Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 June 1891 — THE VINEYARD. [ARTICLE]

THE VINEYARD.

Grafting Grapes. Samuel Miller, in Popular Oardening , thus refers to the above subject: Alter many years of experience, during the work at all times from February, when the frost was out of the ground, until the vines have made shoots a foot long, with varied success, I have come to the conclusion that the best time is when the vines are started to grow, the grafts are being kept in a cool, shady place so that they were a little behind the stock in starting. To keep them entirely dormant in an ice-house, as some recommend, is wrong. I have had the buds ou the grafts swollen ready to burst when inserted that started to grow a week after. Clear the ground away from the root three or four inchcr. 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-set saw I prefer to a knife, even in a straight stump. Bhavc your graft to fit the cut with a shoulder, tie if the stock is less than an inch in diameter, then fill in the earth carefully, press firmly, but do not move graft. Hill up to the upper bud, stick a peg one inch from eacli graft on one side; so you can tell exactly where the graft is. Then cover the eye over with a handful of sawdust; throw a little mulch on and leave it until the grafts begin to grow. I use two eyed grafts, unless the wood is long jointed and thick, when one eye will answer. When the grafts begin to grow the suckers must be kept off, or they will keep the grafts from growing. As soon .as the graft begins to grow it must be tied up to a stake to keep the wind from blowing it down. In this way I nearly always get fruit a little sooner than when I buy a small vine. Have now strong 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 $6 have not borne a bunch of fruit yet, and not much show of doing it the coming season. I cannot see the policy of digging worthless vines up and planting others in their place. Graft them with something better.