GRAFTING VINES.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 289, 11 August 1888, Page 5

G RAFTING VINES.

Vs regular n& the season comes around I am I'kod, says a successful American vinegiowor, to describe the mode of grafting vines. By tlio time this gets before our readers some who are in a hurry may have alteady done tlio work. After many years of expciience, doing the work ab all times from Febiuary (August) until the vims havo made shoots a foot long, with varied success, I havo come to tlio conclusion that the best time is when tho vines are started to grow, tho grafts being kept in a cool shady place so that; they were a little behind the stock installing. To keep them entirely dormant it) an ice house, as some recommend, is wrong. I have had the buds on the grafts swollen ready to burst when inserted that started to grow in a week after. Clear the ground away from the root thrco or four it.chfs deep, saw off at a smooth place at the bottom. If no smooth place can be found, saw into the stump instead of splitting as usual. A thick, wide eet saw I prefer to the knife, even in a straight stump. Shave your graft to fit the cut with a shoulder, tie if the stock is less

than an inche in diameter, then fill in the earth uaretully, piods firmly, but do noo move graft. Hill up to the upper ,bnd, stick a peg one inch from each graft on one side, always on the same, so you can tell exactly where the graib is. Then covov the eye over with a handful of sawdust : throw a little mulch on and leave ib until the grafts begin to grow. 1 use two-eyed gratis, unless the wood is long- jointed aucl thick, when one oye will answer. When the grafts begin to grow the suckers must bo kept off, or they will keep the grafts from growing. As soon as the gratt begins to grow it must be tied up to a' stake to keep the wind from blowing it down. Ini. this way I nearly always get fruit a little*' sooner than when I bvy a small vine.' Have now s f rong vines of Empire State that were set in spring of 1886 ; bore fruit) last year, while three vines planted the year before that cost me six dollars have not borne <i bunch of fruit yet, and nofc much show of doing it the coming beason. I cannot see the policy of digging worthless vines up and planting olhots in Wieir place Graft them with something; better.