Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 4, 1802).djvu/301

Rh in the contrary case, at the second: the lower bud, however, must be rubbed off, as soon as it appears.

If vines are designed to be raised from cuttings, these ought to be selected from strong and full grown shoots, which should be cut perfectly smooth, immediately beneath the part where they were produced, and have one or two joints of the last year's wood. The cuttings must be planted against walls, at the distance of one foot from each other, and at such depth, that the second eye may be level with the ground; but the lower eye ought to be rubbed off, on its first appearance; because, if that operation be delayed, the upper eye will be injured in removing the former. Runners and lateral shoots should likewise be cut off, excepting two which are to be trained against the wall.

Vines may also be propagated by layers. For this purpose, let the most vigorous shoots be laid in pots filled with fresh mould, and placed about two inches beneath the surface of the ground; the incision being made in the old wood below a joint, so as to leave one or two eyes on each. When the shoots or layers have taken root, they must be separated from the parent stock; manured with rotten dung or leaves; and watered twice a week during dry summers: all lateral excrescences should also be picked off, and the layers treated in the same manner as the cuttings. During the first year, vines will not advance rapidly; but, in the second, the strongest may be easily distinguished, and these may be suffered to stand, while the weaker ones must be transplanted to other situations.

The quality and size of grapes depend greatly on the strength of the plant on which they grow.—Mr. , therefore, recommends the vines to be cut down to two or three eyes, in the first year, if there be a superfluity of naked wood. In the following year, a considerable increase of fine wood will be obtained, when all runners, &c. must be picked off; and the main shoots be nailed to the wall, progressively as they increase in length. During fine weather, it will be advisable to examine them every second or third week, and speedily to remove every lateral shoot. No farther attention will be required, excepting that all weeds mustbe carefully eradicated; for otherwise the growth of the vines would be impeded.—In the month of February, in the second year, the pruning should be repeated; and three buds be left to each of the strongest main shoots; but in those of a weaker growth, two eyes only must be permitted to remain. Mr. F. observes, that his composition (see ; and also ) ought to be applied as early as possible, after each pruning; for the vine, being very porous, speedily imbibes moisture, and thus quickly decays: should it accidentally have been cut at a late season, it will be necessary to sprinkle the powder of the preparation before quoted over the wound, till the bleeding or flow of the sap be completely checked.

Numerous insects prey upon the vine; which, unless timely destroyed, will totally kill the plant: as we have already stated the best methods of exterminating them, in the articles, , , , &c., we shall here only remark, that their dations