492 Report of the Detar-j'-meat oe IIoirricrETriMi of the 



less overcome Lj grafting on roots of species free from these 

 weaknesses. It Avas considered possible to improve the viticulture 

 of New York bj such grafting; and this possibility was the inspir- 

 ation of an experiment at this Station to test various root stocks 

 for the best varieties of American grapes. This bulletin is a report 

 on the experiment — an experiment, however, it must be quickly 

 said, which does not cover the broad field indicated in the opening 

 paragraph, but a very limited one now to be outlined. 



THE proble:\i stated. 



The grapes in the w^ork in hand are American grapes and more 

 especially the hybrids between cultivated natives and varieties of 

 Vitis vinifera. The attempt has been made to grow these grapes 

 on stocks that were thought to be more vigorous, hardier to cold, 

 better adapted to certain soils, more resistant to phylloxera and 

 the fidia, that were easily propagated and that quickly made good 

 unions in grafting. Will grafting on these selected root stocks or 

 on any others prove profitable in commercial vineyards ? The out- 

 standing features of this ex]Deriment, most of which are but touched 

 upon in this report, were, it was believed, fraught with far-reach' 

 ing consequences to grape-growers — not merely a technical 

 problem. 



STARTIIs^G THE EXPERIME:N"T. 



MATERIALS. 



Stocks. — Through many experiments, followed by trials every- 

 where in vineyards, the French and the Californians developed 

 stocks for nearly all conditions of grape-growing. The choice with 

 these experienced vineyardists depends upon the variety to be 

 worked on the stock, adaptation to soils, the purpose for which the 

 grapes are to be grown and the adverse condition to be overcome by 

 grafting. From the many stocks in use at home and abroad for 

 Vinifera varieties, two were chosen for New York, St. George and 

 Riparia Gloire. Since there are a few vineyards in this State 

 grafted on the Clevener, a vigorous, healthy, direct producer of the 



