Propagation of the Vine. 69 



Nursery for Raising Cuttings. — Preparing the 

 " Crossettes." — Crossettes are cut from late in the fall 

 until tJie end of February. In the northern latitudes 

 adapted to the vine, they must be put into the nursery 

 in March and April only, and in January and February 

 in the South. Until then the wood must be kept froni 

 drying. It is well, besides, to hasten the development 

 of their roots. To this end the cuttings are treated as 

 follows : by means of a pruning-knife, the portion of 

 old wood which had been left only to prevent the heel 

 of the crossette from drying, especially when they are 

 for distant transportation, is cut away. The dry ten- 

 drils and grape stalks must also be removed. All the 

 cuttings are then made of one length — say about sixteen 

 inches. These crossettes are tied into small bundles, 

 which are then buried in the following manner : one or 

 more trenches are opened, of about fourteen inches 

 wide, and about as deep as the cuttings are long. The 

 bundles of cuttings are placed in these trenches, in an 

 upright position, but upside down. The earth is so 

 placed over them as to form a slanting or shelving bed 

 over each trench. This process, which we have seen 

 practiced by some vine-dressers on the " Aude," gives 

 this result : when about to be transplanted into the 

 nursery, these cuttings are taken up, when the heel of 

 each is found provided with a large, round swelling of 

 cellular tissue, which hastens the growth of the cut- 

 tings by one year. 



[A similar method, but more carefully and judiciously man- 

 aged, has been very successfully introduced, in this country, 

 and has been used by Mr. Wm. Patrick, of Terra Haute, In- 

 diana. The details are given in the American Annual of Horti- 



