8 July, 1908.] Yiticitlturc in Europe. 429 



points it has on the whole proved a success — infinitely more so than in 

 the neighboring wine region of the Montes de Malaga. Want of Govern- 

 ment assistance in the way of experimental work in the eaxly days 

 of reconstitution is responsible for mistakes which have been made in the 

 more difficult soils. Growers were left a good deal tO' their own resources, 

 more so than in several other parts of Spain. 



In the raisin vineyards subsoiling is now the invariable rule, it being 

 considered useless to plant American vines on insufficientlv prepared land. 

 The vines are planted fairly close for such a warm climate, the usual dis- 

 tance being 3 ft. 3 in. x 6 ft. 6 in. 



In the earlier days of reconstitution growers were taught that American 

 vines required to be planted further apart than the old ungrafted ones and 

 4 feet X 10 feet was tried. The old distance of 3 ft. ^ in. x 6 ft. 6 in. 

 has, however, been generally reverted to. Sometimes the ulantation is 

 made on the quincunx or septuple system with the vines 4 ft. 6 in. apart. 



So far as plantation and grafting are concerned, what I have already 

 reported on the Jerez district applies also to Malaga. Vineyard grafting 

 is the rule and bench grafting the exception. The yema graft is sometimes 

 used, but the espiga is more usual. The yema is said to only give good 

 results on fairly young stocks — if over three years old the result is unsatis- 

 factory. The majority of small growers propagate their own " barhados " 

 or rooted Americans, in nurseiries. Autumn planting is very popular ; at 

 the time of my visit in early December, American wood was selling freelv 

 for propagating purposes, small growers buying American cuttings for 

 immediate plantation in nurseries. 



Cultivation is carefully performed, though the number of operations 

 is less than in Jerez. Ploughs are beginning to be used in some vineyards, 

 but the bulk of the work is carried out by hand with the hoe. The first 

 or chief winter cultivation is executed in December. It is known as 

 " primera cava." It is very deep, the soil being worked to a depth of 

 over a foot. The ground is worked into basins for the retention of rain 

 water as at Jerez, but the term " pileta " is not employed here. The 

 second working is known as '" vina," it is executed in early spring and 

 leaves the ground fairly level. " Arropar " is the name used to describe 

 the third and last cultivation of the season which consists of the earthing 

 up of the stem of the vine so that the lower bunches practically rest on a 

 small heap of earth around each vine. The appearance of the low vines 

 each of which grows out of the summit of a small heap of earth is 

 charaoteristic. 



The pruning of the Malaga raisin vines is one of the most remarkable 

 features of the district. It is exceedingly short, and reminds one 

 strongly of the very short pruning of the Gatinais district of France, 

 so thoroughly described by Dr. Guyot. The Malaga system 

 has been described at length in Guide to Growers, No. 26, 

 by Mr. C. Bogue Luffmann, issued bv the Department of Agriculture. 

 This publication is now out of print, but vignerons who' happen to possess 

 a copy are advised to re-read it. The accompanying figure shows a typical 

 Malaga raisin vine before and after pruning. The crown is not unlike a 

 large mushroom ; it is supported by a short thick stem. The short spurs 

 always point downwards, sometimes even more so than in the sketch which 

 represents a fair average vine of some fifteen years old. Seven to nine 



