The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1874-03-04
uou 20 Graft Grape Wines

u "a craft Grape Wines.
As early in spring as the grounu
will permit, clear the soil away rom
oround the stock down some three 10
six inches. as the vine may suit; Sc
lect a smooth place; saw or cut OH
smoothly; take a graft of two eyes
short iointed wood is best-if very
short jointed, use three eyes to the
graft: cut it wedge-shaped, just as
an apple graft; split the stock and
insert the graft up to the depth OF the
wedge If the graft is weak, tie
tightly with waXed twine around
where the graft is inserted. II the
vine is strong and holds the graft lrm-
ly. it needs no tying. Fill up with
mellow earth to the upper eye OF the
graft. pressing the ground firmly
around where the graft and stock are
united, but loose on top. Stick lit
tie peg in the ground, one inch south
or north of the top of the graft, or
gratis. where more than one is set;
if the vine is an inch or more in dl-
ameter. put in two. Then cover one
inch with sawdust, and that with
grass, weeds or any other kind of lit
ter, to keep moist and frost out, if any
occurs after grating. have had
CRAFTS lifted out of their boots" by
want of this precaution The little
pegs are to show YOU exactly where
the graft is, and aid in distinguishing
the graft from suckers, which are
sure to come up around them from
the stocks. 1t is on this account that
| have cut all the eyes but one OF
cuttings which are intended for stocks
to graft upon. When grating such,
/ it will be neck or nothing, but the
trouble of suckering will be saved.
When the vines begin to grow,
don't expect your gratis all to start
also; for many may not start Tor a
month or two, and still grow. When
they do start, you must keep good
lookout for the suckers-in fact, the
suckers often start frst-which, i
left. will soon divert the channel o.
sap to them, and preven; the graf
from ever growing. Then is the time
the pins come into play, for by then
we can know exactly where the graf
NAV be found. With little pointed
stick of wood, bear down carefully
around the bud and remove the suck
ers; replace the earth and sawdus'
carefully again. This may have tC
be repeated two or three times, or a.
often as suckers appear. Be particu
larlv careful not TO let a sucker de
ceive you, and thus grow a spurious
thing to mortify you afterwards.
know of repeated instances of this
= kind.
When the gratis start they must b'
tied up to stakes. Some of the easi
Ilv-propagated sorts will sometimes
make but small growth, which i
examined in the fall, will be found OF
their own roots, and not united witt
the stock at all, it being dead.
This is my usual plan, in which
count upon so to IS per cent. grow
ing; but it is by no means the only
plan, or, rather, time | should say
Have grated much later-but still
before the vines started-with grea
success. They grew so strong that
when cutting them off with strong
shears, the sap would fly in my face
An acquaintance, who has even beer
more successful than /, says he like!
to work them when they bleed freely
he says it keeps the graft mOist-tht
very thing that many think cause:
failure. Some seasons | grated fol
space of six weeks, with no appa
rent difference in the result.
A line-toothed saw is the best too
TO cut off the vines with, if they are
of any considerable size.
If any others have done grating
successfully in a different way, hope
they will report. | would not give
FIVE cents for any grating machine,
except two knives-one strong, to
split, or rather cut, the stock; the
other very sharp, to make the wedg-
es; a spike sharpened to a thin
wedge, to keep the split open until
the CRAFTS are set, and little tack
hammer. | never shoulder a graft.
BY an illustration | could make il
palmer, but suppose any one can un-
derstand this.-S. Miller an Rural
! FOxid.