lo Dec, 1910.] The Wine Industry in Southern France. 759 



of late waterings on the carrying power of the grapes will no doubt prove 

 of capital importance. At least this is the lesson to be learnt in Southern 

 Spain, the birthplace of the fresh grape shipping industry. In Almeria, 

 one of the hottest and driest parts of Spain, the vines are planted on 

 deeply-worked land and the final watering is given in June (December 

 in Australia). 



In irrigated vineyards, deep preparation, by insuring a more satisfac- 

 tory root system (p. 757), and by facilitating penetration and retention 

 of water, will enable equal, if not superior, results to be obtained from 

 the u.se of considerably less water. As our irrigated areas increase, and 

 such an increase is even now actively encouraged, a time will inevitably 

 <-ome when our present prodigal methods of irrigation will require modi- 

 fication, in order that all demands for water may be met. Even if the 

 supply of water be ample, however, it is evident that the smaller the 

 quantity used the greater the economy. It is worthy of note that, in 



4. TRENCHING WITH HORSE WINDING GEAR NEAR MOMPELLJER. 



the submersion vineyards of Southern France, where Phylloxera is com- 

 bated by flooding for six weeks during the winter, the land is trenched 

 to a depth of 60 centimetres (23I inches) before plantation. 



Southern French Methods. 



In the whole of the " Midi " (South), deep preliminary preparation 

 is, with the two exceptions above referred to, invariably carried out before 

 a vineyard is planted. The depth of the work varies as a rule between 

 50 and 60 centimetres (19I inches and 23^ inches), though it is sometimes 

 carried to an even greater depth. As regards methods of carrying out 

 the work and the plant employed, there have been practically no new 

 developments since the issue by the Department of Trenching and Subsoil- 

 uig for American Vines, in which the leading systems are very fully de- 

 scribed. Large vineyards are usually trenched by steam ; winding by a 

 cable is invariably practised and never direct draught by the traction 

 engine. Both the double and single engine systems are employed ; in the 

 latter case the cable works over an anchor which is moved each time a 

 new furrow is opened, the plough being either hauled back empty with 

 horses, or a reversible plough is used, in which case working is continuous, 

 alternate furrows being ploughed in opposite directions. The double- 

 engine system is already familiar in Victoria. 



Horse-driven winding gears or horse gins {Treuils, as they are known 

 in French) are largely used; e.specially by small growers. These also 



