64 THE GRAPE CULTURIST. 



CHAPTEE VIII. 



GRAFTING THE GRAPE. 



THE propagation of the grape vine by grafting is prob- 

 ably as old as its cultivation, and many of the modes prac- 

 ticed at the present time are accurately described in most 

 of the ancient works on gardening and agriculture. But 

 with all the information which we have derived from both 

 ancient and modern authors, it still seems to be generally 

 considered a rather difficult if not uncertain method of prop- 

 agation. On account of the peculiar structure of the wood 

 of the vine, a lasting union is seldom obtained when grafted 

 above ground, and is far from being certain even when 

 grafted below the surface by the ordinary method. When 

 we compare the benefits to be derived from grafting the 

 vine with grafting the pear, apple, etc., it appears to be of 

 little value, because the vine may be readily grown from 

 cuttings of almost any portion of the wood, while the lat- 

 ter produce roots from cuttings only sparingly, even with 

 the greatest care and under the most favorable circum- 

 stances, but they may be propagated very easily by graft- 

 ing and budding. Thus it appears that nature has pro- 

 vided a way for the rapid multiplication of every species 

 and variety of plants, but she has left it to man to discover 

 the way and means. There are circumstances constantly 

 occurring under which it would be quite desirable to graft 

 the vine ; for instance, when we have a new and valuable 

 variety which we wish to multiply as rapidly as possible ; 

 to do this we must produce wood for the purpose, and if 

 we can produce wood more rapidly by grafting than by 

 any other means at command, then it becomes very import- 



