ON THE PROPAGATION OF VINES. 



313 



of their small roots, and choose a mild day (about the first of 

 April, or earlier, is a good season), for the operation. 



By layers. This is a very expeditious mode of growing 

 young vines, provided the shoots be laid in pots ; but vines 

 raised from shoots laid down in the open ground should be 

 avoided as the worst of all plants : they make but few roots, 

 and, when removed, these nearly all die off from being cut 

 at the extremities in lifting, and the second year of such a 

 plant is not much in advance of a good cutting. To grow 

 vines by laying the shoots in pots, the following directions, 

 if followed, will insure success : For each intended layer 

 procure a seven-inch pot, or a small box of a similar, or even 

 larger size, prepare some fine rich sandy mould, containing 

 a great portion of decayed leaves, then take the shoot and 

 run it through the hole in the bottom of the pot till you 

 come to the last three buds ; close up the aperture round 

 the shoot with moss, cotton, or any elastic substance, and 

 then fill up the pot or box to within half an inch of the top 

 with the prepared soil, having previously secured it in a safe 

 and level position ; and, where it can be conveniently wa- 

 tered during the season; this must be attended to at least 

 once a-day. When there is not time for this attendance, the 

 pot or box should be plunged under ground, and the layer 

 placed thereon, and firmly secured, so that its own force will 

 not raise it up ; then cover up the shoots at least three inches, 

 leaving space for occasionally holding some liquid nourish- 

 ment. Shoots may be thus laid any time from the first of 

 March to the first of April. It must be clearly understood 

 that the success of the operation depends entirely on keep- 

 ing the mould in the pots moist, treating it as directed for 

 watering-cuttings. The plant may be separated from the 

 vine about the first of September, and instantly planted into 

 its desired locality, or put into a larger vessel, and there re- 

 main till planting season ; the following year displace the 

 tendrils and laterals as directed for cuttings, and in pruning 

 cut it down to within three eyes of the ground. We may 

 safely assert that it is a species of strangling to a vine in the 

 first three years of its growth to be sparing of the knife, al- 

 lowing, at once, small weak shoots to be laid in to form in a 

 day (comparatively) a ]3lant that is expected to withstand 

 the vicissitude of ages, and produce yearly its quantum of 

 fruit ; but more of this when treating of pruning. 

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