PROPAGATION BY SINGLE BUDS. 21 



CHAPTER III. 



PROPAGATION BY SINGLE BUDS. 



THE mode of propagating of the grape from single buds 

 or eyes is particularly valuable when it is desired to in- 

 crease rare and desirable varieties. It is supposed to have 

 been first suggested by the Rev. Mr. Mitchell, of England, 

 in 1777, and has been practiced sufficiently to establish its 

 true merits some of which are : 1 st. A greater number 

 of plants can be produced from a given quantity of wood 

 than by any other mode. 2d. Vines so propagated con- 

 tain just enough of the parent vine to insure the perpetu- 

 ation of a healthy plant of its kind, but not enough to 

 transmit disease to it by its decay, as sometimes occurs 

 when a large amount of the old wood is used. 3d. As in 

 this mode of propagation so small an amount of wood is 

 used that it admits of a large number of cuttings being 

 started in a small space, and as the buds are always forced 

 into growth by artificial heat, we may commence much 

 earlier in the season than when propagating in the open 

 air, thereby giving a much longer time for increasing, 

 prolonging, and ripening their growth. This is secured 

 even if they are planted out in the open ground so soon as 

 the plants become well rooted and the weather sufficiently 

 warm. 4th. But the greatest benefit arising from this 

 mode of propagating is, that vaVieties that are very diffi- 

 cult to increase by other methods can be multiplied with 

 the greatest facility by this. In fact, no variety or species 

 has yet been discovered that can not be grown readily 

 with artificial heat from single bud cuttings. 



properly grown from single buds are certainly 



