66 Journal of Agriculture. [lo Feb., 1910. 



which appears to be identical with the Spanish Garnacho, and the pink 

 ■one, known locally as Grenache Gris, or Lladounct* are to be met with 

 in these most interesting vineyards, which, owing to want of time, I was 

 compelled to pass without breaking my journey. 



After Argeles, a few miles further on, the country changes, opening 

 •out very much, for one is gradually getting into the vast viticultural 

 region of Southern France. The Pyrenees with their slates of primary 

 ^ge, which remind an Australian of his native land, are no longer to be 

 5een, limestone rocks of \arious formations taking their place. The hne 

 runs a little further inland. Perpignan, the capital of the Department, 

 and Rivesaltes, celebrated for its Muscats and Picardans, are soon past 

 and the neighbouring department of Aude is entered, the coastal portion 

 of which is remarkable for several extensive salt lakes or lagoons; 

 ^' etangs^' as they are known in French, those of Leucate and Bages, 

 along the banks tif which the railway line runs, being the largest. Nar- 

 bonne is the last important stopping place in Aude. A few' miles to the 

 north the department of Herault is entered : Beziers and Cette 

 are in turn passed — all these names are full of significance, 

 for thev are among the principal wdne centres of the south of France, 

 Cette in particular. This tow'n handles enormous quantities of the " vin 

 ordinaire'" grown in its neighbourhood, of which trade abundant evidence 

 is to be seen in the wh.irves encumbered with thousands of butt-shaped 

 120-gallon casks — demi-muids, as they are locally known. This is the 

 favourite size for the handling of wine in large (juantities in most wine- 

 growing countries of southern Europe. Strange to say, in Australia, the 

 hogshead of about half the size of the demi-muid has become the general 

 favourite. 



The town of Cette is perhaps l>etter known a-; the centre of a once 

 flourishing trade, w^hich has of late years lost much of its importance ; that 

 in what was known as vins d'imitaiion (imitation wines). So-called Madeiras, 

 Ports, Marsalas, Malagas, &c., were turned out by the million gallons 

 and shipped to all parts of the world, skilful imitations, made from 

 the juice of well-selected grapes, no doubt, but the whole business was 

 scarcelv in accordance with modern French ideas on the naming of wines, 

 which have recently become much more strict than they were formerly. 

 It is interesting to note that very large quantities of these wines were for- 

 merly .shipped to the United States and other countries under such curious, 

 hybrid names as "French sherries," "Burgundy ports," &c. Much of 

 the raw material for this trade was recruited from the rancio wines of 

 Banvuls. Collioure and other Grenache growing localities in Roussillon. 



At none of these places, however, was I able to stay, and a few 

 hours after passing the Spanish frontier I arrived at Montpellier, the 

 capital of the department of Herault, and as such the viticultural capital 

 of France, if not of the whole world, for it is to Montpellier that students 

 flock from all parts of the world in search of the latest and most scientific 

 knowledge concerning matters viticultural. 



Arrival at Montpellier. 



The generous hospitality extended to all comers and the unselfish way 



in which French viticulturists are ready to impart the knowledge they have 



acquired as the result of \ears of w^ork — knowledge which would in mo<Jt-- 



other countries be strictly guarded as trade secrets — is beyond all praise^ 



* L. 8eiuii-h(in, Reime cle Viticulture, vol. xxv., p. 4f>8. 



