7 o 



AMERICAN VINES. 



The soils of the Charentes have the following composi- 

 tion : 



Groie soils. Soil light; colour, ochreous or red, more or 

 less dark, formed of 50 to 70 parts fine sand- and of 30 to 

 50 parts small angular calcareous fragments, having dimen- 

 sions varying from i to 3 cm. (X to i% inch), and from 0.5 

 to i cm. (% to y 2 inch) in thickness. The depth of this bed 

 is from 15 to 25 cm. ( 6 to 10 inches). The subsoil is formed 

 of calcareous fragments, larger, flattened, or of even dimen- 

 sions on all sides (5 to 10 cm.). A little under the soil they 

 are not numerous, nor mixed with organic matter; they are 

 decomposed outside, forming a yellowish marl, which covers 

 them, and fills the interstices. Occasionally their decompo- 

 sition is more complete. These soils are frequently met on 

 the Jurassic and Cretaceous formations, and are found all 

 over the Bourgogne. 



The strong groies are ^more clayey. Under the soil, at 

 a depth of 20 to 35 cm. (8 to 14 inches) they become marly. 



Champagne Soils. Dark grey or black vegetable soil, 

 mixed with a small quantity of little fragments of limestone 

 rock, soft, and easily broken by the hand; soil light and very 

 friable, depth 15 to 35 cm. (6 to 14 inches). The subsoil is 

 a chalky rock, friable or easily opening under the action of 

 frosts. It is sometimes formed of irregular fragments, the 

 interstices of which are filled, near the surface, with a vege- 

 table soil; sometimes with layers i to 3 cm. (% to i^ inch) 

 thick, horizontally disposed ; in the latter case the roots never 

 penetrate to the subsoil. 



The several analyses following, due to B. Chauzit, will 

 show the amount of carbonate of lime in the chalky soils of 

 Texas where the V. Berlandieri grows naturally, and also 

 those where it has remained green in the Charentes: 



Belton soil, Texas 



subsoil 



Temple soil, Texas, No. 1 

 No. 2 

 Austin 



subsoil, Texas . . 

 Champagne soil, Julliac-le-Coq, Charente 

 subsoil 



soil d'Angeac, Charente 

 subsoil 

 Cognac soil . . . . , . 



subsoil . . ... 



Gente" soil . . 

 1 * subsoil . . 



96.42% 



94.90 



76.10 



51.51 



79.48 



90.65 



43.60 



68.65 



56.37 



75.35 



48.55 



75.76 



32.37 



56.48 



