246 THE VINEYARD. [March- 
ed in a hot-house, green-house, or under the protection of glasses, 
till spring, they would then more freely vegetate. Or, sow the 
seed in February or March, and plunge the pots into a temperate 
hot-bed; when the plants appear, they will require, from time to 
time, gentle sprinklings of water, and protection from frost and 
cold. When so far advanced, as to have three or four joints each, 
they must be carefully shaked out, and planted each in a separate 
pot. 
The greatest care will be required in the performance of the above 
operation, as it will be beneficial to preserve as much of the earth to 
the roots as possible: then plunge the pots into a gentle hot-bed; 
give the plants a little water, and occasional shade from a strong sun, 
till they have taken root; after which, give them plenty of air occa- 
sionally, so as to inure them to the open weather, and have them fit 
to turn out of the pots in July, with the balls of earth, wherever they 
are intended to remain; and. from thence forward, they may be treat- 
ed exactly in the same manner as recommended hereafter, for plants 
raised from cuttings, only that they will require some slight protec- 
tion from the frosts of the ensuing winter. 
Propagation by Layers. 
When the Vine is intended to be propagated by layers, the best 
shoots of the preceding season that can be most conveniently brought 
to the earth, are to be chosen for that purpose. After making the 
ground light and fine with the spade, each shoot must be fastened 
with a hooked stick, about five or six inches below the surface, with 
the tops somewhat erect, and cut so as to leave but two buds above 
ground: this work may be done, at any time when the weather per- 
mits, from the middle or beginning of October, till the end of March, 
or rather until, and at the time of spring pruning; for, if done wuch 
later, the top of the layer where cut, and even the parts bent in the 
operation, would bleed, which would injure it considerably. Some 
give them a slit, where inserted into the earth, but they will root 
freely with or without such. 
During summer, if the weather proves dry, a little water occasion- 
ally would be of use to them; just so much as will keep the ground 
in a moist state. The autumn, or spring following, the layers may 
be taken off from the mother plants, their tops pruned, the extreme 
ends of the stems beyond the young roots cut off close to them, and 
so planted where they are to remain; but I would prefer doing this 
early in March. 
This is a very useful and necessary operation, when any of your 
plants in the Vineyard are bad kinds, or in an indifferent state of 
health; for you can extend the end of a long shoot from a neigh- 
bouring plant, to where the bad plant was, or stands, entering it into 
the earth as before, where you wish it to grow, and the next season 
you will have a fine vigorous plant; observing, then, to detach it 
from the mother vine, by cutting off the connection close to its new 
established roots; or, you may lay it all the way in the earth from 
the mother plant, to where you desire its top to grow, and in a year 
