The Grafting of Vines.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 184, 25 December 1886, Page 4

The Grafting of Vines.

In his excellent treatise on the Propagation and Culture of the Grape Vine, Mr John Simpson writes as follows on propagation by grafting :— 1 have often had occasion to graft Vines, and never adopted any other plan than enarcJting by the green wood. For' convenience and expedition it beats any other plan I am acquainted with, and I know many good cultivators who never adapt any other plan, no matter how old or how young the Vines are. Tlu only preliminary preparation needed is. to have the scion, in the shape of a plant in a pot or planted out, ready and convenient when it is wanted, and to see that both stock and scion are at the right .stage for the operation. Very recent growth does not unite quickly, the wood must be quite green and growing, but jus I getting icoody to the touch of the knife. At this stage bring the two together an the dtsirod point; with a sharp knife lernove tho leaves of both whore the union i<! to be, leaving u good head of shoot and lea\es ahovc that point ; then cut a slice of the scion and stock, not quite into the pith, and about two inches long; biing the cut sides together, fapien the two nbo\e and below the wound with a piece of soft matting, and with another soft piece bind the two shoots together, (Irmly, the whole length of the cut, taking care that the allies of the stock and scion meet on one «.klc at least. The union must be quite close, and so long as the matting does not cut into the shoot it is not too tight. After the operation is finished, tie the Vines so that the graft is. not likely to be shaken or moved. In a foitnight, a partial union will be eftVcted, and the binding should then be examined and slightly relaxed it it appears j to be cutting into the baik, but not quite removed till the union is complete. While i the union is taking place the ecion should be encouraged to grow beyond the graft as much as possible, and tho growth of the stuck beyond should be encouraged in a hunted degree ; but when the scion is safely established the stock above the graft should be cut clean av<iy. Grafting is performed geneially >\ith the object of improving or htieugthening weak-gi owing varieties, that do not. do well on their own roots, hence, in selecting a stock a vigoioue> constitution, feitihty, and a coi responding habit of grow tli should be the main considerations Iho full benefit of any stock is only gained when a portion of it is also allowed to glow, as -well as the scion. We ha\ c alw a\ & either grafted our Vmc« halfway up or had one limb of the stock aud anothei of the scion ; but it has lately occured to us that double grafting would be better still in the case of some delicate soi ts— that is, to put the scion in the middle of the Vine, and ha\ing a portion ot the stock variety both above and below I it.