Therefore the other branches of
this vine thus called upon for unusual effort should be permitted
to fruit but sparingly. We should not injure and enfeeble the
original vine in order to get others like it. For this reason we
advise that no more buds be permitted to grow from the layer than
we actually need ourselves. To injure a good vine and deprive
ourselves of fruit that we may have plants to give away, is to
love one's neighbor better than one's self--a thing permitted, but
not required. When our vines are pruned, we can make as many
cuttings as we choose, either to sell or give away.
The ground in which a layer is placed should be very rich, and its
surface round the young growing vines always kept moist and free
from weeds. In the autumn, after the leaves have fallen and the
wood is ripe and hard, cut off the layered branch close to the
vine, and with a garden-fork gently and carefully lift it, with
all its roots and young vines attached, out of the soil. First cut
the young vines back to three or four buds, then separate them
from the branch from which they grew, being sure to give each
plant plenty of roots, and the roots BACK of the point from which
it grew; that is, those roots nearest the parent plant from which
the branch was layered. All the old wood of the branch that is
naked, free of roots, should be cut off.
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