f 
* 
GRAPE MANUAL. 
15 
grown from cuttings or single eyes, of mature, 
healthy wood. The disposition to multiply the 
new varieties of grapes rapidly, has led to the 
disappointment to the stoneag = greatly in- 
jure the reputation of new vari 
Our German and French Vieidieionds gene- 
rally practiced growing vines from long cut- 
tings, but short (two or three eye) cuttings will 
undoubtedly make stronger and better ripened 
Others again have obtained the best re- 
sults from single eye plants, and consequently 
prefer them. We have tried all, and find that 
it makes very little difference how the vine has 
been raised, provided it has strong, firm, healthy, 
roots. (Wenever found any grown 
m gr 
iid that had them.) Asa general rule, a 
well grown vine is in its best condition for plant- 
ing when one year old. Fuller and some other 
good authorities prefer two-year old, trans- 
planted vines; vines older than two years should 
not be planted, and so-called extra large layers 
“for immediate bearing,” are a humbug 
There is, however, one method of propagating 
the grape, namely, by Grarrs, which belongs 
more properly to the sphere of the cultivator, 
Phylloxera, is becoming of unprecedented im- 
portance, and presents itself under almost en- 
tirely new aspects. 
GRAFTING. 
The researches of our scientists, prominent 
among them our friend Prof. Riley, enable us 
now to form pretty accurate estimates of the 
resisting powers of the roots of different va- 
rieties, and we find that the premature decay 
and short-lived existence of the vines of most 
of our finer varieties of the Labrusca class, (its 
Southern group) as well as nearly all the Hy- 
brids having blood of the vinefera class, must 
be mainly attributed to the attacks of the in- 
sect. 
How far we possess a remedy to this, by 
GRAFTING such kinds on those of acknowledged 
greater resistance, is a question which is as yet 
not fully determined and still open to further 
test and experiments, bat which deserves the 
greatest attention. Another object for which 
grafting is very desirable is the early testing of 
new Varieties. By grafting on a vigorous bear- 
ing vine we will generally —— bearing wood, 
and sometimes even fruit, the first season. We 
are also enabled by grafting to turn old vigor- 
ous vines of perhaps some worthless variety to 
good account, as with a little trouble and care, 
and the loss of “only one year, we can change 
them valuable varie ety. But 
before we enter into details of the ‘* modus 
operandi” of grafting, we will first speak of 
the conditions generally considered essential to 
the successful performance of the operation. 
experience we can not side 
claim that the stock and scion should in all 
cases belong to the same class to insure perfect 
success, it is still worth = to give this = 
a little consideration. The general experi 
seems to prove that the pi dp ie the Oordifolis 
class, of which we may take the Clinton as the 
type, do not unite readily with varieties of the 
Atstivalis or Labrusca, though we know of 
numerous instances where they did unite per- 
fectly and formed fine and healthy vines. But 
aside from this there is a great objection to the 
Clinton class on account of its tendency to throw 
up suckers from the old stock, even for years 
after the graft has become established, which 
requires “constant care and watchfulness that 
these suckers, which generally grow with re- 
markable vigor, do not usurp the place we have 
assigned to the grafted scion. This objection 
falls away almost entirely with the other classes 
after the first season, and once the graft is grow- 
ing vigorously. 
int which is of far more importance is 
nor one subject to the attacks of the Phylloxera 
as a stock to graft upon. Even if the graft 
should live it will thrive but poorly, unless in- 
deed it belongs to some very vigorous variety, 
and is grafted deep enough below the surface, 
where it may form its own roots, which will 
then support it entirely, and it will soon dis- 
solve its union with the unhealthy stock. But 
object is to guard a variety subject to the Phyl- 
lo the ravages of this insect, we 
should select for the stock a vine of a strong and 
vigorous variety, which possesses recognized 
powers of resistance to the insect. The graft 
should then be inserted as near the surface of 
the ground as possible, and where practicable 
hi 
stock and scion should be of varieties as near 
alike as possible in vigor of growth, but with 
