lo Feb., 1909.] Viticulture in the Levante. 73 



Callusing by Artipicial Heat. 



In Valencia I was much impressed with the importance of the modem 

 methods of grafting which have recently been introduced from France 

 with the most satisfactory results. This method, which I have already 

 referred to in my second report, is the one usually followed by the large 

 nurserymen of the South of France. It was practised on a large scale 

 prior to 1898 by M. F. Richter, the well known nurseryman of Mont- 

 pellier, who generously described the process, giving full details, in 

 La Revue de Viticulture of i6th April, 1898. M. Richter is the in- 

 ventor of the process w^iich is usually known as Moss Callusing, as the 

 grafted cuttings were at first callused in cases lined with moss. Suitable 

 moss being often hard to procure, washed seaweed was substituted for 

 it and has proved more satisfactory, chiefly in the direction of freedom 

 from moulds and other fungus giowths which were prone to develop in 

 moss. 



The system, which will be described in detail in a later issue, may be 

 summarized as follows : — The grafted cuttings are packed in cases capable 

 of containing about 1,000 grafts each and separated from the sides and 

 bottom in the case by a layer of seaw^eed about 4 in. in thickness. The 

 grafts are very carefully placed in position, a little clean pine saw^dust 

 being filled in betw-een them at their base. Tying is dispensed with, being 

 unnecessary, and even slightly injurious as it interferes to some extent with 

 the formation of callus. 



While being filled the cases are placed on one end, the grafts being 

 packed in horizontally. When filled the case is up-ended so that the 

 grafts assume their normal, vertical position. The cases are then 

 saturated with water by means of a w^atering can and placed in an arti- 

 ficially heated room, kept at a temperature of about 75 deg. At the 

 end of about a fortnight callusing is complete and after being hardened 

 off at the ordinary temperature the grafts are planted out in the nurserv 

 in the usual way. 



The graft adopted in the Government nurseries is the whip tongue, 

 which is practised exclusively. Machines have been abandoned as giving 

 a less perfect union. Don Rafael engaged one of M. Richter's foremen 

 to initiate the system in Valencia. He spoke most enthusiasticallv of the 

 results obtained the first season, and looked upon the method as a com- 

 plete solution of the grafting problem. In his opinion field grafting, 

 which had hitherto been largely practised in Eastern Spain^ would have 

 to give way to the use of nursery raised bench grafts — an opinion w-hich 

 is not universally shared by his countrymen, especially in the south, as we 

 have already seen. There is no doubt, however, as to the excellent 

 results obtained and the superiority of the method over all other systems 

 of callusing. As Don Rafael points out, it is moss callusing, with the 

 aid of artificial heat, which enables the substitution of bench grafting 

 for field grafting, a change which would not otherwise be financially 

 possible. 



A method of reconstitution which is decidedly interesting was brought 

 under rny notice by Don Rafael. It is known locally as the Injerto Vidal 

 (Vidal's graft) after the name of Don Jose Vidal who has practised it 

 on a rather extensive scale. The aim of this system is to permit re- 

 constitution of vineyards, as yet undamaged by phylloxera, without the 

 loss of time entailed by eradicating and replanting. The accompanying 

 diagram will give an idea of the method. 



