ipo Journal of Agriculture. [9 March, 1908. 



In the almost pure sea sand of Collares this might be expected : but 

 many of these resistant vineyards are planted on soil which is far from 

 being pui'e sand. Xear Almeirim it was possible to study the different 

 degrees of resistance. One could see in. the same neighbourhood, soils 

 where it has been necessary to replanc resistant vines, as well as soils 

 vt'here the old Europeans can be grown ungrafted. 



In some, which may be termed intermediate soils, the vines die very 

 slowly. They continue to produce small crops. However, the yield 

 suffers to such an extent that most of this land has now been replanted 

 with grafted vines. One large proprietor near Almeirim owns large areas 

 of sandv soil. For many years past he has planted a certain area of fresh 

 land with ungrafted vines each year. He considered that in his soil it 

 would take at least 15 years for the phylloxera to seriously damage his 

 vines. He looked upon this period as a sufficient one during which to 

 obtain returns and was prepared to root out his 15-year-old vines and to 

 replace them with other cultures, thus making viticulture enter into a 

 rather extended rotation system. Though his first vines were planted over 

 20 years ago they still resist. There can be no doubt about the prevalence 

 of phylloxera right through his vineyard, for wherever a patch of less 

 sandy soil occurs the vines have succumbed. 



Near Pinhal Novo, about 20 miles from Lisbon, is the enormous vine- 

 yard of Rio Frio with its 9,000 acres of vines in a single block 8 kilo- 

 metres long by 5 wide. The soil is very sandy, and the greater part of 

 this consists of ungrafted Portuguese varieties on their own roots, chiefly 

 Trincadeira, Jao Santarem and Castellao. The owner and founder of this 

 vineyard commenced planting when phylloxera invaded the other districts 

 of Portugal. He also, coiinted on getting 15 or 20 years' profit out of 

 his vines. After a few years in one part of the vineyard, he planted cork 

 oaks among his vines with the idea that by the time phylloxera became 

 troublesome he would have a cork oak plantation fit to strip. Contrary 

 to his expectations, after 20 years the oldest vines were still doing well, so 

 he cut the cork oaks back severely so as to give his vines a chance for 

 another 10 years or so. Even at Rio Frio, however, the owner is now 

 of opinion that it is safer to plant Americans and graft them. Now that 

 cuttings of resistant stocks are cheaper than they used to be he makes his 

 new plantations on resistant stocks. The portion of his property he is 

 now planting is perhaps rather less sandv than the part first planted. A 

 complete description of Rio Frio and its enormous winery and distillery 

 must be held over for the present. 



The question of plantation in sandv soils is one of interest to us in 

 Australia, for we have large areas where ungrafted European vines will, 

 in all probability, be able to resist phylloxera. I have secured samples of 

 soils from near Lisbon, both completely and partially resistant, for com- 

 parison with some of our sandy soils on my return. 



The production of fortifying spirit is a very important industrv in this 

 part of Portugal. Most of the spirit used in the fortification of the Ports 

 grown on the Douro comes from near Lisbon. Some years ago it was 

 not unusual for Lisbon wine to be shipped to Oporto, thence to be re- 

 shipped as Port. The small Douro vinegrowers complained bitterly and 

 at their request, the Government prohibited the shipment to Oporto of 

 wine from other places. In order to placate the growers round Lisbon 

 they pro'hibited the distillation of spirit on the Douro. The Oporto mer- 

 chants are thus compelled to buy thei.r fortifying spirit in Southern. Portu- 

 gal. A large quantity is also required for the fortification of the alcoholic 



