Growing Seedling Grapes. 283 
economic question oi ease of cultivation enters into the choice 
of soil for the grape, as for other fruits, but its claims are ob- 
vious and need not be enlarged upon. 
Length of the Grape Season.—By choice of early and late 
varieties the grape season extends over a half year in California, 
without recourse to artificial means of preservation. Where the 
fall rains are not very protracted, the late varieties keep in good 
condition on the vines until the winter pruning. Good grapes 
have been picked from the vines as late as the middle of January. 
PROPAGATING AND PLANTING VINES. 
The grape is propagated from seed or by layers, or by cut- 
tings of various lengths. Growing from seed was somewhat 
resorted to in California to get stocks for resisting the phyliox- 
era. but such wide variation in resistance occurred in seedlings 
that propagation by cuttings, of varietics demonstrated to be 
best in this regard, has become universal. There is at present 
little disposition to grow grape seedlings in the hope of securing 
better and hardier varieties, as is so largely done in other parts 
of the country. The vast numbers of varieties of the European 
species, vinifera, which we have to draw from, makes the effort 
for new seedlings of little object. 
Growing Vines from Seed.—Seed is easily removed from 
grapes by crushing the berries and stirring the pulp rapidly in 
water. Professor Husmann says that one pound of good, fresh 
seed will give from two to three thousand seedlings. Some ad- 
vocate sowing grape seed in the fall, just as it is taken from the 
fruit, but best results are usually obtained by 
spring sowing, after danger from frost is over. 
It is advisable to keep grape seed moist for some 
time before sowing. Seed soaked one week in 
water, and afterward allowed to lie in a heap for 
three weeks germinates quickly, starting in ten 
days or two weeks after being put in the ground. 
Professor Husmann advises pouring hot water on 
the seed and allowing it to cool, the seed remain- 
ing in the water for twelve hours, and after that it 
is kept for a week in a sack, exposed to the sun, 
and covered at night, the sack being moistened 
from time to time. 
. The seed should be sown in the open ground, 
{ the soil having been worked deeply and finely, 
Growth from Sin- aS for a garden. Sow the seed about an inch 
t- A : = 
gle i apart, in drills far enough from each other to 
