3o6 Journal of Agriculture. [lo May, 1910. 



YIELD OF RECO^^STITUTED VINEYARD AT THE 



RUTHERGLEN YITICULTURAL COLLECIE: 



YINTAGE 1910. 



G. H. Adcock, F.L.S., Principal. 



After the vintage of 1909, at the request of a large number of vignerons 

 and others who were deeply interested in the reconstitution of \'ineyards, 

 a short article was published on the yield of the College \ineyard. In 

 this paper, which appeared in the Mav issue of the Journal for last 

 year, were shown the returns in weight per vine and per acre, and also the 

 cash value) per acre of the crop estimated at the then current local rates, 

 viz., jQ^ per ton. As the publication of those data apparently roused con- 

 siderable interest, it has been considered advisable to give in the present 

 article the experience and results of the current year's vintage. 



In accordance with the system adopted under the present management, 

 careful records are kept of all experiments made. The results of this year's 

 vintage are submitted to show that the good returns tabulated last vintage 

 were not the accidental consequences of a single successful season, but 

 have been in most cases surpassed bv the yields of the present ^•ea^. 



It must not be forgotten that the soil of the College vineyard is by no 

 means the best, and that the grafted resistant stocks were planted im- 

 mediately on the site whence dead and dying vines had been uprooted- 

 The site of this plantation, too, was not prepared as thoroughly as is now 

 deemed essential, and it was at first surrounded with infected vines. This 

 was qua;intly compared in a rather mixed metaphor to " an island of vines 

 in a sea of phylloxera." 



{During the winter of 1909 we had exceptionally heavy rains resulting in 

 floods. For some weeks our vineyard was practically submerged. This 

 gave the subsoil a thorough soaking which has enabled the vines to carry 

 on in the absence of later rains. For, at the most critical time for the 

 crop, we were without any appreciable quantitv of rain for a prolonged 

 period. Had the usual early sumimer rains fallen there is no doubt we 

 should have had even better yields than those recorded. 



As was the case last year, we have agajn lost heavily of our ripe grapes. 

 Birds have caused serious losses, but can hardly be blamed for helping 

 them.selves to the temptjing, succulent fruit. We had reluctantly to shoot 

 a few, and the rest took the hint. This year the useful magpie rather 

 disgraced himself by his depredations among the grapes, though perhaps 

 he considers himself justly entitled to some compensation for the great 

 assistance he renders during the greater portion of the year in devouring 

 voracious grubs and caterpillars. The peculations of men and boys are 

 much more serious. The same complaint is heard from all whose vine- 

 yards are near the highways. Probably if an example were made of some 

 of the worst offenders by prosecuting, this growing evil might be minimised. 



In spite of these drawbacks the returns speak favourably for the re- 

 constituted vine, and emphasize the fact that with proper attention and 

 ordinary care there is money in reconstitution. We cannot overlook the 

 fact that thorough cultivation, green manuring and fertilising have all 

 added their quota to the results recorded, and these are not only indis- 

 pensable but form a sound investment. All the growers who have started 

 to reconstitute have proved the value of these operations. The newer 



