76 MY VINEYARD. 



thoroughly worked over, so as to be uniform in composi- 

 tion. 



In the spring, as soon as the frosts are well out of the 

 way, lay oif the bed into lines fifteen inches apart. With 

 a spade, dig trenches ten inches deep, one side of which 

 shall be smooth, and have a moderate but uniform slope. 

 Along these sloping sides the cuttings may be placed six 

 inches apart, in such a manner that the center point be- 

 tween the two upper buds shall be at the surface of the 

 ground, after which the trenches are to be filled and the 

 soil pressed down. The whole bed may now be mulched 

 with coarse utter, which may be put on deep enough to 

 come up to the upper bud of the cuttings. If the soil is 

 dry at the time of putting the cuttings in, it may be 

 thoroughly watered before mulching. The cuttings will 

 soon strike root, and the stems ought to make a growth 

 of from three to five feet the first season. If left to them- 

 selves, they will do very well ; but it is somewhat better 

 to keep the plants tied up to stakes, or pea brush may be 

 put in for them to climb upon. 



There are numerous other methods of propagating by 

 cuttings, but the one just described, I have found to be 

 most successful. Sometimes, cuttings of only two buds 

 are used. In this case they are put into the soil so deep- 

 ly, that the upper bud is covered about an inch. Where 

 this is done, the upper bud not only produces a stem, but 

 roots are thrown out from its base. In this way fine 



