ON THE PROPAGATION OP VINES. 311 
trouble and expense incurred in making a suitable compost. 
However, the disadvantage of a poor soil may in part be 
compensated for by planting the vines closer together. If, 
indeed, vines could not be planted with any prospect of suc- 
cess, except in borders purposely prepared, only a very small 
quantity of grapes would be grown, compared with what this 
rich and fertile country is capable of producing. 
Many instances occur in towns and cities, around dwell- 
ings and other descriptions of brick and stone erections, 
which present very favourable situations for the training of 
vines, but, which, nevertheless, are so situated as to admit 
of little or no soil being placed at their roots. In such 
cases, if an opening can be made, twenty inches deep, and 
as many wide, it will be sufficient to admit of the roots of 
a young vine, which will support it till its rambling roots 
have found their way under the pavement, or along the walls 
to some more distant nourishment ; if a wider space can be 
made, it will, of course, be better : loosen the sides and 
bottom as much as possible, and fill up with compost, as 
previously directed, and therein plant the vine. The surface 
covering, whether of brick or stone, may be replaced after 
the soil has fully settled, leaving a hole about six inches 
square to allow the stem of the plant to swell in its future 
growth. The roots soon find their way under the paving or 
along the foundation walls, and, indeed, in every direction, 
in search after food, and will extract nourishment from 
sources apparently barren. The fact is, that the roots of 
the vine possess an astonishing power of adapting them- 
selves to any situation in which they may be planted, pro- 
vided it be a dry one. 
ON THE PROPAGATION OP VINES. 
Vines are generally propagated in the open ground by 
cuttings and layers. 
By cuttings. At the general prunings, provide cuttings of 
the preceding summer's growth ; choose such as are of a 
medium size, well-ripened, and short-jointed, cut them into 
lengths of about eighteen inches each, leaving at the ends 
not less than two inches of wood to protect the eye ; place 
these temporary cuttings about three-fourths of their length 
