THI VINE. ] 567 



resistance against the Phylloxera, being killed by it 

 almost as easily as the European vine. 



2. VITTORIA. This is a seedling from Hybride 

 Parde-Lacoste or Auxerrois-Rupestris, raised at Boschet- 

 to. The seed was sown in January 1911, and the plant 

 fruited well for the first time in 1919. The vine is very 

 vigorous and very resistant to drought. The canes are 

 long and slender, of a reddish brown colour. The foliage 

 is small roundish and pointed like that of a Riparia. The 

 bunches are very numerous, long, rather loose, often 

 winged. The berries are small, round, reddish or red- 

 dish violet, sweet, juicy, with a distinctly musky flavour. 

 This vine is resistant to mildew and blight, but its 

 degree of resistance to the Phylloxera is not yet 

 ascertained. 



The following hybrid "direct producers" have been 

 introduced in the Government Nurseries at Boschetto 

 (Malta) and Victoria (Gozo) in 1920, but it is too early 

 to express an opinion about them. 



Othello, Special French Hybrid, Hybrid Franc, 

 Jouffreau, Seibel No. i, No. 2 and No. 153, Castell 

 No. 120, No. 13317 and No. 13320, Hybrid Cognac, 

 and Auxerrois x Rupestris. 



AMERICAN VINES AND HYBRIDS FOR GRAFTING STOCK. 



In June 1919 the presence of Phylloxera was as- 

 certained in many vineyards in Gozo, particularly in the 

 district between Ramla, Xaghra and Marsalforno, and 

 from the extensive area over which the vines were found 

 suffering from this pest, as well as from other considera- 

 tions, the original infection must have dated at least five 

 years before and probably more. At any rate, immediate 

 action was taken to establish American vine-nurseries at 

 Victoria (Gozo) and also at Boschetto (Malta), to be in 

 readiness as soon as the infection spreads to the latter 



