lo May, 1910.] TJie Wine Industry in Soiitlierh France. 315 



■coarser elements are poor (in them). On the other hand, in the diluvium, the 

 American vine finds a medium appropriate lo its needs p.nd gives, with abundant 

 manuring, satisfactory yields. 



This similarity of composition witli that of many Australian vine soils 

 is striking, especially in the direction of freedom from excess of lime and 

 poverty in phosphoric acid. The fact that these \vere the soils which gave 

 least trouble as regards reconstitution is significant and one which should 

 inspire great confidence as to the success of reconstitution in Victoria. 

 Some of the best wines produced in the department, notably those of St. 

 'George, are grown on this type of soil. 



Alluvial Soils abound in the department, especially in the vicinity 

 •of the rivers. They may be divided into two classes — ancient and recent 

 •deposits. The former are usually very gravelly and less rich than the 

 latter. According to Professor Lagatu — 



The richest are those of the River Orb, which are ideal soils. The alluvial 

 soils of the Herault, not so well constituted, are nevertheless rich ; thev respond 

 ■particularly well to nitrogenous manuring. Those of the Lez, though excessively 

 calcareous, are rich in phosphoric acid though poor in potash. Those of the 

 Vidourle, very rich but a little too calcareous, give in the east of the department, 

 <Nineyards which, under irrigation, are extremely productive. 



It is chiefly within recent years that vines have been extensively 

 planted in these very rich soils. Formerly the vine was relegated to 

 soils in which little else could be profitably cultivated. The high prices 

 of " vin ordinaire " in the early days of reconstitution led to the selection 

 of very rich soils as the sites for many of the new vineyard.s — a marked 

 ^change from former methods. Cereals, fodder crops, &c., gave place to 

 :the vine. According to many, this change was largely responsible for 

 the viticultural crisis, which was so keenly felt in France some three years 

 ago. Over-production and the action of the inexorable law of supply and 

 demand are no doubt the direct causes of the crisis. Other causes, how- 

 ever, aggravated the situation and their recent suppression has had a most 

 salutary influence on the viticultural situation in France.* 



It is in this class of soil that vineyards are protected from Phylloxera, 

 by means of submersion, as will be described later. The total area thus 

 treated in the department amounted last year to over 7,000 acres. 



Sea Sand. — Prior to the appearance of Phylloxera, the low dunes 

 -of almost pure .sand, which here and there fringe the Mediterranean, were 

 considered to be practically valueless. It was soon found that European 

 vines growing in such sand did not suffer from the attacks of Phylloxera ; 

 the insect was powerless to injure them. 



Large areas were then planted, and in spite of the heavy manuring 

 necessary in order to render productive such poor soils, they proved 

 exceedingly profitable, yielding large fortunes in the years from 1880 to 

 1895, when wine sold readily at high prices. At the present day these 

 vineyards occupy nearly 7,000 acres, and are still yielding profitable 

 returns. Though situated in clo.se proximity to vineyards in stiffer soil, 

 which promptly succumbed, and have long since been reconstituted on 

 resistant roots, thev have never shown any signs of suffering from 

 Phylloxera. 



These sand vineyards are of great interest to Victoria. We possess 

 la.rge areas of exceedingly sandy soils, and the extent to which the 

 resistance to Phylloxera of these soils will equal those of Herault is a 



* The glut in the wine trade is often attributed to the inflation of supplies 

 Tjy wholesale adulteration. There is no doubt that, since active steps have been 

 taken to suppress fraud, wine values have hardened by over so per cent, in France. 



