76 TREATISE ON THE CULTURE AND 



year's wood, which he prefers to those raised by cuttings in 

 the common way, for the following reasons : " They have 

 more abundant roots, grow shorter jointed, are more prolific^ 

 and will, if permitted, come into bearing the second year." 



You should make choice of the cuttings after a warm dry 

 season, such as last year (1300); but not after such as the 

 year before, when the wood did not ripen properly, owing to 

 the wet and cold season. Each cutting should have two inches, 

 of the old wood, with one eye of the new. When you prune 

 your vines you will have great choice ; you should then select 

 3^our cuttings of a middling size> the wood round and per- 

 fectly ripened. 



If, however, my friend, Monsieur Le Geau, of Spring 

 Mills, will have the goodness to add his opinion at the bottom 

 of this note, the reader will, I am certain, derive great advan- 

 tage from it. 



Vines are also propagated by layers in the following man- 

 ner: Take layers from walls or palings, observing to train the 

 shoots at full length during the summer. Then, about the 

 month of February, take some of the finest and strongest 

 shoots, and lay them in the ground about six inches below the 

 surface ; at the same time making an incision or two in the old 

 wood, or giving it a twist just below a joint: They will ge« 

 nerally take without notching or twisting ; yet, as it is the su- 

 rer way, I would advise it to be done. The tops of the layers 

 should then be cut off, leaving two or three strong eyes upoi^ 

 each. 



When the shoots begin to run, they should be tied to long 

 stakes, to prevent their being broken by the wind. All the 

 runners and side shoots are to be picked off, leaving only two 

 or three fine strong shoots on each plant, which should be 

 trained at full length during the summer. 



After the shoots are laid, it will be necessary mulch them 

 with good rotten dung, or rotten leaves, which will keep the 

 mould moist ; and in very dry summers, such as the last 

 (1800), it wiU be necessary to give them a good watering 

 once or twice a week : this will wash in the dung or leaves, 

 about the roots, and cause the layers to shoot more vigorously. 



In choosing vines from the nursery, I would recommend 

 those which have the strongest and longest shoots. 



If the foregoing directions are properly attended to, the 

 plants will be rooted and fit well for planting out in the autumn. 



When any are to be planted out, they should be care- 

 fully cut off' from the mother vine and carried without shak- 

 ing the earth from their roots, to the spot, where they are to. 

 be planted. 



