WINE-MAKING IN CALIFORNIA. 81 



preference to the foregoing, and it does not seem to graft 

 readily, we will pass it by. 



Vitis Labrusca Northern Fox Grape. This propagates 

 readily from cuttings; but as it roots near the surface, and is 

 not entirely resistant, although partially so, I cannot recom- 

 mend it, except perhaps, a few of its varieties for immediate 

 bearing and market grapes. For that purpose some of the 

 earliest varieties may be valuable, such as Delaware, Early 

 Victor, Wilder and Agawam. These could be grown on 

 their roots, without grafting. 



It can hardly be of practical value to enumerate the other 

 classes, and I will only say in conclusion, that I can see no 

 reason, with the phylloxera already in our midst, which would 

 induce me to plant vinifera, when I can have resistant vines 

 as cheap, as easy, and run no risk with them. If a years 

 time is lost by grafting, the grafts grow so much more vigor- 

 ously and produce so much more heavily than on their own 

 roots, that the loss of time and expense in grafting will be 

 more than made up in a few years. 



The following extracts from the University report by Prof. 

 Hilgard and others, will throw additional light upon this im- 

 portant topic. I only wish to add in the way of comment, 

 that it did not take more than two seasons after planting the 

 Riparia, either one year old plants from cuttings, or one year 

 old seedlings, even in the unfavorable soil of Talcoa, to make 

 them strong enough for grafting. Also that the early starting 

 of the stock, referred to in the notes, did not seem to have 

 any influence on the grafts, which did not start earlier than 

 the same varieties on their own roots. But grafting seems to 

 have a decided influence on coulure, as the grafts set and per- 

 fected their fruit much better than the same varieties on their 

 -own roots. Perhaps the partial obstruction to the flow of sap 

 .at the junction may account for this, as grafted trees generally" 

 bear earlier and more abundantly than seedlings. 



