Being dug up, and fifteen roots laid bare, of all sizes from half an inch to two inches diameter, they were sawed off, smoothed with a knife, and carefully grafted - most of them cleft-grafted, some saddle-grafted, and some whip-graftad. Most of the roots bled profusely, although the vine, above the surface of the ground, had ceased to bleed for some days previously. The grafts were bound, some with copper wire, being soft and unelastic, some with well-waxed flax thread, and covered with waxed cloth in some cases, and waxed paper in others. They were then covered with earth, all, except the last of the two buds to each graft. All of these grafts vegetated handsomely within less than a week, putting out three or four leaves; and I felt inwardly satisfied that I was one of the most skillful and successful surgeons in the vegetable kingdom. But I didn't think so at the end of two weeks; for by that time all were either moribund, or actually dead! These " departed" grafts were carefully screened from the hot sun, and no kindness or attention spared that a humane and solicitous Christian could render.

Case 3d. (From my note-book, May 23d.) Operated upon a large old wild grape-vine, which had never borne any kind of fruit. Cuttings used were Herbemont The stock was twelve to fifteen inches in circumference at the ground. This was cut up, and some twenty to thirty roots, into which it was divided, were laid bare, so as to admit of easy access in grafting. Had examined the branches of the vine repeatedly during the last two weeks, so as to be sure not to amputate before the circulation of the blood - the sap rather - had ceased. During the last ten days, on cutting off small twigs, no bleeding ensued. Hence was much surprised to find to-day that several of the roots bled profusely; the sap fell in large and rapid drops from some of the ends, while others bled but little, and a few not at all. Cleft-grafted twenty-one roots; tied the large ones with copper wire, the smaller ones with waxed cotton thread; covered some with rags saturated with grafting wax, and some with wax alone. Finally heaped up earth around each so as partially to cover the graft.

All put out a few leaves, as in the other cases, and died within two or three weeks, except one, which made about one foot of growth during the season, and was killed by the first frost, much to my satisfaction, as I did not care to have it for a remembrance of bad surgery or ill-luck, as the case may be.

I could tell you of many other attempts made at the same time last spring, and with the same invariable result - some above ground, some just beneath the surface, and in a variety of modes, for I wanted to find out the best! But I need not fatigue you: suffice it to say, the fault could not have been mine; my conscience acquits me of all blame. I have grafted and budded almost every thing but grapes, since early boyhood, and always with the most satisfactory success.

Many otherwise intelligent persons believe that grapes can neither be grafted nor budded; or, if so, always with such indifferent success as not to justify the trouble. This I know, by personal observation, to be altogether erroneous; and that the grape can and is yearly grafted by certain persons with as much success and certainty as the apple or the pear. Shortly after my poor, but I hope instructive effort, I happened in Cincinnati, and attended one of the leading members, I introduced this subject, and to my inquiry, "Can it be done with success?" his reply was, "I graft more or less of them every year, and with as few failures as I have in grafting apples." To see, with my own eyes, if such feats-were practicable, I went to the vineyard of a famous old German vigneron in that neighborhood, and was satisfied that he, at least, could do it. He had cut down apparently several hundred Catawba vines, and grafted them with Coleman's White, Delaware, Bullitt and other famous new kinds, with almost invariable success. He thinks he did not lose more than four in a hundred. I counted nearly a hundred in one row without observing a single failure.

This was in September last; the grafts had been put in in the spring, and had already made a growth varying from five to twenty-five feet, on very thin land. His method was cleft-grafting, an inch beneath the surface, tying with common unwaxed twine, covering with an inch of fine earth, and trusting to the vis medicatrix natural; for his operation appeared simple, rude, and careless. My ill success, he thought, was owing to my using wax, and taking too much pains! Others have accounted for it in different ways, as lateness of season, uncongeniality between the wild and cultivated vine, etc.

My own opinion .is, that I operated too late in the season, though many writers say, if the cuttings are kept back, it can be done as well in one month as another, even as late as August. The mere lateness did not cause the failure, but the heat of the weather attending always that season (23d May) of the year. Although the germination of seeds and buds will take place at a very high temperature, a very low one, say 40° P., seems to be the natural and proper temperature. At that, cuttings of hardy plants will form callus in cellars, or the ground, and seeds of grasses and the cereals will sprout as long as the contained nutriment lasts. Vegetation, or growth, (the formation of wood, the next stage,) needs a little higher temperature, say 60 to 70° F. Fructification, or formation and ripening of fruits, the last stage of vegetable growth, needs a still higher temperature, say from 80° to 110°, as during the day in autumn. Now, my grafts germinated in a high temperature, but failed to go on to the second stage, vegetation, or growth, as I conceive, owing to the too high temperature of the weather.

This is my theory; and if it be correct, it shows the impropriety of putting off grafting the grape to wait for the cessation of the flow of 6ap. 'My design is to act on the truth of my theory next spring, and to disregard altogether the flow of sap, as does the successful old German grafter to whom I have alluded above.

Now, if any reader of the Horticulturist possesses experience and practical knowledge on this important subject, he would perform a general and valuable service to the public by imparting what he may know, at an early day, through the Horticulturist, so that all such as mean to try their hands at grape-grafting in the coming spring, may do so with sufficient lights to guide them to useful results.

[A very interesting "chapter of failures." There are some important points, however, which you have not heeded, Doctor. The "diagnosis" of your cases, therefore, is necessarily imperfect, and a favorable "prognosis" can not safely be ventured upon until you supply "the missing points" of your " clinique." If your scions were properly prepared and inserted, we can not account for so many failures. The grape is usually grafted under glass, and is then a tolerably successful operation. It can also be done in the open air with reasonable success. But the best way to help you and others in like troubles, would be to give an illustrated article, describing minutely the conditions necessary to success. This you may expect. Your German friend thinks you took too much pains; we do not. There is a great fallacy in all such broad assertions. He had performed the operation so repeatedly, that he had acquired the skill to do it rapidly and just right, without any apparent pains; whereas you, lacking the skill acquired by long practice, performed the operation much less perfectly, though taking infinitely more pains; your "patients" were killed through kindness.

But do not despair, Doctor; we will furnish you some new "subjects" for practice, and shall be disappointed if, with your ambition, you do not yet achieve a distinguished position in the department of "Vegetable Surgery." - Ed].