52 MANUAL OF MODERN VITICULTURE. 



of avoiding the grafting operation, as the argument is 

 played out, but they say that their hybrids resist chlorosis 

 better in limestone soils, and are not affected by black-rot 

 and other cryptogamic diseases. 



They have not yet been planted to any extent, but in 

 districts where recoristitution is only starting, and where the 

 work has not yet assumed a decided orientation, small plan- 

 tations are made with the idea of gradually extending them. 

 If we consider these new trials, we are forced to ask the 

 question Is it really necessary to modify the basis upon 

 which the reconstitution of vineyards rests, as it is actually 

 done in France ? We do not think so ; and our opinion 

 on this question rests on the following consideration. As a 

 matter of fact, it would only be necessary if : 



. 1st. The direct producers had an equal or superior 

 value from the point of view of quality and 

 quantity of their produce to our grafted cepages, 

 and if they offered the same guarantees as the 

 latter with regard to their resistance to phyl- 

 loxera. 



2nd. If the graft-bearers were not sufficiently resist- 

 ant to phylloxera, and if they could not adapt 

 themselves, to certain soils for which direct pro- 

 ducers would be better adapted. 



3rd. Finally, if no remedy be known against black- 

 rot, a given direct producer had better qualities 

 of resisting this disease than any other European 

 vine of equal value. 



We think that, so far, neither of these hypotheses have 

 been realized ; and we may say that up to the present no 

 American producer has given wines equal in quality to those 

 of the fine European cepages, neither do they produce it in an 

 equal quantity. No direct producer would bear comparison 

 with Burgundy , Cabernet, or Shiraz with regard to quality, 

 or with Aramon, Terret-Bourret, and Carignan with regard 

 to quantity. We must not forget that their resistance to 

 phylloxera is generally low on account of the strain of V. 

 Labrusca and V. Vinifera which they contain, and that the 

 higher the quality of their wine and their fructivity the 

 lower the resistance. 



On the contrary, the graft-bearers now in use answer all 

 the requirements of viticulture so far as phylloxera is 



