9 March, 1908.] 



Viticulture in Europe. 



191 



wdnes grown near Lisbon, such as the so-called "Lisbon Ports," Carca- 

 vellos,_ Muscat, _&c. These wines usually go into consumption earlv. They 

 3 re chiefly fortified with highly rectified, silent spirit. 



The Algarve District. 



This consists of the extreme south of Portugal, where the climate is 

 hot and dry. As phylloxera has only recently made its appearance in this 

 part of the country there is not much to be learnt there in connexion with 

 reconstitution. I did not therefore consider it advisable to devote anv of 

 my remaining time to visiting this region, though I understand there is 

 much of interest to be seen in it. Strong fortified wines and also heavy 

 dry reds are made and raisins are dried to some extent. I am told that 

 figs, olives and carob beans are largely cultivated. 



The above is a brief sketch of some of the main points of viticultural 

 interest which strike one in a hurried visit to Portugal. 



So far as reconstitution is concerned the most important conclusions to 

 be drawn are as follow : — 



1. That Portuguese vinegrowers have adopted the resistant stocks 

 raised in France, most of which have given highly satisfactory results. 



2. That the absence of excess of lime (in the soil) has simplified 

 problems of Portuguese reconstitution. Similarity of Australian soils in 

 this respect should render the experience of Portugal very encouraging to 

 our viticulturists. 



3. That in Portugal the system of planting resistant stocks in the 

 vineyard and grafting them after they have become thoroughly established 

 is universally preferred to planting bench grafted, nursery reared vines. 



4. That not only in pure sand, but also in some sandy soils, ungrafted 

 Luropean vines can be profitably cultivated in spite of the presence of 

 phylloxera. 



