696 Journal of Agriculture. [8 Nov., 1907. 



unprofitable in all but a few soils unsuitable for the life of phylloxera. 

 These stocks are now obsolete. Opinions concerning adaptation and 

 affinity and the influence of the stock on the quality of the wine, differ 

 greatly. The advice given in one district is sometimes quite the reverse 

 of that to be obtained in another. This renders the greatest caution 

 necessary. The following notes on the chief stocks we use in Victoria, 

 and some others, may prove of interest. 



RiPARiA. — This was the first pure American species used in France on 

 a large scale. Selections were made from the wild vines shipped from the 

 State of Missouri, U.S.A., among which Riparia Portalis or Gloire, as it 

 is now more generally called, soon proved its superiority. It is the only 

 Riparia now used in France on a commercial scale. Though I have not 

 been able to learn anything very serious to the detriment of Riparia Grand 

 Glabre, excejpt that it is generally held inferior to Gloire, there does not 

 seem to be much inducement for us to continue its propagation in Aus- 

 tralia, since it has been abandoned in France. Riparia Gloire, in common 

 with Riparias generally, combines good qualities with some serious defects. 

 It knits its grafts well and cuttings strike readily. Vines grafted on it 

 commence to bear early and are remarkable for the regularity and 

 abundance of their yield. The time of ripening of the fruit is also 

 hastened. The defects are serious. As its name denotes it requires a 

 free, rich, deep and well drained soil — what is known in France as Riparia 

 soil. Planted in soils which do not suit it, it makes but little growth and 

 bears poor crops. It is a short-lived variety and even in suitable soil, 

 after a few years, it loses vigour and ceases to give profitable results. 

 I have seen blocks which through excessive production had become almost 

 sterile at as early an age as seven years. In some cases vigour has been 

 restored by exceedingly short pruning for a year or so. Large areas 

 O'f Riparia on unsuitable soil have been and are now being uprooted 

 annually and replaced by vines on more suitable stocks. 



Even in suitable soil, a vineyard proprietor considers 20 to 25 years 

 to be the life of a vineyard grafted on Riparia. In our drv Australian 

 climate it will be well to employ Riparia with caution. Vines grafted 

 on it must not be pruned too long or they will rapidly exhaust them- 

 selves. In the majority of cases, as is now generally being done in 

 France, it will be better to select other stocks in its place even in Riparia 

 soils.* In these the hybrids 3306 and loi^'* give equally satisfactory 

 results combined with greater durability. They seem to retain, in a high 

 degree, the precious qualities of the Riparia parent without its most serious 

 defects. A few years ago Riparia was employed in France far more exten- 

 sively than any other stock; now-a-days, though still largely used, its 

 popularity is distinctly declining. 



RuPESTRis. — Of the numerous Rupestris at first selected and exten- 

 sively propagated, only one is now; used on a large scale in France. This 

 is the Rupestris du Lot or Rupestris Montico'la, by which name, as well 

 as several others, it is also kno>wn. The other Rupestris, such as R. Ganzin, 

 R. Martin, R. Metallica, &c., are now looked upon as obsolete. I cannot 

 hear of any definite! charge being brought against them, but am assured 

 on almost all sides, that they have been found inferior and discarded. 

 I shall therefore confine my remarks' to R. du Lot. 



This stock has recently given rise to more discussion than perhaps 

 any other, and even now it is impossible to accurately judge its true value. 

 Owing to its extraordinary vigour it has many friends and has been planted 

 very extensively. Some growers who have cultivated it for years prefer 

 it to all other stocks and use it for new plantations, and for replacing 



* [Note. —Riparia stocks are only used at Rutherg-leu A'iticultiual Station in tlie case of vines specially 

 ordered for planting in deep alluvial soils. —Ed. ] 



