ADAPTATION. 13 



The same anomalous facts apply to a large number of 

 varieties, such as the Othello, Autuchon, and Canada, 

 which, in spite of the phylloxera, often grow better in a very 

 calcareous soil than the Riparia, Rupestris, etc. 



This example shows how great is the influence of the soil 

 on the vegetation of American vines. Any one may easily 

 observe the same facts. 



The attention of viticulturists was first called to the varia- 

 tion of the growth of American vines by Louis Vialla, in 

 1878, and a little later by M. Despetis. 



The subject was re-studied by B. Chauzit in 1880; by Foex, 

 Millardet, Desjardins, Audoynaud. in 1881; A. Verneuil. in 

 1882; and by E. Petit and a number of other viticulturists. 

 They arrived at the conclusion that all American phylloxera- 

 resistant vines grew well in clay-siliceous or siliceous-clay 

 soils, and especially in siliceous soils, as also in pebbly red and 

 fertile, but decayed in certain white soils. These observed 

 facts have been explained in many different ways. We will 

 speak of them later on. 



Nowadays we have accurate ideas as to the value of 

 the American varieties (now very numerous) introduced 

 into France. Most of them have been relegated to collections 

 or discarded. Quite a small number have been adopted in 

 practice. 



These have been cultivated for over 25 years, and in 

 France now occupy an area of over 2,500,000 acres 

 (2,430,000 acres in 1899), distributed over more than 60 

 departements , in the most diverse soils and climates, and the 

 total area under American vines in France yielded in 1899 

 and 1900 a quantity of wine equal to that obtained before 

 the appearance of phylloxera. We now possess all the 

 information needed to definitely solve the question of the 

 adaptation of American vines to the soil. 



This question has pre-occupied many viticulturists: Being 

 given a soil, which American variety is to be cultivated in 

 order to obtain the best results'? The present work has for 

 its object the determination of the elements affording a solu- 

 tion to that problem, to state exactly the r61e of each on the 

 growth of each American variety, whether acting separately 

 or combined, and through it to give viticulturists the means 

 to choose precisely the most suitable variety. 



In clay-siliceous or siliceous-clay soils, or those only con- 

 taining a small quantity of limestone, all American vines 



