Naturalisation in Extra-Tropical Countries. 567 



latter in its simple state [Millardet"). Mr. C. Mayer of Stellenbosch 

 observes in the "Agricultural Journal of Capetown " (21st March, 

 1895) that the glabrous variety of Vitis riparia has proved in South- 

 Africa far preferable to the downy one if used as direct bearers, not 

 solely graft-bearers, the " Gloire de Montpellier " belonging to the 

 glabrous variety. In contrasting the merits of V. riparia with those of 

 V. rupestris he remarks, that the former requires a deep friable fertile 

 soil retaining always some humidity, whereas V. rupestris is content 

 with shallow dry heavy and even sandy soil. Moreover V. riparia 

 will climb to an enormous length far out of reach, while V. rupestris 

 is of a more bushy growth, and thus adapts itself to the ordinary 

 fashion of the European vine in its culture. Least subject of all to 

 mildew [Hilgard]. Hybridises easily. 



Vitis Schimperiana, Hochstetter. 



From Abyssinia to Guinea. This vine may perhaps become 

 valuable, with many other Central African kinds, for tropical 

 culture, and may show itself hardy also in extra-tropical countries. 

 Barter compares the edible berries to clusters of Frontignac-Grape. 



Vitis vinifera, C. Bauhin.* 



The Grape- Vine. Greece, Turkey, Persia, Tartary ; probably also 

 in the Himalayas. One of the most thankful of plants over a wide 

 cultural range. Praised already by Homer ; cultivated in Italy as 

 early as the bronze-age, in Armenia since Noah's time. Introduced 

 into South-England already by the Romans. This is not the place, 

 to discuss at length the great industrial questions concerning this 

 highly important plant, even had these not already engaged the 

 attention of a vast number of colonists for many years. A large 

 territory of West- and South-Australia, also of Victoria and New 

 South Wales stretches essentially through the Vine-zone, and thus 

 most kinds of wine can be produced here, either on the lowlands or 

 the less elevated mountains in various climatic regions and in different 

 geological formations. Among the very few other plants, which 

 passed through years of drought in Central Australia [Rev. H. 

 Kempe] . The best grapes with us are produced mainly between the 

 30th and 38th degree of latitude. Cultivation for wine advances on 

 the Rhine to 50 north ; on trellis it extends to 52 or 53 N., in 

 Norway even to 61 17'. The highest latitude at which it can be 

 cultivated successfully in North-America is Clarenceville, Quebec, 

 lat. 45, but there it requires some winter-protection. Intra-tropic 

 vine-culture has tentatively been commenced on the high drier 

 mountains in Java from seeds. Thus neither Mildew nor Phylloxera- 

 dangers could arise and the vineyards would be so isolated as to 

 render them practically inapproachable to disease-bearing organism. 

 Fine grapes are produced in tropical East- Australia at elevations 

 above 1,000 feet, the plants being able to rest for a few months in 



