WINK-MAKING IX CALIFORNIA. 79 



The seedlings made a very large growth the first season, and 

 gave promise of being very fine grafting stock. 



Vitis Riparia. Sand or River grape. Next to ^Kstivalis 

 in importance as a grafting stock, I would place this, 

 especially the wild Riparia, as it seems to succeed on 

 a diversity of soils, propagates readily and easily, and 

 takes the graft readily. Of the cultivated varieties there is 

 but one, the Elvira, which is equal, if not superior, to the 

 wild Riparia in this respect. The Taylor does not seem to 

 take the graft well, nor is it as entirely resistant as the wild 

 stock, as the wounds made by the insect on its roots, do not 

 seem to heal over as rapidly as co.uld be wished. The wild 

 Riparia has the advantages of easy propagation, adaptability 

 to location and soil, and uniting well with the graft. There 

 is a difference, however, in the varieties; as the Green Hun- 

 garian, Marsanne, Franken Riesling, Clairette Blanche, 

 Muscadelle de Bordelais, Pedra Ximenes and several others, 

 take on it readily, while the Sultana, Crabbs Burgundy, 

 Gamay, and Chanche Gris, do not unite so readily and sure- 

 ly. I have found very little difference in cuttings or seed- 

 lings, one year old seedlings will make about as strong a 

 growth, if transplanted to the vineyard, as one year old vines 

 from cuttings. If the latter are chosen, I would advise, how- 

 ever, before planting to cut out all the lower buds on the 

 plant with a sharp knife, leaving only only those around* the 

 crown of the vine, or perhaps one below it. This will pre- 

 vent suckering from below, will save much labor and distur- 

 bance of the graft, and one man can do the pruning of the 

 vines for a set of four planters. 



Vitis Calif ornica. Our native wild species has been used to 

 a greater extent as a grafting stock, perhaps, than any other, and 

 it is certainlya very vigorous, strong grower, with a root system 

 which seems to go down into the soil naturally. It has a; 

 very soft, fleshy root, however; Fully as soft as the Vinifera, 



