Propagation of the Vine. 89 



and throwing a mulch of straw, or leaves, over the whole. — 

 Under these circumstances, a moderate action among the cell 

 tissues results in the formation of a callus, and in a union with 

 the stock, so that at the opening of spring, when the cover- 

 ings are removed, the vine is prepared to grow at once. 



A writer in the Gardener's Monthly* has discovered the 

 mystery — or rather that there is no mystery at all about it. — 

 He says : " cut your scions in the fall, after they are fully ripe, 

 but before they are exposed to any hard freezing. Let the 

 wood be firm, not pithy, well matured, small and short-jointed. 

 These are packed in moss, or saw-dust, and kept in the cellar, 

 free from frost. They are cut in lengths of a foot, and tied 

 in small bundles." 



" Have a short shoe-maker's knife to split the stocks, and a 

 sharp pen-knife to cut the graft ; a small iron wedge to hold 

 open the stock when needed; a wooden mallet and a saw, and 

 you are equipped." 



" Time. — He is most successful from the moment the frost 

 has left the ground until the vines bleed — February to April, 

 according to the season and locality. The stocks should be 

 strong — at least two years old ; as soon as the frost has gone, 

 and the ground has settled, remove the earth from around the 

 vine, four inches deep ; cut off the stock at a smooth place, 

 suitable for grafting, two or three inches below the surface. — 

 Graft as fest as cut, to avoid exposure to the air. The top 

 of the stock is cut smooth, and the bark is removed from the 

 side, as low as the graft is inserted, and split, or rather cut, by 

 placing the knife on the side and striking it gently with the 

 mallet, until you split the stock deep enough to insert the graft; 

 but do not split it through to the other side. Insert the 

 wedge to keep it open. Select the scion in proportion to the 

 stock, so that it shall be firm enough to withstand the pres- 

 sure. Cut it long enough for the upper bud to be just above 



*T. Stayman, Leavenworth, Kansas. 



