3i6 Journal of Agriculture. [lo May, 1910. 



matter which merits careful study. We already have several cases which 

 are, to say the least, very promising, notably that of Chateau Tabilk, and 

 several sandy vineyards in the neighbourhood of Wahgunyah.* 



The sea sand vineyards of Herault also give us much valuable infor- 

 mation as to the results of manuring. Deficient in plant food elements,- 

 as they originally were, it is only by abundant artificial additions that 

 the heavy yields now being vintaged ha\e been rendered possible. These 

 vineyards are also interesting on account of the enormous wineries situated 

 on some of them, capable of treating vast quantities of grapes. They 

 are, in fact, amongst the most complete mechanical winemaking establish- 

 ments in Europe. 



In a future article some of these sea sand vinevards will Ije described 

 in detail. 



Other Formations. — Though of much lesser importance, so far as the 

 vine is concerned, several other formations axe also to be met with. 

 Primar}- rocks, represented by schists of Silurian and Devonian age, as 

 well as Primitive rocks, such as gneiss, mica schists, &c. , and even basalt, 

 porphvry, and a little granite. These are not of sufficient importance 

 to merit more than passing mention here. Diversity is a striking feature 

 of the region. To once more quote Professor Lagatu — 



In the many coloured fant which our department offers to the dazzling light 

 of the Midi, there are fringes of gneiss, of schist, of older limestone, and of 

 sandstone, quite different from the very fertile marly centre ; there are patches 

 of poor dry Jurassic, and diluvian masses of sterile silica. When one realizes 

 that the vine prospers everyv^'here, one cannot help admiring the flexibility of this 

 culture and the skill of the viticulturists of Languedoc. 



To a Victorian, the most salient feature is the abundance of lime in 

 the great majority of these soils. 



Climate. 



We have alreadv seen that the department includes a great variety of 

 climates. The following remarks apply only to the lower portion in which 

 the majority of the vineyards are situated, and more ]>articularlv to the 

 town of Montpellier. 



The climate differs in several respects from any we know in Victoria. 

 Being one of the warmest parts of France, several species of palm grow 

 well, as will be seen in several of the photographs reproduced in the last 

 issue, plants which constitute an unusual feature in most other parts of 

 France. The following remarks by Professor Houdaille might almost be 

 written of northern Victoria : — 



The general features common to the Herault vineyarrls are the dryness of i;s 

 summers, the prolongation of the high temperatures of that season, the irregularity 

 or its rainfall, the extreme temj)eratures which may be observed in certain years, 

 both in winter and in summer. 



The ^luscat of Alexandria grape ripens its fruit more easilv than it 

 does in Melbourne. 



In marked contrast to the above a.re the heavy falls of snow often 

 experienced in winter, and the low temperatures occasionallv registererl. 



*At Tabilk, Phylloxera made its appearance in rSgq. Within a few years 

 it had destroyed nearly 100 acres of stiffer laud. In the sandy soils, however, 

 but little damage was done at first, the vines recovering entirely as they became 

 accustomed to depend on their lower roots. At the present day, the 200 acres 

 situated in sandy soil at Tabilk are as healthy as ever they were. Thev show 

 no signs of suffering from Phylloxera. 



+ In shape, the department of Herault somewhat reminds one of the 0[)en fan. 



