Soft Wood Propagation of the Grape Vine.

A good many years ago experiments were tried in

herbaceous or soft wood grafting of the grape as a way to establish vinifera varieties upon
resistant roots. A publication was made on the subject by the old State Viticultural
Commission, and a number of vine growers tried the herbaceous grafting proposed. It was not
successful enough to establish itself as a local method and has been practically lost sight of.
Still, working in soft canes of the vine has some advantages, and much interest has been
awakened in it by Mr. E. H. Twight, the University instructor in viticulture, who has given
demonstrations at Farmers' Institutes, and has prepared a special bulletin recently issued by
the University Agricultural Experiment Station. We desire to make seasonable reference to
the matter that readers may make experiments to satisfy themselves when the vines reach
proper stages of growth.

The herbaceous grafting which failed some years ago was a Hungarian method, and consisted
in putting in a cleft graft in a growing cane much in the same way that top grafting is done on
the smaller limbs of fruit trees. This is shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 1- Green cleft graft

A growing cane of the stock is cut at the letters A A, between the second and third leaves, the
third leaf being pinched off as shown at B B. In the center of Fig. 1 is shown the scion of the
variety which it is desired to introduce, with its base cut with a sloping cut to enter the split in
the stock cane, shown below it. The two are joined and tied in the usual way. In the dry air of
California, it seems very difficult for the scion to gain sap from the stock soon enough to stop
its wilting and perishing by evaporation.
Fig.2-Horwath graft

Fig. 2 represents what is known as the Horwath graft. It is really a form of budding, as the
scion carries but one bud, and it is used in a way to reduce evaporation and is done at a joint
where there is firmer tissue to work in. To secure this bud a cut half way around the cane is
made through the bark at a, about one-third of an inch above it, and another cut half way
around about one-third of an inch below the bud, as at b. Then two cuts are made, one on each
side of the bud, connecting the two upper and lower, and the bud is taken out with its plate of
bark behind it. The stock is prepared by cutting half way round above and below a leaf, the
leaf removed and a cut through the leaf stem from one to the other. Lifting the bark then one
has two flaps. The bud is put in place, the flaps turned down over it and tied. These flaps help
to enclose

the bud and to ensure its success, but the operation is delicate and rather difficult
mechanically.
Fig. 3 Salgues graft
Fig.4 Salgues scion bud

Figs. 3 and 4 show the Salgues graft, which is also a budding operation, and uses a shield bud
more nearly the form of budding commonly used with fruit treesI\ Twight res such efere nee
this meththat we v c the ocess i n

more detail. On any space between the joints the shoot to be grafted a longitudinal incision
(Fig. 3, a) is made with the budding knife, penetrating the whole depth of the bark and about
the length of the shield. The bark is raised on both sides of the slit; the shoot is then bent
inwards and the lips of the slit open easily. (Fig. 3, b). The bud (Fig. 4) i 3 inserted and the
shoot is left to spring up into its former position. The bud is then compressed by the bark, and
the operation is completed by tying. The ligature should be removed a fortnight or twenty
days

afterwards. In order that the Salgues graft may be a success, it is necessary, first, that the stock
should be in full sap, so that the lips of the slit may be easily raised; second, that the scion bud
should be carefully selected.

When a green shoot is cut longitudinally on its entire length, different colorations may be
noticed along the section; towards the apex the shoot has
not yet begun to become woody, and the section is almost uniformly green in color, only
slightly deeper above and below each joint. A different appearance can be detected at the
second or third joint (counting from the top) by a slightly lighter color. Downwards the
diaphragm becomes more distinct; finally, still lower, the pith begins to be indicated by a
whitish tint. The scion bud should be taken only from the buds in which the diaphragm is
already well apparent, but on the part of the shoot where the white pith is not noticeable. Each
shoot will thus give two or three good eyes. In practice, when one tries to bend a young vine
shoot there is no resistance at the top; then lower down it resists, and still lower down it does
not bend, but breaks. When the fingers can easily bend the shoot and feel a slight resistance,
one is sure that the bud in that region, together with the one above and the one below, are
suitable for budding. It is necessary to tie the grafted shoots to a stake, as they are thus better
protected and do not dry out as easily as when close to the ground. This graft is simple, gives
perfect union, and is getting to be very generally used. It is of great value in reestablishing
vineyards on resistant stock. The Salgues graft may be performed on mother stocks of
American vines during the summer as shoots develop. One can bud sixteen inches apart on
the canes with the object of obtaining grafted cuttings for the next season. Mr. Twight has
seen contracts given out for this work for $6 per 1000 callused grafts. Other styles of vine
budding are also described by Mr. Twight and further suggestions made about conditions of
stock and bud. Of these we shall have mention in a later issue.

The Republican says the Napa Valley Packing Company, which has one of the large
individual packing houses in California, has arranged to import two hundred fruit workers
from the East, who will soon start to work and continue for four months. The deal is being
made through the firm's representative at Chicago, who has secured men from Cincinnati, St.
Louis and other Eastern centers.

ft* -.>'- B' 4^H I B

Fig. I.Green Cleft Graft.

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Fig. 2.Horwath Graft.

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Fig. 3 Salgues Graft.

a b c Fig. 4 Salgues Scion Buda, Side; b, Front; c. Back.