PROPAGATION. 279 



are greater than are sometimes observed, but* 

 none too great where good plants and much suc- 

 cess are expected. Indeed, if they are not to be 

 transplanted, they should be three or four feet 

 apart. No weeds must be allowed to grow ; 

 the hoe should be used before the weeds are 

 fairly out of the seed leaf. 



The cuttings should be put in as soon as the 

 ground can be thoroughly worked. When 

 warm weather fully sets in, but not before, the 

 ground may be mulched with straw, having 

 first been well weeded. In case of drought, 

 mulching will be found a great benefit. If the 

 ground is not mulched, it should be repeatedly 

 hoed to keep the weeds down, and make it mel- 

 low. With watchful care, you may expect a 

 fair proportion of tolerably good plants. We 

 have seen acres of cuttings that did not 

 produce a plant fit to sell at the end of the 

 year. It often becomes necessary to transplant 

 them, and grow them a second, and even a third 

 year, to make salable plants of them. 



Layers. Though this is the easiest and most 

 certain method of propagating the vine, it re- 

 quires some knowledge, if not skill, to perform 

 it in such a manner as to produce really good 

 plants : poor ones are very common. The 



