SELECTION AND HYBRIDISATION OF AMERICAN VINES IN ITALY I403 



phjdloxera associations, two fields for experiments on the resistance of Ame- 

 rican vines to phylloxera were instituted in Apidia. These fields are in the 

 district of Cassano Murge and of San Michele which in Apuha were among 

 the first to be attacked by the destructive insect. Hybrids obtained by 

 Cavaliere Beniamino Antoci in the Tremiti Islands, are also studied in 

 these e^iperimental fields. 



In addition to resistance to phylloxera, the composition of the grapes 

 of the direct bearers is being studied : this task was entrusted by Danesi 

 to the School of Olive-growing and Oil-making at Bari. 



The experiments made at Marsala by Cavaliere Giuseppe Vatarello', 

 director of the Anti-phylloxera Society of that locality, are also of suffi- 

 cient interest to be mentioned. In the nurseries of the association the 

 Sicilian- American hybrids of Paulsen and Grimaldi and Ruggeri have 

 been tested. The numbers 88, no and 317 of Grimaldi, the numbers no, 

 128, 140 and 298 of Ruggeri, and the numbers 779, 1120, 1381, 1548, 

 1742 and 2A of Paulsen are specially worthy of consideration. A hj^brid 

 which is also expected to do well is Calabrese x Aramon-Rupestris 953, 

 a direct bearer obtained by Grimaldi. 



M. Vaiarello has also undertaken work on hybridisation, but it 

 would be premature to pronounce judgment on the results obtained. 



Work carried out by private vine-growers. 



Some private nurserymen have selected American vines grown from 

 seed, and some of the vines placed by them on the market have given 

 fairly good results in the districts in which they were obtained. How- 

 ever as regards continued and serious work based on scientific principles, 

 only that of the late Dr. Clemente Grimaldi of Modica can be considered, 

 and to him are due some hybrids which have been successfully introduc- 

 ed into general cultivation. From the beginning of his short career this 

 distinguished worker was actively and usefully employed, thanks to his 

 technical skill, in the production of hybrids suitable for warm districts. 

 Important observations on American vines in general, which he was able 

 to make during the course of his researches, are still turned to advan- 

 tage by a certain number of Italian and other growers of American vines. 



Although the work of Grimaldi was unfortunately interrupted by 

 his early death, the vine growers have been able to profit by his labours 

 to some extent; thanks to certain hybrids of special interest among which 

 the following may be mentioned. 



G. 1257 (Berlandieri X Regano). This hybrid is suitable for strongly 

 calcarious soils. It has given good results at Mazzara del Vallo and at Casa 

 Bianca (Marsala) where it has developed remarkably well in spite of the 

 nature of the soil ; calcareous, somewhat poor, and dry. 



G. 444 and 446 (Berlandieri x Rupestris). Up to the present these 

 hybrids have made good growth on calcareous soils. 



G. no and 88 (Calabrese x Rupestris Ganzin) and 317 (Frappato x 

 Rupestris Ganzin). These hybrids are adaptable within wide limits but 



