9 Dec, 1907.] Viticulture in Etirope. 713 



but has been generally discarded owing to its insufficient resistance to phyl- 

 loxera (14 points of a maximum of 20). It was long in favour for damp 

 and even brackish soils in which most Americans will not grow. Even 

 in these soils it has now been discarded in favour of No. 3306, which 

 possesses its qualities without its defects. 



Hybrid No. 1616. — This is a Solonis x Riparia which has, I think 

 found its way to Victoria. Like its Solonis parent its grafts are fruitful 

 and it is recommended for sour and brackish soils. Near Montpellier, No. 

 3306 is now generally preferred to it even for these special soils. 



I'ranco-American Hybrids 1202 and A.R.G.i. — Franco-American 

 h\"brids are those resulting from the crossing of French \'ines with one or 

 other of the American species. They are chiefly represented in Australia 

 bv No. 1202 and Aramon Rupestris Ganzin No. i which for convenience 

 we may refer to as A.R.G.i. These Franco- American hybrids have been 

 Yery extensi\ely raised in France. By a rigorous selection it has beeii 

 possible to sort out a few combining in a high degree the good qualities 

 of both parents, that is to say, the resistance to phylloxera of the American 

 with the facility of adaptation to difficult soils of the European parent. 

 One of the chief advantages of these stocks is the affinity they possess, 

 owing to their partly European origin, for bad scions — that is, for sorts 

 which do not thri\'e when grafted on most American stocks. For a long 

 time it was feared that their resistance to phylloxera would not be sufficient, 

 that they would inherit from their Vinifera parent some of its \'ulnera- 

 bility, or lack of resistance to the insect. These fears appear to have 

 been groundless so far as a few at least of these hybrids are concerned. 

 After years of experimenting and practical use on a large scale their re- 

 sistance to phylloxera has been proved to be amply sufficient. 



No. 1202 is a Mourvedre x Rupestris. Its European parent, the Mour- 

 vedre is none other than our Australian Mataro. A.R.G.i results from 

 the crossing of the Aramon with the Rupestris Ganzin of the various 

 seedlings resulting from this hybridization; Nos. i, 2 and 9 showed their 

 superiority and have alone been used on a large scale. No. i is the one 

 which has been introduced to Victoria. Here I have repeatedly seen both 

 these stocks both in vineyards and experimental plots under varied con- 

 ditions of soil and climate and have carefully examined them and made 

 inquiries as to their resistance to phylloxera. In only one single instance 

 have I seen 1202 suffering slightly from the attacks of the insect. T have 

 never seen A.R.G.i affected. The case where 1202 was damaged was at 

 the experimental plot of Mas de las Sorres, and in exceptionally bad soil. 

 The expert viticulturist who was with me at the time considered it to be the 

 result of last year's drought and that the damage, which was slight, was 

 only temporary, the phylloxera always doing more damage in a ilry \ear. 

 I merely place it on record as the dryness of many parts of Victoria 

 renders extreme caution necessary. In large numbers of other cases have 

 I seen 1202 growing in the midst of phylloxera frequently among other 

 vines, such as hybrids of insufficient resistance, which were dying from the 

 attacks of the insect. 1202 was always remarkably vigorous and healthy. 

 I have so far been unable to hear of a second instance where its resistance 

 was not amply sufficient. 1202 is used on a very large scale and every- 

 where gives great satisfaction. It is, in fact, a favorite stock for difficult 

 soils and for scions which have ]xx)r affinitv for American vines. _ As a rule 

 the fructification of its grafts is good, though it shares to a slight extent 

 an excessive vigour of its Rupestris parent which sometimes interferes with 



