lo July, 1912.] 



'Mctallica Cape.'' 



421 



the other plots. Just before harvesting, it could be seen that on the small, 

 very heavily dressed plot, the wheat averaged 4 to 6 inches more in height 

 than on the large plots, the straw was paler and stouter than is usual for 

 " Federation Wheat," but on all the large plots the straw was normal in 

 colour except in the case of a few odd plants. The harvesting results from 

 the large plots are given beneath : — 



There is no evidence here to indicate any beneficial action of the radio- 

 active mineral upon the growth and germination of wheat, when quanti- 

 ties wh'ch could be used in agricultural practice are employed. Any stimu- 

 lating action which it might exercise when first applied, .seems, if anvthing, 

 to be converted into an injurious action when in prolonged contact. There 

 is nothing, therefore, in these results to show that radio-active mineral is of 

 the least benefit to wheat when applied in the same manner as manure, and 

 the hopes that had been raised by the stimulating action of large quantities 

 upon the early stages of germination, that this sub.stance might he of use in 

 the field, have failed to be established by experiment as regards wheat, at 

 least. Whether results of value may be obtained with other plants is, of 

 course, another question, but the radio-active mineral does not appear to 

 have anv direct value for the growth of wheat. 



"METALLICA CAPE." 



The following is an extract from the Preliminary Report of the Com- 

 mittee appointed by the Department of Agriculture of the South African 

 Union to inquire into the suitabilitv of the American stocks thus far used 

 to reconstitute the vineyards in the Cape Province. This report appeared 

 in the South African Agricultural Jourfial of 12th April last. 



Though " Metallica Cape " has not been very extensively used in 

 Victoria, manv growers are well satisfied with it — perhaps after too short 

 a trial. 



Such an authoritative expression of oi)inion from South Africa — the 

 only viticultural country where this stock is well known — should serve as 

 a warning to our growers. 



" Metallica rupestris, also called Constantia metallica, is a stock that cannot stand 

 much moisture in the soil, and that suflfers easily from drought. It, therefore, does 

 well in fairlv deep, loose, cool soils that have never too much and never too little 

 moisture. As such soils are rather rare to find, the result is that many thousands 

 of vines grafted on this stock are suffering visibly and gradually dying. Thds in 

 the reddish Karroo soils in the Robertson and Worcester districts, in clay soils near 

 Darling, Tulbagh, and at Bosjesmansvlei, near Botha's Halt in the Breede River 

 Valley, grafted vines on Metallica are ^vorthless. In many instances the roots are 

 infested with phylloxera, and the vines are dying off in patches. In a fairly deep, 

 coarse, sandy soil in Dal Josaphat (Paarl district) these vines have done so badlv 

 that they will be taken out this vear. 



In most of the Goudini and similar soils, Metallica can be safely used : but in 

 most soils it is .t bad stock, and hence grafting on Metallica ought not to be con- 

 tinued in future." 



