lo May, 1909.] 



Catahiha. 



327 



several interesting experimental plots have recently been established to test 

 them ; the above, however, constitute the basis of the vineyards. No. 

 A.R.G.3 is here pxeferred to A.R.G.i, which is rather unusual. I was 

 told that the grapes are healthier and hang better on the former ; they are 

 apt to fall off as soon as ripe on the latter. The yield and time of ripening 

 are the same on each; A.R.G.9 has not yet been tried. Nos. 3306 and 

 3309 are held in great esteem ; in the experimental plots there was little 

 to choose between them. They both bore a heavier crop than Rupestris du 

 Lot alongside; 3309 was if anything the better of the two, whilst A.R.G.2 

 held an intermediate position. The conditions as regards soil, manuring 

 and cultivation were the same in each case. Rupestris du Lot was best 

 as regards vigour of vegetation. The soil of this vineyard appears to be 

 rather rich for the latter stock. 



As regards scions, the Xarelo constitutes about 90 per cent, of the vine- 

 yard. This local white variety is more largely grown than any other in 

 the district. Morrastel and Macabeo* are also grown. 



BURIAL OF VINE PRUNING, SAN SADURNI. 



^Manuring is extensively practised. In addition to all the marc of the 

 vineyard, some 200 truck loads are purchased annually from a neighbouring 

 distillery. This is supplemented by artificial fertilizers, such as super- 

 phosphates, sulphate of potash, &c., as well as large quantities of used animal 

 charcoal from a local sugar mill. Another curious form of manuring is 

 practised, which I had already seen in some other parts of Spain, though 

 nowhere so largely or so methodically applied as at San Sadurni. This 

 is the burial in short trenches of the prunings of the vines, as well as of 

 any sort of A-egetable refuse available. The photograph shows a row 

 of vines with these trenches, about 20 inches deep, open for the reception 

 of the stuff to be buried. The trenches are opened every 5th or 6th row, 

 .some years elapsing before a return is made to the same row again. The 

 beneficial influence of previous years' treatments on the vegetation of the 

 vines w^as very evident. This practice is considered to act quite as much 

 by facilitating retention of moisture, as by the plant food which is added 



* Macabeo is tlie sort grown at Ruthertjlen under the erroneous name of Wliite 

 Hermitage. 



