lo Sept., 1908.] Viticulture in Europe. 549 



The chief stocks I saw being used were Riparia Gloire, Rupestris du 

 Lot and A. R.G.I. That Riparia should! have been used largely at first 

 is not astonishing, for 20 years ago saw the height of the popularity of 

 this species in France; that it is still used at the present time is more 

 remarkable, and is explained by the fact that the soil is deep and friable 

 and assisted by irrigation. To see Riparias supporting the enormous over- 

 head trellises or parrales nevertheless surprised me, as it is in direct 

 contradiction to the unsuitability of this .stock for long pruning which 

 was so strongly impressed on me in Southern France. Rupestris du Lot is 

 now a good deal used and well spoken of, especially in drier situations. 

 A.R.G.I. is on all sides considered an excellent stock. The vigorous 

 Ohanez seems to suit it well as a scion, and no trouble with suckers was 

 complained of. On the whole A.R.G.I. appears to me to be the most 

 promising stock of the three. 



Strange to say no other stocks seem to have been tried. Almeria soils 

 are no doubt " easy " ones and growers have apparently been satisfied 

 with the thxee stocks above mentioned. They ha\e not, owing to unsatis- 

 factory results, been compelled to seek for better stocks as has so often 

 been the case in other districts. Subsoiling is carried out very thoroughly. 

 The removal by blasting of the layer of hard limestone already referred 

 to is a case in point- The quality of the fruit borne by the grafted vines 

 seems to be quite the same as that on the old vines, nor have the keeping 

 qualities, and especially the resistance to the growth of mould, been im- 

 paired in any wav. One grower told me that he had noted a slight 

 modification in the fruit of his grafted vines. In his opinion, the berries 

 were not quite so oblong, and the bunches were rather smaller, but the 

 commercial value was not altered in any way. This difference appears to 

 be confined to vines grafted on Riparia stock, and is probably the result 

 of the tendenc}- towards increa.sed fructification which is characteristic of 

 this stock. 



The Ohanez Grape. 



Though several different grapes are to be met with near Almeria the 

 Casta de Ohanez or Uva de Lonja is by far the most important. It is 

 this vine and the extraordinary carrying and keeping quality of its fruit 

 that has led to the establishment of the shipping industry for which 

 Almeria is now so well known. 



Some confusion seems tio exist as to this, variety and in other countries 

 one occasionally comes across vines in different places under the name of 

 Almeria which have nothing in common with the true Ohanez. 



A good many authentic vines of this valuable variety have recently 

 been introduced and distributed by the Department of Agriculture, and no 

 doubt it will prove of value in several of the warmer parts of the State. 

 In the cooler portions it would not ripen properly, as it is a very late 

 g^ape— as much later than the Gordo Blanco as that variety is later than 

 the Chasselas. In addition it possesses two other peculiarities which 

 must not be lost sight of by intending planters. It requires extremely long 

 pruning. The fruit-bearing eyes are situated some distance from the ba^se 

 of the canes. If pruned to 'short spurs it will prove practically sterile. 

 Several long rods, with an occasional wood spur to enable the shape of the 

 vine to be maintained, are the basis of the method of pruning applied 

 to it. Another difficultv is due to fault>- pollination. According to some 

 its own pollen is sterile- It is certain that the flower is not a perfect one ; 

 the stamens are short, and under natural conditions the abortion of a large 



