lo June. 1909.] 



Cafaluna. 



389 



sites for vineyards, especially on resistant stocks, but it must be re- 

 membered that the vine is one of the few cultures possible. Under such 

 circumstances, it is surprising that profitable results can be obtained. 

 Judging by the scanty growth, yields must be very light, but qualitv 

 is high and the demand for these Rancio wines appears to be good. At 

 any rate, plantation is increasing and many growers are extending their 

 vineyards. Young vines are much in evidence, especially in the rocky and 

 almost inaccessible hillsides where the quality of the wine produced 

 renders it readily saleable. 



I also visited some of the vineyards on lower land near the sea shore. 

 Here were some stiff clayey soils, as well as fairly sandy patches, in one 

 of which was still to.be seeTi a block of old ungrafted vines, which had 

 not yet succumbed to phylloxera, though it had completely infested the 

 district some 20 vears before. The stiff est soils were similar to many 

 of our own, and I much regretted that no experimental plots were to be 

 found, such as might give information concerning the adaptation of some 

 of the newer hvbrids in soils similar to our more difficult ones which I had 



HILLSIDES UNDER VINES, LLANSA. 



so long been on the look out for. Riparia and Rupestris du Lot were the 

 only sorts cultivated — in fact the only ones which had been tried. 



Though far from perfect, I was on the whole rather surprised that 

 Riparia stock should do as well as it does. Probably absence of excess of 

 lime has much to do with its success. Even if not present in sufficient 

 quantity to cause chlorosis, this element would appear to interfere with 

 the general health and durability of this stock, which is one of the most 

 susceptible to lime of all American vines. 



In these low-lying vineyards, the Garnacho is no longer exclusively 

 cultivated ; a good deal of Carineiia is also grown, the wine made from 

 the blend being the usual red " vin ordinaire " and not a Rancio. 



Apoplexy (known in Catalan as feridoiira and in French as folletage) is 

 rather frequent, more so in the case of stocks grafted with Garnacho than 

 with Carinena. This disease — or rather accident — is more prevalent where 



