•10 Mar., ipii-] The Wine Industry in Soutlicrn France. 205 



•the question.* Though lengthy quotations are not here possible, tneir 

 general conclusions may be reproduced. 



1. Young vines, from the time of their plantation to the age of three years, 

 should receive good ordinary ploughings. The first roots all originate deeplv, 

 and it is of the highest importance to facilitate the aeration of the layers in which 

 they develop. 



2. In the case of older vines, experiments have shown, so far, that shallow 

 ■cultivation is preferable to deep in all compact, moist or medium soils. It must 



not be forgotten that it is only fully effective when it prevents the growth of 

 weeds. Shallow cultivation has proved equally advantageous in sandy coast 

 lands, very dry on the surface but where the water table is usually found at a 

 shallow depth. 



On the other hand, our calculations and experience show that, in dry, pebbly 

 and very porous soils, where the water *able is very deep — where, on this account, 

 the roots tend to occupy the deeper /ayers — deep ploughing remains indicated 

 and should give better results than systematically shallow cultivation. 



This necessarily brief reference to an interesting and, as yet, imperfectly 

 elucidated question will, it is hoped, serve as a warning to vine-growers, not 

 to be too readily led to follow the easier way of shallow culti\alion, for 

 there can be no doubt that many of the arguments put forward by its 

 advocates are such as would appeal to practical growers, most of whom 

 are only too anxious to find any excuse for economy in working. 



The above quotation from Professor Foex. and the last paragraph of 

 M.M. Degrully and Ravaz's conclusions, apply with special force to 

 northern Victoria, which is hotter and drier and in which evaporation 

 is far more active, than near !Montpellier. 



Systematic deep cultivation will cau.se the absorbent roots to normally 

 estabiish themselves at a certain depth. There will then be no surface 

 roots to cut. The drought resistant power of the vine must, naturally, 

 be thus considerably increased. 



Another and. to my mind, unanswerable argument in favour of deep 

 culti\ation is to be found in the fact that Herault. where this deep working 

 is the almost invariable rule, is the very part of France — of the whole 

 world in fact — where the vine is made to give its most abundant yields. 

 The proof of the pudding is in the eating ! 



Modifications to Meet Victorian Conditions. 



In rlie opinion of the writer, we may. with advantage, go even further 

 than to merely imitiate Herault cultural methods. Northern Victoria is 

 hotter and drier than Southern France. This would make it logical for 

 us to advance the date of the first winter ploughing Such a course would 

 undoubtedly largely increase the store of moisture. Ploughing is often 

 impracticable in the middle of winter. It is therefore left till the ground 

 is in a fit state ; but in many sea.sons the rains cea.se and the dry weather 

 comes on suddenly, so that the ground which, during the whole winter, 

 has been in such a condition as to allow the rain water to run to waste 

 rather than to be absorbed, dries out rapidly. Thus, deficiency of moisture 

 may lead to a reduced crop even though the rainfall of the year may have 

 been normal. 



Why not make the first ploughing precede the winter rains? There 

 are, it is true, some difficulties to be overcome, such as ploughing before 

 priming ; but they are not insuperable and there can be little doubt that 

 the advantages would abundantly compensate any inconvenience. We are 

 generally agreed as to the value of summer scarifying, of keeping the 



• Siir la Culture Superfirielle rfc la Viijnf. 

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