CEPAGES. 139 



had been used as a graft-bearer in the south of France; it is 

 now discarded, for in soils where it succeeds (mellow, fertile, 

 deep, fresh, non-calcareous), Riparias are much superior to 

 it, and much more resistant to phylloxera. 



The Clinton furnished the first example of combined 

 influence of adaptation and phylloxera. In calcareous and 

 even in slightly fertile but dry soils, where its development 

 cannot oppose the attacks of the phylloxera, it rapidly dis- 

 appears. In soils to which it is perfectly adapted the insect: 

 does not weaken it much. There are still in existence in the 

 rich alluvials of the Herault, grafts made on Clinton twenty- 

 five years of age, generally very vigorous, except in very dry 

 years, when the phylloxera is able to check its normal 

 development. 



The relative feeble action of the phylloxera accounts for 

 the Clinton having been sold under the name of Plant 

 Pouzin in certain non-calcareous regions of the Centre, and it 

 has given fair cultural results as a direct-producer (Ardeche). 

 It produces wines, however, which, although not very foxy, 

 are inferior, and by grafting on Riparia we obtain, in regions 

 suited to the Clinton, far superior results in both quality and 

 quantity. The Clinton is now actually discarded in every 

 region. Its sensitiveness to calcareous soils was noticed 

 in America, in the islands of Lake Erie ; it rapidly 

 becomes distorted when in soft Devonian calcareous soils. 

 In many regions in France, and especially in the chalky soils 

 of the Charentes, it dies two years after planting out, even 

 in the absence of phylloxera, and sooner than Noah or 

 Vialla. 



The Clinton roots freely from cuttings, and gives good 

 knittings when grafted with most of the European varieties. 



Vialla. A cepage obtained from Clinton seedlings, propa- 

 gated by Laliman, and named in honor of Louis Vialla (Fig. 

 72). Its hybrid nature was ascertained by Millardet. This 

 graft-bearer has played an important part in the reconstruction 

 of vines in the centre (France), and has beeri the standard, 

 for instance, in the granitic and siliceous soils of Beaujolais ; 

 it thrives well as a graft-bearer in the north and centre, 

 where its resistance is favoured by the climate and soil. In 

 dry warm regions in the south of France, after a few suc- 

 cessive dry years, the phylloxera weakens it, and may some- 

 times render its cultivation impossible; this was shown in the 

 first part of this work. The Vialla was limited to the centre, 



