308 FORCING DEPARTMENT. 



also, as are not of too gross a substance ; for the 

 more luxuriant growing ones are generally very 

 pithy, and, consequently, far less suitable than those 

 of a less vigorous nature and compact wood. 



Shoots that appear of a moderate size, and beset 

 with bold prominent buds, are the most proper for 

 selection ; they should be chosen when the Vines are 

 pruned from the kinds that are most approved, and 

 the ends inserted in mould, and kept in a dry airy 

 situation, until February, or the beginning of March, 

 when they should be placed in a hot-bed, previously 

 prepared for their reception. 



In the preparing of the cuttings, leave but as little 

 of the old wood attached to the eye as possible, 

 paring it away close to the bud, on both sides ; 

 observing not to encroach on the eye, and that it 

 may not be above an inch in length, (including the 

 bud,) when completed. The underside of the shoot 

 may be also reduced, which will leave still less of 

 the old wood, whilst the plants will succeed equally 

 well, and ultimately root much better, than if left of 

 a greater length. 



The practice of propagating Vines from long shoots 

 containing several eyes, is now but seldom adopted, 

 as those that are raised with the smallest portion of 

 the mother plant attached to them are uniformly 

 found to succeed the best. When the eyes or cut- 

 tings are all prepared, they should be inserted in 

 pots, filled with leaf-mould and sandy loam ; four or 

 five cuttings will be quite sufficient to put in one 

 pot, as, if crowded, their roots will become entangled, 

 and will be more liable to be injured in the re- 



