The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-02-24
THE FARM AND HOUSEHOLD.
Propagation of the Vine.

The grapevine is very easily propagated,
and when il is convenient those intending to
plant grapery had better propagate their
own vines, as / consider vines planted the
first year superior to those enc year old when
planted They generally make better
growth than those grown one year in pots
previous to planting. The great aim in start
ing grapery is to get the vines planted in it
of various constitution, and to insure this.
they should have no check to their growth
firm the time they are started from tide ewes
until the firrt growth made after being plant
ed in the grapery. In planting vines, have
observed those getting vigorous start make
the best and earliest fruit canes; when they
are weak and spindliDg before planting, they
appear to retain the same weak nature, max
ing but very inferior growths for years after.
When securing eyes for propagation, get
them from well-ripened vines and from side
shoots instead of leading ones; they generally
start better into growth than those taken
from too strong shoots. Get good, strong,
plump eyes and cut them with sharp knife
about half an inch ON each side of the bud
also cut off at the back of the eye about half
of the wood, which gives good
large surface for callusing and therefore
good number of roots are emitted.
When prepared, insert in three-inch
pots, previously filled with lump of
sod as large as the pot) near the surface;
then make hole in the sod large enough for
holding the eye, and little sand should be
placed all around the cutting. When the
potting is accomplished plunge the pots in
sand or any similar substance, and place
where bottom temperature OF about 70 deg.
can be maintained, and temperature of
deg. to 10 deg. more during the day. En-.
deavor, if possible, to keep the bottom tenn
perature as high, and, if convenient, higher
than the surface temperature. Ifthis is not
attended 10 the eye often bursts into growth
before root starts and grows as long as any
strength remains in the wood. Seldom, I'M
der such circumstances, do any roots ever
start, and when they do, are generally very
weak. When the roots reach the sides of the
pot, re-pot into siX-inch pots, taking care not
to destroy any of the tender roots. The soil
for this potting should be chopped sods mixed
with little decayed manure. In this size
of pots they should be kept until they have
formed considerable roots, but not allowed to
get matted into the pots: they are then in
good condition for planting. But those
grown for sale and growing on for one year
should, at this stage, be potted into nine-inch
pots and kept in moist temperature, en-
couraging as strong growth as possible.
During their growth they require daily syr-
inging to keep down red spider, and maintain
healthy foliage; if this is not done good
strong canes cannot be had.
A general practice by those raising for
planting the first year is to insert the eyes
singly in sods cut about six inches square,
and then placed close together where they
can receive the proper heat, and when the
roots get to the edge of the sod remove them
about foot apart and fill up the space be-
tween with fine soil, into which the roots
soon enter, and when good many are
formed they are carefully lifted and planted
where required Country Gentleman.