I'LANT INTRODUCTION NOTES. 15 



VITIS RUPESTRIS METALLICA. 



Vitis rupestris metallica is the name given by the late Mr. De Waal 

 to a resistant stock grown from American seed on the Government 

 Wine Farm at Constantia. This is quite distinct, Mr. Bioletti says, 

 from a French variety bearing the same name, and is another of the 

 Cape productions which is worthy of the attention of California vine- 

 yardists. It was a chance seedling, like the Riparia Gloire de Mont- 

 pellier stock so universally used, according to De Waal, in the Medoc 

 vine region of France. In the Agricultural Journal for December, 

 1901, Mr. De Waal published the following statement in reference to 

 the origin of this interesting variety, which is, according to Mr. Pillans, 

 taking the lead all over the colony as a grafting stock for wine grapes: 



KIPESTRIS METALLICA. 



This variety is derived from one seedling stock selected at Groot Constantia from 

 amongst thousands. It was picked out in the year 1894, and new stocks were multi- 

 plied as fast as possible by the single-bud or one-eye system of propagation. In 1896 

 a mother plantation of 3,500 vines was laid out. The combined plantations have 

 this year (1901) given a return of 687,000 cuttings, exclusive of several cartloads of 

 thin ends. As many other mother plantations of this variety have, during the past 

 few years, been laid out in the Constantia and other districts, the old mother stock, 

 selected in 1894, must this year have given rise to an output of several millions of 

 cuttings. The Rupestris Metallica is a strong grower and will thrive well in any 

 loose soil, loam, gravel, or sand, and also in dry, open, heavy soils; it can besides 

 stand a fair amount of wet in loose soils. It forms an excellent graft bearer for all 

 varieties of European vines, except the Hanepoot, and, possibly also, other members 

 of the Muscat family. A large percentage of Hanepoot grafts will die back on it 

 even after a very successful start, and as a stock for Muscat Hambourg its suitability 

 is also doubted. It appears to answer fairly well as a graft bearer for Muscadel, but 

 sufficient experience on this point has not yet been gained to recommend it unre- 

 servedly as a stock for that variety. 



The latest verdict regarding this Metallica stock from Mr. C. Mayer, 

 who has not been an enthusiastic believer in it, is that it is suitable 

 for dry, light sandy soils, but not for heavy ones. It is remarkable 

 for the ease with which the cuttings root and can be grafted upon. 

 The proportion of failures among grafts upon this stock is said to be 

 remarkably small, and when millions of grafts are concerned this item 

 is an important one. 



The vigorous nature of the Metallica is claimed by Mr. Pillans to 

 impart to the graft a very remarkable productiveness, and certainly 

 when compared at Groot Constantia with the same varieties grafted 

 on other American stalks of French origin, the load of fruit on the 

 metallica vines this season bore out Mr. Pillans's belief. Considered 

 from the standpoint, then, of a quick-rooting, easy-grafting, vigorous 

 stock, which produces good bearing vines, the Vitis rupestris metallica 

 is well worth an extensive trial in California. 



