CHOICE OF AMERICAN VINES. 53 



concerned. The tendency to discard types of low resistance, 

 such as Taylor, Vialla, Solouis, Jacquez, &c., has increased 

 every year ; and only a few wild forms have been retained 

 after long and careful selection. These are Riparia Grand 

 Glabrt-, R. Gloire de Montpellier, Rupestris du Lot, 

 R. Martin, Berlandieri (for calcareous soils), or spontaneous 

 or artificial crossings between these species (Riparia x 

 Rupestris, Riparia x Berlandieri, Rupestris x Berlandieri. 



The problem of adaptation to calcareous soils has been 

 solved by the use of well-selected Berlandieris, or hybrids 

 America x Berlandieri, which, if necessary, are treated by 

 the Rassignier process. It has at least given results equal 

 to those obtained with certain direct producers, which never 

 possess a resistance to phylloxera equal to that of Berlan- 

 dieris ; and we must never forget that maximum resistance 

 to phylloxera should always be the first item considered in 

 planting American vines. As a matter of fact, if under certain 

 exceptional conditions, and for reasons it is not always easy 

 to ascertain, a small resistance to phylloxera is sufficient ; in 

 the majority of cases the use of vines of low resistance has 

 always resulted in failure, and compelled resorting to new 

 and expensive planting. To quote an instance already men- 

 tioned : If in certain parts of the Var, fine Jacquez, produc- 

 ing abundantly, are to be found in fresh and fertile soils, it 

 does not follow that in other parts where the soils are dry 

 and poor the Jacquez (which does not resist phylloxera well) 

 will succeed, and those viticulturists who planted it under 

 such conditions regret now that they were unacquainted 

 with the Rupestris du Lot, a graft-bearer growing in most 

 soils, which would have prevented very many failures. 



Finally, with regard to resistance to black-rot, there is 

 no reason to think that onr cepages of good quality will 

 be replaced by direct producers resisting this disease better, 

 as these would always yield an inferior crop. We know the 

 results obtained by treatments with copper salts, and we think 

 it will be possible to obtain still better results in future, 

 and to save expenses by following the prescription published 

 by the Commission appointed to study the black-rot disease. 

 It is only in cases where all means of combating the disease 

 must be abandoned, which would be absurd, that the use of 

 Noah, for instance, should be advocated, as was done in the 

 south-west of France. 



