120 



AMERICAN VINES. 



in conjunction with the writers in the new direction indicated 

 by the observation of facts. 



Couderc has pursued the practical study of hybridization 

 since 1880. We will mention amongst the hybridizators 

 best known in viticulture Davin, Castel, Malegue, Siebell, 

 Terras, etc. 



(b) Fecundation of the Vine. The phenomena of fecunda- 

 tion of the vine, upon which hybridization is based, were 

 studied in detail in 1882, and more recently (1891) by 

 Millardet. E. Rathay completed, in 1888, the first work of 

 Millardet on the morphological organization of the flowers 

 of diverse cepages. It has been asserted for a long time 

 that the disposition of the flowers of vines prevented the 

 phenomena of crossed fecundation. The five petals at the 

 period of florescence, which begins at 15 C. and is in full 

 between 15 and 20 C. (Millardet), only become detached at 

 their base of insertion t>n the receptacle, and always remain 

 united at the apex, forming a cap (operculum) (Fig. 57). 



It was admitted for a long time that 

 at the moment the corolla became detached 

 the operculum was lowered on the pistil, 

 forcing the stamens on to it; the de- 

 hiscence of the anthers then occurred, 

 and the pollen became deposited on the 

 stigma. The action of pollen foreign to 

 Fig. 57- Normal the flower was therefore prevented. With 



Vine Flower. , . . r i i 



this interpretation ot the phenomenon pre- 

 ceding fecundation, it would be difficult to account for the 

 existence of spontaneous hybrids. 



The phenomena take place in a different manner in the 

 majority of cases, as observed by Millardet (Fig. 58). The 



r ? a rt b w r ry a ?% e 



Fig. 58. Different stages in the opening of a Chasselas Flower (after Millardet). ' 



dehiscence of the corolla is the result of the erection of the 

 stamens, thus lifting the operculum. At a convenient 

 temperature the corolla becomes separated, and finally falls 



