PROPAGATION. 251 



two becomes almost perfect. If the beginner 

 will bear these things in mind, he will the 

 better understand the process of propagation, 

 and it will become invested with a new inter- 

 est. The reader will infer, correctly, that we 

 esteem a grape vine made from a single eye or 

 bud the best that can be produced by any arti- 

 ficial means. 



Vines from eyes are propagated under. glass. 

 In order that the reader's mind may not be 

 diverted from the main subject as we go along, 

 we will here notice an objection made to this 

 mode of propagation, and which, to many, 

 seems to have considerable force. It is object- 

 ed that propagating plants under glass is an arti- 

 ficial process, and makes plants weak and tender. 

 The sufficient answer to this is, that all modes 

 of propagating plants from cuttings are strictly 

 artificial, and that is clearly the best which 

 places the cutting under the most favorable con- 

 ditions for its full development into a perfect 

 plant. This is so self-evident that it should need 

 no argument. Now, it is found, as the result of 

 repeated and careful experiment, that shelter, 

 shade, moisture, etc., are indispensable to the pro- 

 duction of the best plants from eyes or cuttings ; 

 and it is further found that these, and all other 



