PROPAGATION. 133 



newal of the wood by these shoots, which come to replace 

 the old exhausted branches. 



The grape is grown in immense quantities from cuttings, 

 which are either planted in a nursery, or set at once in the 

 vineyard. In the former they are planted closely in 

 rows, that are about twenty inches apart. Sometimes the 

 ground is trenched, and the cuttings set at the same opera- 

 tion. When the first trench is opened in a rich mellow 

 loam, which may be sod or clover lea, the edge of the 

 dug soil is dressed to the line with the spade, then the 

 cuttings are placed so as to have one eye at or above the 

 surface, and soil is thrown in and tramped closely to the 

 base of the cuttings. Then the next trench is made with 

 the spade, digging the ground as you proceed. 



Grape cuttings are generally made eighteen or twenty 

 inches long ; and those which have a heel of old wood arc? 

 preferred, and command a higher price. The earlier these 

 are taken from the vines, after the fall of the leaves, the 

 better success will attend the plantation ; provided they 

 are not too long exposed to the air. Fall planting is very 

 desirable, but if not then planted, the cuttings should be 

 put into the ground and covered as soon as convenient, 

 and they will be better prepared for spring planting. A 

 deep trench is opened, into which the bundles are set in a 

 vertical position, and loose earth filled in about them a\id 

 slightly covered over them ; they will then be ready for 

 planting by the spring. The length of the cuttings has 

 latterly bean much reduced, with advantage; some of the 

 most successful planters make them from six to eight 

 inches long: these are much more easily dug than the 

 longer slips, and are better provided with roots. 



