In France, these 

 provins or layers are only made from old stocks of five to 

 eight years' growth at least, as younger ones are too much 

 injured and exhausted by the operation ; and indeed, if des- 

 tined to be detached from the stocks, they must in all cases 

 be more or less hurtful to the parent vines. It is therefore 

 always deemed better to have recourse to propagation by cut- 

 tings. A vineyard from layers comes soonest into bearing, 

 but one grown from cuttings endures the longest, and is the 

 most productive. Those therefore who prefer the wiser course 

 of making a present sacrifice, in order to ensure future advan- 

 tage, will prefer the latter; whereas, they who seek for im- 

 mediate gratification will choose the former. 



Layers may also be made from shoots of the same year, if 

 laid down in June, and the ensuing fall or spring can be taken 

 off and planted where desired. Another method of raising 

 layers, is to take flower pots or coarse baskets or boxes of 

 about a peck measurement, before vegetation has begun ; and 

 train a shoot through the centre of each which must rise above 

 and be pruned to three strong buds, the pots or baskets are 

 then to be filled with light rich soil, and a stake placed by 

 each to support the vine. They should be watered occasion- 

 ally through the season, and will produce fruit the same year. 



