202 THE CULTUKE OF THE GRAPE. 



" Encouraged by patronage, I have, for years past, 

 cultivated the choicest varieties, (selected from every 

 pai't of our country,) in the nursery to be well rooted, 

 and ready for market ; and more of the Scuppernong 

 than any other variety, not only as the best southern 

 grape, all things considered, but that it cannot be pro- 

 pagated, successfully, by cuttings, but by layers-, or 

 grafting. 



" I started with a prettj' large number of Scuppernong, 

 and other native cuttings — of the Scuppernong mostly. 

 The cuttings of this grape all put out in the spring, but, 

 as usual with them, they all died in the summer. It is 

 best for the American vintner to start his vineyard with 

 well-rooted vines, reared in the nurserj', from cuttings, 

 or from layers. Even in grafting, it is better to begin in 

 the nursery, and transfer into the vineyard, after a j'ear's 

 growth ; this is a common method witli me ; though I have 

 a very pretty jjortion of vineyard acquired by searching 

 the woods, late in the spring, when vines are in the leaf, 

 and getting stocks of the Fox, and other common kinds, 

 an inch or upwards in diameter, grafting them, wedge- 

 fashion, and then transplanting, ten feet each way. The 

 scions (having been kept back, in a cool place, from 

 sprouting,) were "Weller's Halifax and Norton's Virginia 

 Seedling. They are kinds I esteem next to the Scupper- 

 nong, as free from the propensity to rot, and in other re- 

 spects good. 



" It is the uniform result of long experience, that, if 

 grafting is effected on stocks procured or dug up from 

 the woods, success, with due pains-taking, will surely 

 follow, if done at any time from the complete fall of 



