From causes often too obscure to be learned
with certainty, excellent kinds will prove to be well adapted to
one locality, and fail in others. If, therefore, when calling on a
neighbor during August, September, or October, we are shown a vine
producing fruit abundantly that is suited to our taste, a vine
also which manifests unmistakable vigor, we may be reasonably sure
that it belongs to a variety which we should have, especially if
it be growing in a soil and exposure somewhat similar to our
garden plot. A neighbor worthy of the name will be glad to give us
a few cuttings from his vine at the time of its annual pruning;
and with, very little trouble we also may soon possess the desired
variety. When the vine is trimmed, either make yourself or have
your friend make a few cuttings of sound wood from that season's
growth. About eight inches is a good length for these vine-slips,
and they should contain at least two buds. Let each slip be cut
off smoothly just under the lowest bud, and extend an inch or two
above the uppermost bud. If these cuttings are obtained in
November or December, they may be put into a little box with some
of the moist soil of the garden, and buried in the ground below
the usual frost-line--say a foot or eighteen inches in our
latitude. The simple object is to keep them in a cool, even
temperature, but not a frosty one.
Pages:
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87