THE VINF. ] 463 



However, the present system of cultivation by 

 which the European vine is grown on American or 

 hybrid American stock, if it ensures the continuity of 

 existence of the precious European varieties which are 

 so gloriously associated with the several districts where 

 they are grown, it certainly entails no little trouble and 

 expense in the initial installation as well as in the sub- 

 sequent upkeep of the reconstituted vineyards. Hence 

 when the first heat in quest of Americah or hybrid 

 American stock of sufficient vigour and good resisting 

 qualities had abated, and vine grow r ers were busily re- 

 planting their vineyards on stock of approved quality, 

 the energies of hybridists in Europe and America were 

 directed to the obtention of hybrids between the Europe an 

 and the American vines, which while possessing the 

 required degree of resistance against the Phylloxera and 

 possibly against the cryptogamic diseases, were capable of 

 yielding a produce of sufficiently good quality, either for 

 table use or for the manufacture of wine, to replace that 

 of the European vine. These hybrids are the so-called 

 "direct producers", and their popularity increases from 

 year to year, although they are still very far from the 

 high standard of excellence to which the European vines 

 have attained. However their use will permit a return 

 to the simple old methods of cultivation, when the vine 

 was propagated directly from cuttings and was as free 

 from mildew and blight as it was from the Phylloxera. 

 The ideal hybrid direct producer should unite compara- 

 tive immunity from, or great resistance to the diseases 

 above mentioned, to an abundant production of grapes 

 of good quality for the table or for the press, and in our 

 case should also be able to thrive well in a soil with a 

 large percentage of lime and to bear well our warm and 

 dry climate. Unfortunately all the clirtct producers so 

 far obtained are deficient in one or more of these 

 desirable qualities, but the unbounded resources of 



