20 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA. 



are entirely free from the " foxy " flavor of the American vine, though 

 when properly adapted they are very vigorous and thick-wooded, which 

 causes many to prefer them to poor varieties of Riparia and Rupes- 

 tris. Among the best-known hybrids we may mention York-Madeira, 

 Catawba, Taylor, Vialla, Lenoir, Doaniana, Norton's Virginia, Autuchon, 

 Isabella, etc. 



While it is not claimed that the time will not come when some perfect 

 hybrids may be found that will give all the qualities desired either for a 

 stock or direct production, it is certainly true that thus far none have been 

 found the use of which is as satisfactory as grafting the selected varieties 

 of the pure species. It would seem from the results thus far obtained that 

 the perfect hybrid stock may be looked for long before the perfect direct 

 producer is found. The former are greater successes in their way than 

 the latter have been. Investigation will show that most of the favorable 

 reports concerning new hybrids emanate from nurserymen or interested 

 parties, and hence must be taken cum grano sails. 



Many Americans have been misled by reading scraps from foreign 

 literature concerning resistants. Thus one very common error, so origi- 

 nated, in this State is that certain varieties " require calcareous soils." As 

 a general statement it is true that all American vines dislike strongly cal- 

 careous soils, though some will stand them better than others. In France 

 the soils are, as a rule, far more calcareous than those of this State. The 

 fact that the American vines " fear lime " has caused the vineyardists 

 there great trouble in reconstituting their vineyards. In fact, there are 

 certain regions, such as the Cognac region of France, where it has been 

 found almost impossible to make either the Riparia or Rupestris grow 

 in some of the most famous vineyards of the region. So refractory have 

 most of the American vines proved that the main hope there now seems 

 to lie in the planting of the Vitis Berlandieri of Texas, by means of 

 layers, for it will not grow from cuttings. 



Whenever Europeans are reported as experimenting with varieties 

 other than the standard Riparia or Rupestris, it is safe to conclude in 

 most cases that the soil is excessively calcareous. 



STANDARDS OF RESISTANCE. 



It must be remembered that mere resistance to phylloxera is not the 

 only desideratum in determining the value of a resistant stock. There 

 must be, with the exemption from the effects of the phylloxera, a 

 natural adaptability to soil and climate that will enable the vine to be 

 sufficiently vigorous to support the graft with a sufficient amount of sap to 

 produce and nourish properly a large crop. 



Nodosities and Tuberosities. A nodosity is the swelling on the very 

 young, tender rootlets of the grapevine, resulting from the sting of the 

 phylloxera. It is the mildest form of the injury to a root of the vine 

 that is noticeable to the examiner. The mere presence of a few of these 

 nodosities on the roots of a vine does not indicate that the vine is not 

 a valuable resistant. In fact, there are but few of the American resistant 

 vines on which nodosities are not found. While it shows that the resist- 

 ance of the vines is not the maximum, it by no means indicates that 

 the vine is not (on account of its ready adaptability) the very vine for 

 the given soil. These nodosities are whitish or pinkish, and resemble 

 somewhat the head and neck of a long-billed bird. The insect causing 



