32 MANUAL OF MODEKN VITICULTURE. 



and of its colour, but it has been used to a certain extent as 

 a graft-bearer in granitic soils, where it roots freely from, 

 cuttings and knits well with most European ce"pages. But 

 its origin (Riparia x Labrmca) endowed it with a small 

 resistance to phylloxera, 12 only~ which prevents its use in 

 dry regions. 



Description. Vigorous plant with spreading habit and 

 robust trunk ; long and vigorous canes, of medium diameter, 

 almost straight, shining, and slightly rugose. Green during 

 the herbaceous state and vinous brown when lignified. Inter- 

 nodes medium, finely striated,, with large nodes, . swollen, 

 covered with a light bloom; continuous tendrils. The buds 

 are brown and become light carmine afterwards, this colour 

 being due to the under-face and the margin of the upper-face 

 of the very young leaves, which are covered on both faces 

 with a dense down, and have the three lobes indicated by 

 longer teeth. They remain a long time closed, enveloping 

 bunches of green flowers, with red tints, which, only appear 

 when blooming. The leaves are fairly large, entire, orbicular, 

 of a deep green, almost glabrous on the upper-face, of a 

 lighter green and covered with a whitish down on the under- 

 face. The teeth are blunt and the petiolar sinus well open 

 (Fig. 19). The petiole is strong, medium in length, and 

 covered with tufts of stiff hair. The flowers are rather large, 

 cylindrical with well-marked ribs, green, of a vinous colour 

 on the top, with a nice scent, calyx entire, well developed, 

 remaining adherent a long time, with well separated urceo- 

 late discs, yellow or whitish. Ovary with long style and 

 flat stigma. The bunches are rather small, cylindrical, or 

 irregular, always long with a long peduncle, tender and 

 rather swollen at the point of insertion ; pedicles rather long, 

 green, with a few disseminated warts. Berries medium or 

 sub-medium, compact, spherical, covered with bloom, of a 

 dark black colour, greenish inside with a few reddish streaks, 

 fleshy pulp. 



The use of the Vialla tends to diminish on account of its 

 small resistance to phylloxera, and we do not think it can 

 be recommended in any circumstances. 



ELVIRA. 



The Elvira is a hybrid of Riparia and Labrusca, very 

 much extolled by the Americans. Some years ago it had a 

 certain reputation in France, where vine-growers thought it 



