188 AMEEICAJT GRAPE GROWING 



Under these circumstances, I followed the precedent 

 of the French, who, for sometime, have made experi- 

 ments with, and ordered Phylloxera-proof vines from 

 Missouri in still increasing quantities. I planted Elvira 

 and Taylor, both white varieties of the riparia grape, 

 and cordifolia, a wild, red variety of the same family, 

 which has obtained the preference up to this time. 

 Previously I grafted the cuttings indiscriminately with 

 Gutedel, Eiessling, Zinfindel, etc., and I see them grow 

 with their grafts just as well as ours ; also those that 

 were transferred to the nursery, there to form roots for 

 the next season. Further my own experience does not 

 go, but I put entire confidence in this way to help us 

 out of the scratch, supported as I am not only by the 

 success of the French, as stated in the highly interest- 

 ing articles of Wetmore, which appeared in the Alta^ 

 but also by the microscopic examinations of F. Hecker 

 of Belleville, who found the fibre of the varieties of the 

 Frost Grape and the riparia so hard and tough that the 

 tiny trunk of the Phylloxera can not well penetrate it. 

 Catawba, Isabella, and many other varieties formerly in 

 use, have been relinquished as not reliable in the same 

 degree, or for other objections. 



Here, then, we have a sufficient reason to make use 

 of the above given sorts, as resisting the inroads of the 

 Phylloxera, to make up for losses with new plantations. 



I cannot help wondering at those who still continue 

 to trust the Asiatic vines, even for new extensions, 

 when they stand surrounded by the irrepressible hosts 

 of their arch-enemies. N'o doubt they believe that 

 something fortunate will yet turn up against the Phyl- 

 loxera. Let us rather be watchful and active — all who 

 are weary and burdened with vineyards — lest we may 

 fall under an impending mortgage forecl^^sure. 



My mode of proceeding is this : I put an exactly- 

 fitting graft of two eyes on the cuttings, having them 



