THC 



UNIVERSITY 



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IN AMPELOGRAPHY. 9 



bunch and the colour of the stalk are not in most cases very 

 distinctive characters. There is also the taste peculiar to 

 each grape, but how describe it ? When we say that the 

 Cabernet grape has a special taste, it is not giving precisely 

 a rigorous description. However, it is well to draw atten- 

 tion to the taste of grapes, as it contributes to the recog- 

 nition of the cepage producing them. 



The difficulties indicated above of distinguishing cepages 

 by means of ripe grapes is still greater if they are studied 

 while green. Finally, all cepages are not fructiferous. 



Vines Cultivated in Nurseries. The shoots 

 growing from cuttings, or grafted cuttings, the first year of 

 planting in nurseries have not exactly the same characters 

 they attain later on. Independently of the diminution in 

 the dimensions of the leaves, there are often other modifi- 

 cations. We will mention as an example the leaves of 

 Carignane. These leaves, when the Carignane is grafted on 

 American stock, retain their normal shape, but are very 

 smooth, and only become wrinkly or uneven very slowly. 



Influence of the Fertility of Soil. The soil, 

 accordingly as it is arid or fertile, dry or moist, modifies the 

 general habit of a vine ; but the alterations only affect the 

 relative dimensions of the organs and their colour. Severe 

 drought often causes the leaves to become shrivelled. 



Good Advice. Before going into a vineyard, inquire 

 as to the cepages cultivated. Generally, even if extensive 

 vineyards, they only contain a small number of varieties. 

 Under these conditions we have in advance an idea as to the 

 nature of the cepages cultivated, and their determination 

 will be very greatly simplified. The difficulty does not con- 

 sist in distinguishing Aramon from Carignane or Petit-* 

 Bouschet, when we know that a vineyard is composed of 

 these three cepages, but in distinguishing these three cepages 

 in a vineyard where their presence is not expected. 



