Journal of Agriculture. \^ Jan., 1908. 



concerned. These stocks have so much to recommend them that their 

 immediate introduction to Victoria is much to be desired. 



Influence of Grafting on Table Grapes. 

 So far as I can see we have nothing to fear in this direction. I went 

 exhaustively into the matter with a partner in one of the largest fruit firms 

 in Paris, " Omer Decugis & Co." He has carefully studied the question, 

 and has not noted any difference in the quality or carrying power of the 

 fruit, though he has had abundant opportunities of comparing the fruit 

 of the same varieties grafted on American stocks and growing on their 

 own roois. The effect of certain stocks in causing the bunch to be closer 

 or looser has already been referred to. The nature of the bunch should be 

 borne in mind when grafting table grapes, and the stock selected accord- 

 iaiglv. It would be unwise to graft a variety with a straggly bunch, such 

 as tile Raisin des Dames (or Bicane, as it is usually called in France) on the 

 Rupestris du Lot, for example. A variety with too compact a bunch may, 

 on the other hand, be improved by being grafted on this stock. 



Reconstitution Methods. 



A few notes concerning the more salient points in connexion with the 

 raising of grafted resistant vines in the different parts of France and 

 Switzerland I have visited may prove of interest. To describe nursery 

 methods in full would entail a repetition of much that has already been 

 published bv the Department. It will be sufficient to here point out the 

 more recent innovations. 



Bench Grafting, or Grafting in the Vineyard. — The latter method, 

 which was largely followed in the earlv days of French reconstitution, 

 is now generally superseded by the planting of bench grafted vines struck 

 in a nurserv. The greater regularitv of the resulting vineyard, and the 

 possibility to use the soil for other crops for an extra year, are chief ad- 

 vantages. However, if the grafting be performed in a thoroughly expert 

 manner, good results can be obtained bv grafting in the vineyard. I have 

 seen many very satisfactory vineyards reconstituted in this way, notably 

 a property privately owned by one of the leading French viticultural 

 authorities. Success depends upon the efficiencv of the man who does the 

 grafting. As one goes north, vinevard grafting is less and less practised, 

 chiefly on account of the difficultv of protecting the young grafts from 

 severe winter frosts. Vinevard grafting is of value in the case of several 

 stocks which strike with difficulty, and which cannot therefore conveniently 

 be bench grafted. 



Mother Vines. — The most important point I have noted in connexion 

 with these is the situation of the land on which thev are grown. Rich 

 low lying ground is to be avoided, and on no account should mother vines 

 be irrigated. Leading French nurserymen attach great importance to this 

 point. They have most of their wood grown for them by small vineyard 

 owners, but they are most particular as to the land used. Wood grown on 

 moist, low-lying or irrigated land is spongy and poor in reserve materials, 

 ana with it only a poor percentage of successful unions can be expected. 



Nearly all the mother vines I have seen have been exceedinglv short- 

 pruned, on a level with, or slightly below the surface of the ground. The 

 land is cultivated until the shoots spread to such an extent as to prevent 

 further c\iltivation ; the canes and leaves form a network completelv cover- 

 ing the surface of the soil to a depth of a couple of feet. The vines are 

 not trained or tied up in any way. At prunirtg time all shoots are cut 



