82 GRAPE CULTUKK AND 



PHYLLOXERA RESISTANT VINES. 



The subject of vine stocks that will resist the attacks of the 

 phylloxera, and can be safely used for the establishment of 

 vineyards in infested districts by grafting, is one of growing 

 importance to California, since upon these vines rest, at this 

 time, the only hope of permanently maintaining vine culture 

 in the most noted viticultural regions of the State. Although 

 the progress of the pest is materially slower in California than 

 in Europe, from causes adverted to in the last annual report, 

 yet it is none the less certain. To ignore this fact is to imi- 

 tate the fabled ostrich, hiding its head in the sand to escape 

 its pursuers; and yet the indisposition to face the facts and 

 prepare to meet the inevitable in the best possible state of de- 

 fense is still so common, that the subject of the phylloxera is 

 " taboo " in many places w here he that runs may read the 

 signs by the wayside, in the dying or fading vines that spot 

 the vineyards; and he that calls attention to it is denounced 

 as one who would "spoil the sale of the land." It is high 

 time that this false and pernicious reticence and hiding-away 

 should cease, and with it the useless expenditure annually in- 

 curred in the replanting of infested ground with non-resistant 

 vines, or without any of the other precautions or preventive 

 'measures that would make such expenditure a reasonable busi- 

 ness venture. 



Since of late much has been said about resistant vines 

 being after all non-resistants, upon the ground that in some 

 cases they have succumbed, it is proper that the causes of 

 of such occurrences should be placed in their true light, so 

 far as the facts reported will justify conclusions; It is a mat- 

 ter of regret that it has not been feasible to undertake an ex- 

 haustive personal examination of such cases; but what is cer- 

 tainly known is sufficient to account for most of the well au- 

 thenticated instances of failure. 



