Fig. 1. A. Best dormant cutting, from base of cane, having 4 or more nodes (area where the bud is located). B. Good cutting, having at least 3 nodes. C. Fair cutting, having only 2 nodes, though suitable if cutting is otherwise healthy.
Some growers make the diagonal cut on the bottom. Either way works. There should be at least 3 buds (nodes) on the cutting, more if possible, though two bud cuttings may serve in an emergency (see fig. 2).