F4 AMERICAN VINES. 



resistant to phylloxera can be successfully cultivated. How- 

 ever, they show in their growth, fructification, etc., certain 

 differences which must be taken into account. Not that in 

 soils of this nature they would be a complete failure, but, 

 as the creation of a vineyard actually necessitates a large 

 expenditure, it is important to know the character and apti- 

 tude of each, so as to cultivate only those giving the best 

 results. 



In soils where the proportion of limestone is very high it 

 is different. There most of the American vines, as also 

 the varieties of V. Vini^era, do not grow so well. They 

 grow badly, turn yellow, become stunted, and sometimes die. 

 Others accommodate themselves better to this class of soil. 

 From these facts, proved by observation, it must be admitted 

 that for each class of soil there is an American vine superior 

 to others. It must not be thought that the most vigorous 

 and resistant vines should also be the best for all soils. The 

 V. Berlandieri, for example, is the best grafting stock for 

 soils rich in limestone. In soils where there is not much 

 limestone it grows even better, but there it is inferior to the 

 V. Rupestris and a few other varieties, which do not grow at 

 all in calcareous soils. 



It is undoubtedly the soil which acts on each American 

 vine, and either retards or favours its development. Hence, 

 we will need to examine: 



i st. The influence of the soil on the growth of American 

 vines in general. And as several elements (climate, humidity, 

 dryness, grafting, phylloxera, general cultural operations, etc.; 

 can modify, increase, or diminish its effect, we will search 

 which way the modifications will be produced according to 

 the case. 



2nd. The aptitudes, properties, or exigencies of each species 

 or variety of Ameircan vine, its resistance to phylloxera, the 

 manner in which it behaves in various soils, its fertility and 

 forwardness in ripening its fruit, whether it should be grafted 

 or not, its affinity with the French vines, and those it can 

 bear as grafts, the means of multiplying it, etc. And from 

 this double examination we will then deduce results, which 

 will probably have some importance in practical work. 



