3i8 Journal of Agriculture. [8 May, 1908. 



proved its value here as in France. In addition to its power of resisting 

 lime it possesses several other good qualities. Growing wild as it does in 

 the driest parts of Texas, it is one of the most drought resistant of 

 American vines and in the dry climate of Jerez it finds itself quite at 

 heme. 



Besides, it has marked affinity for mo.st European scions. It seems 

 also to pos.sess some of the best qualities of V. Riparia, such as hastening 

 maturity of the fruit and preventing non-setting at flowering time. It 

 appears to be free from the two' chief defects of Riparia, viz., difference 

 in diameter between stock and scion and want of durability. It would 

 appear to be one of the most vigorous, most prolific and longest lived of 

 stocks. Though its use on a commercial scale is onlv of recent date the 

 odd vines which exist in most experimental plots afford most enco'uraging 

 evidence. In fact, it is probable that, but for its difficult progagation and 

 slow growth during its first few years, it would displace most of the other 

 stocks now in general use, for these are its two defects. 



The difficultv with which its cuttings strike has alread\ been referred 

 to. When planted in a nurserv in the ordinary way onlv 2 or 3 per cent, 

 of the cuttings strike. All sorts of devices have been tried to increase 

 the strike percentage, such as making herbaceous cuttings under glass or 

 striking wirh the aid of bottom heat, &c. None seem to have satisfactorily 

 solved the problem and as a rule rooted Berlandieris can only be obtained 

 bv means of lavering. Bench grafting is out of the question, but this 

 does not much matter in Southern Spain where vineyard grafting is in- 

 variably employed in preference to bench grafting as we shall see presently. 



Slow growth in its earlv vears is the second important defect of this 

 species. Even if two vear old rootlings be emploved when planting, they 

 can .seldom be grafted before they have been growing in the vineyard 

 for a couple of yeans. Even after they are successfully grafted develop- 

 ment is at first slow, and under the most favorable conditions a crop of 

 grapes can scarcely be reckoned on before five or six years from plantation, 

 whereas with other stocks, at the fourth year a fair crop is usually 

 obtained. Of pure Berlandieris there are several varieties named after 

 the introducer or selector — most of these have come to Spain from France. 

 The most popular in Jerez are B. Lafon Xos. i aiifl 2 and B. Resseguier 

 Xos. I and 2. 



Americo-American Hybrids. — In the soils where the lime percentage 

 is not too high such as some of the Arenas and Barros and some of the 

 alluvial soils near the river I found Riparia x Rupestris hybrids doing 

 well. As a rule 3309 does better than 3306 or 101-14 but e\en in these 

 .soils Riparia x Rupe.stris hybrids are less used than I should have expected, 

 no doubt owing to the excess of lime. The bulk of the Afuera soils are 

 altogether too limey for Riparia x Rupestris. Taken as a whole, 

 the Jerez district is one in the reconstitution of which these stocks have 

 played a small part. One of M. Couderc's hybrids, Rupestris x Calcicola 

 No. 160-19, is rather largely cultivated and gives satisfaction even in 

 some of the Afuera soils. 



Berlaiidieri Hybrids. — Several of these are used on a large scale and 

 are popular. The Berlandieri x Rupe.stris are rather difficult to propagate 

 and of the Berlandieri hybridised bv other American species the 

 Berlandieri x Ri[;aria hybrids are the most popular sorts. Berl. 

 Rip. Nos. 402a, 157-11. and 34 F., are most valuable stocks, and 

 in Jerez are the most popular of the Americo-American class, the two 

 first being perhaps most used. 



