II July, 1910.] Tlic W'liic Iiiditstiv in SoutJiern France. 471 



We must not overlook its faults, which are, in rich soils, the frequent 

 non-setting of the fruit, more especially when grafted with scion varieties 

 liable to this defect, and its unsuitability for shallow soils where its root 

 system, intended by nature to dip deeply into the ground, is forced to re- 

 main near the surface. 



The increasing popularity of the Berlandieri Hybrids must also be re- 

 corded : — 41B, 34E, 157-11, 420A, and last, but not least, 161-49. The 

 remarkable qualities of the Berlandieri parent, which possesses most of the 

 virtues of V. Riparia without its defects, with the added advantage of a 

 decidedly favourable influence on the quality of the wine yielded by vines 

 grafted on it, is characteristic of these stocks. 161-49, ii^ particular, is 

 in great demand ; this is a Riparia x Berlandieri, and not, as are 420A, 

 34E, and 157-11, a Berlandieri x Riparia. In other words, the Berlan- 

 dieri was the male or pollen parent, and, as is frequently the case in vine 

 hybrids, the prepotency of the pollen parent is marked. 



Scion Varieties. 



The reconstitution of our Victorian vineyards is entering on its most 

 active stage. It is obviously very desirable that re-plantations should be 

 made with no varieties which are not thoroughly well adapted for the pro- 

 duction of the type of wine each vineyard is best suited to produce. In 

 other words, Victorian vinegrowers, like their European colleagues before 

 them, will find it to their undoubted ad\'antage to specialize. Whether this 

 be in the direction of quantity, or of quality, or of any particular type, 

 must depend on the special conditions prevailing in each vineyard. 



Among the varieties peculiar to the Midi there are several which possess 

 features well calculated to interest our growers. A few notes concerning 

 the most important of these will therefore prove of interest at the present 

 juncture. 



Some of these have long since been introduced to Victoria, but, with 

 few exceptions, we do not know them under their true names, nor are they 

 to be found in our vineyards unmixed with other sorts in the same block. 

 This is the cause which is chiefly responsible for our lack of knowledge ot 

 their real value under Victorian conditions. 



It is strange that our pioneer vinegrowers .should have so generallv 

 adopted the sorts of the cooler regions of France — Hermitage, Medoc, 

 Burgundy, &c. — which, in our warmer climate, yield wines of higher alco- 

 holic strength and fuller body than the very light Vin Ordinaire which has, 

 centuries since, become the usual beverage so necessary for the every-day 

 life of the temperate Latin races of Southern Europe. {Journal, loth Feb 

 ruary, 1910, p. 71). Will Vin Ordinaire ever be in large demand here? 

 Time alone can tell. In a general way, growers will do well to bear in 

 mind the difference between it and the wines for which there is an estab- 

 lished demand at the present time, and exercise caution in planting any 

 large area with the heavy-bearing varieties of Herault. These remarks apply 

 more particularly to red sorts. 



It is remarkable that, notwithstanding the extent to which modern 

 scientific viticulture has been brought into practical application during the 

 whole period of reconstitution in Herault, there has been no marked 

 alteration in the varieties of vines grown, at least in the direction of intro- 

 duction of new sorts from elsewhere. The varieties adopted after centuries 

 of practical experience, have formed the basis of re-plantation. Never- 

 theless, without going outside of the district for new varieties, a change 



