C 138 ] 
^ine^ and among these, such as are short jointed i 
so shall you be sure to have thrifty and fruitful 
vines. Let them, be cut down close to the old 
ivood, for here the wood is ripest and most firm, 
the upper part of the same branch is less ripe, and 
more loose and spungy, and more apt to fail, and 
makes a less firm and lasting vine. 
Anciently it appears, that a part of the old 
nj^ood was cut off with the shoot intended for plant¬ 
ing, a little ahom and beloxu the place of its inser¬ 
tion ; so that when properly prepared for plantingj 
a vine cutting resembled a little mallet, and was 
called by the Romans, malleolus. The cuttings, 
according to this practice, were about 14 or Id 
inches long. In. Madeira, also, even at this day, 
the slips or cuttings are from 18 to 24 inches. But 
from late experiments made in England, and from 
the practice of American vinerons, it appears more 
eligible to make the cuttings about 4 or 5 inches— 
alwys. oherviug the riile^ that they be taken from 
fruit-bearing, branches^ that they he firm ^ sounds full 
and of a. healthy appearance^ thick set %\)iib eyes^ and 
the near ex the last year''s growth y the better^ 
Tuese ciittingS; should be separated from the 
mother vine, according to some, in October, accor¬ 
ding to others, in March or April. In the former 
ease, if they are not to be planted till spring, it will 
be necessary to secure them during the intervening 
\Yinter. 
