PLANTING THE VINE. 119 



usually grow as strong as it is desirable, and still have 

 them in a condition easily controlled when we come to 

 train them. 



There are some propagators who strongly advocate the 

 layering the vines for one or two years after they are 

 planted in the vineyard. This may arise from the fact that 

 they produce-such poor plants that their customers would 

 be very much dissatisfied with the results of their purchase 

 if some such course were not pursued ; or, it may be, that 

 they imagine that the whole object of planting is to obtain 

 a large growth of wood. This certainly would be of great 

 importance to those who grow vines mainly for propaga- 

 tion ; but the vineyardist has a higher aim, as fruit is the 

 object and not wood. This practice of layering the vine 

 to promote growth is an old European method, which is 

 practiced upon old worn-out soils, where there is need of 

 resorting to every plan that will afford any support to the 

 vine. With our strong growing varieties and rich soils, 

 the practice of layering all kinds is certainly not advisable. 



