130 AMERICAN VINES. 



short stamens, that is to say, of all hermaphrodite flowers of 

 wild vines. If the observations of E. Rathay are confirmed, 

 as they appear to be in a great many cases, the pollen of 

 these flowers should not be used as male element in fecunda- 

 tion, as it seems probable that .it is apt not to germinate. 



Millardet has brought forward an important fact, con- 

 firmed by other experimenters, and which seems well estab- 

 lished as far as the transmissions of resistance to hybrids is 

 concerned. Firstly, it is evident that the resistance of Vin- 

 ifera hybrids will always be inferior to that of the American 

 vines used in the crossing, but that it will be more pronounced 

 as the American vine used is more resistant; a Vinifera X 

 Rupestris should a priori be more resistant than a Vinifera X 

 Californica. There may be exceptions, we will meet them 

 in all the cases we are going to study; absolute fixity in the 

 results obtained with the same elements of hybridization 

 does not exist, but it is none the less true, however, that there 

 is a relative fixity resulting from the elements entering into 

 the combination. The most important fact to remember, 

 from this point of <view, is that relating to Americo-American 

 hybrids. It is undeniable, and demonstrated by facts, that 

 hybrids resulting from the union of resistant American 

 species between themselves offer a constant guarantee of 

 resistance, which is never the case when the element Vinifera 

 enters into the combination. 



What has been said for resistance applies, although in a 

 less positive manner, to vigour. A given Vinifera united to 

 a Rupestris and Mustang, or a Monticola and ^stivalis, will 

 give rise to products, Vinifera X Rupestris, Vinifera X Can- 

 dicans, more vigorous than Vinifera X Monticola, or Vinifera 

 X ^Estivalis ; however, exceptions 'are more numerous in this 

 case than in the above. 



It is also well known that when an American vine, Rupes- 

 tris, for instance, is used as a male element, the offsprings 

 resulting from its union with a Vinifera are all the more 

 resistant and vigorous as the pollen has been taken from an 

 individual with male flowers, or, but to a lesser degree, from 

 individuals with long stamens, if such exist among wild vines. 



Finally, from the same point of view of resistance (the 

 recent observations by Millardet, as well as those made by 

 the writers on numerous hybrids at the School of Agricul- 

 ture, Montpellier, throw new light on this subject), the com- 

 bination of the two elements of hybridization has considerable 



