REARING VINES FROM SEEDS. 251 



Iii the fall, the old shoot can be cut off just below the basket, 

 which can now be removed without deranging the roots, in 

 order to plant the vine in a vineyard or garden. When 

 baskets are used, they are often planted without removing the 

 vine as they soon decay ; but if pots or boxes are used, the best 

 course is, after preparing the holes for their reception, to turn 

 them out with the earth entire, which can readily be done by 

 proper attention, and these vines will then be ready to bear 

 fruit the ensuing year. 

 " "f, : : . / 

 Rearing Vines from Seeds. 



This method of propagation when judiciously pursued, car- 

 ries with it many advantages. It serves frequently to acclimate 

 species, the original varieties of which are little calculated to 

 succeed, by the production of such as have characteristics 

 better suited to their new location. It also frequently ori- 

 ginates varieties of superior worth and excellence to the 

 parent stock. And by a renewal of the original vigour of the 

 species through a perfectly natural channel, it serves to give 

 to its offspring all the primitive vigour which characterised the 

 plant. It is indeed nature's grand restorative of whatever ex- 

 haustion may have taken place from any causes whatever. 

 For although there can be no reasonable doubt but that Pro- 

 vidence has afforded the means of perpetuating the gifts of 

 nature without limit of time, still as vines are propagated al- 

 most entirely from scions, and but seldom by ingrafting, it is 

 probable that the effects of a long culture in this way may be 

 more sensibly demonstrated, than where the natural growth of 

 the variety is aided by ingrafting it on young and vigorous 

 stocks. 



Seeds intended for planting should be carefully preserved 

 either dry or in sand until the first approach of spring, the 

 ground should then be prepared by making it extremely rich, 

 mellow, and light, a heavy soil being entirely inappropriate. 

 In this drills may be made about twenty inches apart, and 

 three-fourths of an inch deep, into which the seeds can be 

 dropped at a distance of about six inches from each other, 



