lo Dec, 1910.] Tlie Wine Industry in Southern France. 753 



delicate, so they should be thinned out with a penknife. The rule is to 

 allow each one, as nearly as possible, i square inch of space ; strong plants 

 may then be expected. 



The seed will germinate in from two to six weeks, according to weather 

 conditions, and will take about eight weeks for the plants after germination 

 to arrive at the transplanting stage. Should the seed not germinate well 

 the bed can be resown on the surface and well watered. Replace the 

 covering until the plants are well established and the danger of frost is 

 passed. 



Should it he found expedient to hasten the growth of the plants either 

 of the following mixtures will be found to have the desired effect: — 

 Nitrate of soda, 6 oz. in 50 gallons of water, applied to 100 square feet, 

 about once in twelve days ; sulphate of potash 8 oz. to 50 gallons of wateit 

 to 100 square feet, once in twelve days. Care must be taken not to overdo 

 this mixture — either in strength or applications. It should be applied 

 after the plants have sent out the fourth leaf. 



Sprouting tobacco seed is not to be commended, as little is gained in 

 time, and plants grown from sprouted seed are often delicate and of bad 

 shape. It can be done, if wished, between flannel with some well rotted 

 wood mould. Keep moist and warm, and in six days the seed will show 

 white specks. Sow at once and water, covering immediately afterwards. 



{To he continued.) 



THE WINE INDUSTRY IN SOUTHERN FRANCE. 



Department of Herault. 



{Continued jroni -page dyi.) 



F. de Castclla, Government Viticulturist. 



Preliminary Preparation of Vineyard Land. 



Trenching and subsoiling are questions which have given rise to much 

 discussion in Victoria, and concerning which different opinions are even 

 now held by experienced vinegrowers. The vital importance of the subject, 

 especially now that the reconstitution of phylloxera-infested vineyards is 

 in active progress, makes it necessary to devote rather more attention to it 

 than it should otherwi.se receive here. 



Is Deep Preparation Necessary? 



A few years ago it was common to be assured by intending planters, that 

 subsoiling was not necessary under Victorian conditions, that our soils did 

 not require it. No logical reason was given for such a radical difference 

 from what obtains in Southern Europe,* where high summer temperatures 

 and long dry periods, such as we are accustomed to, prevail. Though a 

 healthy change from these views was brought about a few years back, 

 owing to the dissemination of more up-to-date ideas by the officers of the 

 Department of Agriculture, there is in some quarters a regrettable tendency 

 towards a reversion to the errors of the past — in the days of hasty 



*The importance of climate is verv considerable. In a cold district, such as 

 Champagne (north of France), the land is seldom worked more than a foot deep. 

 In the warm south, 2 feet, and even more, is not considered too deep to be profitable. 



