﻿108 SEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT 



and ^ave importance to this variety. But when Mr. Berckmans was asked for more of 

 these vines, lie stated that he had none, and that their culture had been entirely aban- 

 doned. The above descriptions by our most experienced and reliable horticulturists, 

 make it more than doubttul whether the vines, succeeding so well in the vineyards of^ 

 Mr. Borty, at Roqu^niare, and of Mr. Laliman, near Bordeaux, are the "Ohio" or " Ja- 

 ques." After considerable research, we tind that Mr. G. Onderdonk, the pioneer fruit- 

 grower of Western Texas, describes the Lenoir (original stock of which he had obtained 

 from Berckmans) as follows: '•'"Bunches large, long, loose; berries small, black, round;: 

 no pulp; vinous and much coloring matter ; leaves lobed ; aline bearer and winegrape^ 

 And we would add that the leaf and habit exactly resemble those of the Black Spanisli. 

 AVe have never planted a variety that grew oil better than this variety has done during 

 the two years we have had it in cultivation. In 1S73 we gathered fruit from this variety 

 that had been ripe seventy days on the vine." From these facts we strongly incline 

 to believe that this Lenoir is the variety our friends in France are looking lor, and have- 

 received under the name of Jaques. 



GRAFTING AS A MEANS OF COUNTERACTING THE WORK OF PHYLLOXERA. 



The advantages of grafting are two well recognized to need enforc- 

 ing. By its means, healthy, vigorous vines, which do not fruit well, 

 may soon be made abundant bearers; new varieties and seedlings be 

 quickly tested, and a less desirable variety replaced by one more de- 

 sirable. Our knowledge of the Grape Phylloxera has of late pointed 

 out other cogent advantages that may be derived from grafting, and 

 it is in view of the renewed interest which I have found manifested 

 in it among grape growers, that I venture a few remarks on a subject 

 with which I have had little personal experience, but to which I have- 

 given some attention through observation and study of the experi- 

 ence of others. 



Having shown that certain varieties of our grape vines have afar 

 greater power of resisting the Phylloxera than have others, and that 

 they represent all degrees of susceptibility, from those which invari- 

 ably succumb in the course ot' two or three years, to those which are 

 seldom affected, and never materially; 1 took occasion to urge judi- 

 cious grafting as one of the most available means of coping with the 

 disease; and also to request of those grape-growers who have the 

 advancement of their calling at heart, and who are so circumstanced 

 that they can make the trials, to institute experiments in grafting 

 some of the most susceptible varieties. (See Rep. 6, pp 49, and 78-81.) 

 As the report mentioned was not distributed till it was too late in 

 the year for my request to be complied with, and as only the few of 

 whom I made the request, through other means, have begun to carry 

 out the suggestion, I take this opportunity of renewing it, and of 

 offering a iew remarks for guidance. 



One important fact should always be borne in mind in this con- 

 nection, and that is, that the Grape vine, having a very thin inner bark 

 or liber, does not graft with the same ease as do the more common of 

 our fruit trees, such as apple, pear, etc. : more care is, therefore, neces- 

 sary in the operation. 



