ON VARIETIES, RACES, SUB-SPECIES, AND SPECIES. 105 



are superior to it. Some varieties, remarkable for their early 

 fruit, raised by M. Vibert from seed at Angers, afford another 

 example of the utility of these experiments, which we hope will 

 be more encouraged, and become more numerous. On the other 

 hand, as they alone can remove the numerous doubts still exist- 

 ing with respect to the vine, we see how practice, which is no- 

 thing but theory in action, constantly occupied in arranging and 

 consolidating our knowledge, tends to the very same end ; for as 

 soon as we admit the possibility of determining whether there be 

 one or more species of vine from which our cultivated varieties 

 are derived, we must have recourse to sowing, in order finally to 

 settle the question ; by the same means alone will it be possible 

 to distribute cultivated vines, with any thing like accuracy, into 

 simple varieties, races, and sub-species ; and when that is done we 

 shall ascertain in what way the natural types have been modified 

 by external agents and cultivation. Those who may hereafter 

 devote their attention to this subject will find many difficulties 

 removed by Count Odart, who by his own experiments, careful 

 observations, and sound judgment, has arrived in his Ampelo- 

 graphie at what appear to us to be opinions most in accordance 

 with the truth. 



Article 2. 

 On the Propagation of the Vine by Division. 



If, before we examine the stability and specific characters of 

 difl^erent stocks in those countries in which they are propagated 

 by layers and cuttings, we consult those who have already paid 

 attention to this subject, we shall find some who, with Dussieux, 

 Parmentier, Chaptal, Lenoir, and Bosc, believe in their muta- 

 bility ; for, say they, transplant stocks of diflferent varieties from 

 a place where they succeed well to another to which they are 

 not accustomed, and their characters will soon disappear, and 

 will be replaced by those of the stocks which grow in the place 

 to which the first have been transplanted. This opinion is, how- 

 ever, far from being universal ; for those authors to whom we 

 are most indebted for observations on the vine think, and with 

 reason, that if certain stocks do lose their peculiar qualities when 

 thus transplanted, there are many others which do not, or at all 

 events not in so short a time. This is quite in accordance with 

 theory, and is moreover the opinion of Count Odart, whose 

 authority adds not a little to the probability of its truth. 



According to Count Odart, there are many varieties in Tou- 

 raine, which, though introduced there, maintain their peculiar 

 qualities more or less perfectly : such are the Carbenet of 

 Medoc; the Mataro; the Claverie ; the White Quillard of tlie 



VOL. VI. ^ 



