AGRICULTURAL NATURE STUDY OUTLINES 
97 
VI. Sixth Grade 
Grape Cuttings . 
Aims. (1) To create observation. 
(2) To get the children interested in the crops produced 
in the district. 
(3) To learn the proper methods of grape propagation. 
Materials. One year old canes. Different types of grape cuttings 
made by local horticulturist. 
Method of Procedure. 
This lesson will take the form of a general discussion. The 
teacher asks questions and the children find out the answers, 
through home observations and questions. Ask the children 
how they get their new plants for their vineyard. Most child¬ 
ren know that they get them from cuttings. "Why are not seeds 
used to produce the new plants? (Several reasons: they never 
produce plants so good as the parent; they are likely to come 
up staminate, therefore bear no fruit; do not come true to 
variety. We do use seedlings to get new varieties, you will 
learn about that later. At present we will study the cuttings.) 
What do we mean by a cutting? (Part of the mother or 
parent vine.) 
How should we select our cuttings? (From the best bearers 
-—the most vigorous vines.) 
When should we mark our vines for cuttings? (During the 
bearing season; we then know the variety and whether it pro¬ 
duces good fruit and in abundance.) 
What is a good cutting? (One selected from a one year 
old cane of moderate thickness near the base of the cane. Best 
with three nodes and three or four buds.) 
What kind of cuttings are made in this vicinity? The 
following cuttings may be told about: 
1. Ordinary cuttings—A piece of one-year-old cane with 
three buds. 
2. Hammer cutting—Ordinary cutting with a piece of old 
cane. (If lump does not heal up well it is liable to 
decay.) 
3. Heal cutting. (Name suggests kind.) 
4. Ox foot cutting. (From end of the arm.) 
What is the usual length of a cutting? (About ten inches; 
it is not necessary to have them any longer as they will not 
be any deeper rooted. Feeding roots exist at an upper and 
