GRAPES. 269 



GRAPES. 



A. D. SMITH, IN AMERICAN RURAL HOME. 



Our mode of planting and cultivating was published by this paper 

 sometime ago; therefore, we shall omit this now. Grafting is a mat- 

 ter of importance for testing new varieties, and for the purpose of 

 propagating varieties which are injured or destroyed by the Phyllox- 

 era. The short life of the finer varieties of the Labrusca class, and 

 most of the Hybrids must be attributed to the attacks of the in- 

 sect. These valuable varieties which are subject to the attacks of the 

 Phylloxera can be grafted on those whose roots are Phylloxera-resisting, 

 and thus a valuable variety grown. If the cionfrom a new variety be 

 inserted in the stock, bearing wood will be produced the first year, 

 and in some cases fruit will be produced from the cion the first year, 

 and we thus avoid the slow process of planting out a young vine or a 

 cutting, and waiting three or four years to find whether or not the 

 variety is valuable. It is probable that you have some old vines of 

 little value, or at least of little value in your vicinity, and by little 

 trouble and the loss of the fruit one year you are enabled by grafting 

 to turn the old worthless vines to good account. 



There are several conditions generally considered necessary to suc- 

 cessful grafting. In grafting it must not be expected that all varieties 

 will unite well with those of other varieties. For instance, the stocks 

 of the Cordifolia do not unite well with the JEstivalis and Labruska 

 varieties, but they do sometimes unite and do well. Some claim that 

 the stock and cion should be from varieties of the same species, but 

 we think this is not necessary ; but yet we would not advise you to 

 use stocks and cions of different species on a large scale till you try 

 them, and find out if they unite well. A point of great importance 

 is that of selecting perfectly healthy and vigorous stock. Never se- 

 lect a sickly vine nor one subject to the Phylloxera, as a grafting 

 stock. A cion may be put deep enough below the surface to form its 

 own roots after starting, and thus support itself and dissolve its union 



