CULTURE OF THE GRAPE. 65 



vines will come forth from their sleep in the spring. Let 

 them rest for the present. 



SOFT-WOOD CUTTINGS. 



This is a method of recent introduction ; at least, I find 

 no mention made of it until within a few years. It has, 

 however, been extensively adopted, especially in the mul- 

 tiplication of the new varieties, which can be propagated 

 much more rapidly in this way than by waiting for the 

 maturity of the wood. The method has been abused, and 

 the country has suffered largely by the sale of immature 

 vines which have not sufficient vitality to endure the first 

 winter. This method ceitainly is not objectionable in- 

 trinsically. Indeed, it is, theoretically, the best way, next 

 after the natural way by seed. If roots can be started 

 directly from a young growing shoot, with no intervening 

 old wood, the whole plant is homogeneous : it is a very 

 near approach to a seedling. Now, the great evil has 

 been that these cuttings have been rooted during the 

 summer months, and have not had time to mature before 

 frosts. 



My opinion is, that provided they are started early in 

 the season, and are well managed, they will make strong 



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