lo April, 1909.] Answers to Correspondents. 271 



in Andalucia (see Jerez and Almeria reports), he has employed the Cadillac 

 or side cleft graft executed in August (February in Australia), the scion 

 remaining dormant until the following spring. 



He favours the use of scions with two eyes, rather than the original 

 Cadillac method with one eye only. In his opinion, summer grafting, 

 by dividing the operation into two stages — the first, a preparatory one 

 limited to the formation of callus, which has ample time to mature before 

 the start of growth in the following spring — insures very perfect unions. 

 Don Ignacio says that with the side cleft graft one is less exposed to 

 damage from high winds, in early summer, than with budding, which he 

 has also tried. As .regards scions, he has introduced several varieties new 

 to the region, in addition to those usually cultivated, notably the Cabernet 

 Sauvignon of France, which Catalan \ignerons know under the name of 

 Perpignan. Long pruning, which is unusual about here, enables him to 

 obtain good yields of light wine from it. Amongst the local red varieties, 

 he has a good opinion of is one known as Exquixagos. For white wine 

 he favours the Pedro Ximenes of Southern Spain which produces a clean 

 delicate wine in good quantity. The Xarelo, a good local grape, is in 

 his opinion very similar, if not identical with, the Palomino of Jerez. 

 This vine was probably introduced to the district as Jerez-lo or Xerez-lo 

 which gradually became Xarel-lo. Thus do local names possibly originate. 

 These have led to the verv complex synonyms and the general confusion 

 which exists in the nomenclature of the vines of most countries. 



Don Ignacio is strong on the folly of sacrificing qualit^ to quantity, 

 and the need for specializing and limiting one's production to the type of 

 wine the \-ineyard is qualified to produce in greatest perfection and sufficient 



^i"^"^^*>- {To be continued.) 



ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



Wheat for Bacchus Marsh District. — Ivan asks which variety of wheat would 

 be best for the Bacchus Marsh district. His land is of a sticky, clayey nature — new 

 ground fallowed. 



Answer. — Federation is recognised as being the most prolific yielding wheat 

 for grain. It is unsuitable for hay on account of its short straw. Dart's Imperial, 

 Jumbuck, and Bunyip are good hay wheats, and also good yielders of grain. The 

 seed sown with an ordinary grain drill is covered from i to 2 inches. Seed of any 

 of the varieties mentioned may be procured from the Department of Agriculture at 

 5s. 6d. per bushel which does not include railway freight. 



Gypsum. — J. T. H. inquires whether it would be advantageous to use gypsum 

 with superphosphate on heavy clay soils. 



Answer. ^ — Gypsum may be added to superphosphate in any quantitv without 

 fear of deteriorating the activity of the fertilizer. Upon stiff clay soils gypsum 

 at the rate of 4 to 6 cwt. per acre could be given with advantage. Superphosphate 

 contains a high percentage of gypsum, produced during manufacture. 



Wheat Samples for IdentificatiOxV. — R. W. B. forwards several samples of 

 wheat for identification. Except in a very few cases, it is quite impossible to 

 identify wheat varieties from the grain alone. If specific information regarding the 

 period of ripening, colour of straw, length, strength, &c., is forwarded, a deter- 

 mination could be arrived at. Next season, when the varieties are growing, would 

 be the most suitable time for identification. 



Irrigated Fodder Crops. — M. D. (Northcote), requests information relative 

 to the best crops to sow on irrigable land (deep black soil) for early winter fodde- 

 for dairy cattle ; also inquires re best grasses for permanent pastures. 



Answer. — Rye is, perhaps, the earliest fodder crop. It could be sown imme- 

 diately after next rain. In March, barlev and peas or oats and peas make quicl< 

 growth, but if grazed heavily will not survive. Under irrigation, anv cereal crop 

 will do well, but care must be taken that cattle do not tread the land too much 

 after watering. It would be more serviceable to cut and hand feed anv irrigated 

 crop. The most reliable grasses and clovers for permanent pasture are Perennial 



