Propagation of the Vine. 71 



close-jointed, succeeds better than such as is large, sappy, full 

 of pith, and long-jointed, but, under all circumstances, the 

 shoots used should have been well ripened, and firm. Some 

 sorts are very difficult to grow from cuttings in the cold 

 ground ; these are propagated by layering, or the wood is 

 turned over to the careful manipulation of those who propa- 

 gate grape-vines by the aid of artificial heat and glass.] 



To the same end, it is advisable to peel the cuttings 

 for four inches from their base, so as to lay bare the 

 inner bark. . This operation is easily performed when 

 the cuticle has been softened in water, or by the damp- 

 ness of the ground. This removal of the skin hastens 

 and facilitates the sprouting of the roots in the following 

 proportions : if 200 cuttin_gs of the same vine are 

 planted in a straight line, and in the same conditions 

 as to soil and moisture, and lOO of them are peeled, 

 as we have just explained, and each one planted be- 

 tween two cuttings which have not been operated on, 

 the following result will be obtained : while one-third 

 of the unpeeled cuttings fail, the cuttings operated on 

 will only fail four or five per cent., and will be more 

 vigorous by half. 



By laying the cuttings horizontally in the earth, or 

 soaking them some time in water, somewhat analagous 

 effects are obtained, by the softening of the cuticle, but 

 these results are far from being as complete as in the 

 two foregoing processes. 



Nursery Planting. — The growth of cuttings must be 

 hastened as much as possible, and, for this reason, in 

 order to form a nursery, a rich, fertile soil, with a good 

 exposure, must be selected. In the fall preceding the 

 planting, it must be broken up and trenched to the 



