March.] THE VINEYARD. 247 
pagating is extremely pithy and spongy, like the j&g; for the nearer 
we approach to nature's method, by having as little old wood as 
possible about the root of a young plant, the better. 
When the cuttings are thus prepared they should be laid in 
trenches close to each other, in some dry part of the vineyard, and 
covered with earth to within two inches of their tops, where they 
are to remain till you are ready to plant them; covering them in 
frosty or parching weather with some loose dry litter, which is to 
be taken oft' every mild day, that they may the more effectually be 
inured to the open air. This is the best method of preserving them, 
even during the entire winter. I do not approve of keeping cut- 
tings for any length of time in close, dark, unventilated cellars; 
for in such places they become weak, blanched, tender and sickly, 
and seldom succeed well when planted out; besides, they have 
nothing to imbibe whilst there but foul air, which vitiates their 
juices, and brings on diseases and bad health. 
Method of Planting. 
Having your ground prepared and marked out with stakes, as 
before directed, and your cuttings in readiness, so soon after the 
middle of this month as you find the soil dry and in good order, 
proceed to planting, in the following manner: — Take up a number 
of your cuttings carefully, without injuring the buds, and place 
them in a bucket of dung water about six inches deep, the bucket 
having a handle for the convenience of carrying it from place to 
place; then, at each stake, make a hole with a spade, about a foot 
deep, and as wide as you please, but it will be better to have all 
these holes made the day before you commence planting; into each 
put one strong cutting, placing it a little sloping, and so deep that 
the second bud from the top may be just on a level with the gene- 
ral surface; immediately fill the hole with earth, pressing it gently 
with your feet to the cutting, and drav/ing the loose earth around so 
as to cover the second bud, before noticed, half an inch deep, which 
bud so protected, will frequently make the most vigorous shoot, 
and often succeed when the top bud, exposed to the weather, will 
not; then drive down the stake, so as to make it firm, within three 
inches of the plant. 
If your cuttings are not extremely good and fresh, and such as 
may be depended on, it will be the more certain way to plant two in 
each hole, the tops within a few inches of each other, and the lower 
ends sloping in opposite directions for the greater convenience, if 
both should succeed, of removing one without disturbing the other; 
these extra plants may be made use of next season to fill up vacan- 
cies, or to form a new plantation. 
Cuttings are generally preferred for this purpose to rooted plants, 
as they are thought to establish themselves more effectually when 
not removed; however, when such are to be planted, keep their 
roots out of ground but as short a time as possible; and if immersed 
when taken up in a pap of earth and water, or dung and water, the 
better: plant them in the same manner as directed for the cuttings. 
