CHOICE OF AMERICAN VINES. 59 



Many forms of Berlandieri are vigorous, and furnish large 

 and fructiferous graft-bearers. Unfortunately, they do not 

 root freely when the usual method of planting is followed. 

 However, some nurserymen, such as Euryale Kesseguier, of 

 Alenya, have succeeded in obtaining 50 per cent, of strikes. 

 Viala and Mazade have proved, by experiments conducted at 

 the School of Agriculture of Moutpellier, that the grafting 

 of Berlandieri cuttings increases the strike in a large pro- 

 portion. 



Although we may hope that certain Franco-American 

 and Americo-American hybrids will enable vine-growers to 

 obtain satisfactory results in calcareous soils, it is better to 

 use Berlandieri, which has already proved its good quality. 



We may, therefore, in the actual state of our knowledge, 

 consider this vine as giving the best solution to the question 

 of reconstitution of vineyards in limestone soils. The prac- 

 tical diffkmlties which are met with reside principally in the 

 choice of types. We must, according to Viala, look for the 

 following characters : Vigorous vegetation, very thick 

 leaves shining on both faces, with extremities of shoots only 

 slightly tomentose, and young leaves golden brown. 



These characteristics are to be found in the forms already 

 selected, which we have previously described: B. Resseyuier 

 Nos. 1 and 2, B. Daigribre, B. of Angeac, B. de Lafont No. 9, 

 B. Mazade. 



We have no doubt that if the selection is continued new 

 types of equal, if not superior, value will be found. 



Unfortunately, good Berlandieri forms are expensive, and 

 this prevents their general use, for growers will not risk 

 money if they are not certain of the resistance of the stock 

 offered to them, especially when they know that a less 

 resistant graft-bearer may do. 



No doubt, the grafting of buds on old stumps is a rapid 

 means of propagating cuttings. However, as cuttings of 

 other species are placed on the market at a small cost growers 

 generally prefer buying them if they are adaptable to their 

 soil. For this reason we will study the value of the different 

 stocks most generally used, showing the quantities of lime- 

 stone they can stand. These indications have only an 

 approximate value, as the nature of the lime and the 

 numerous conditions already explained (depth of soil, pre- 

 sence of humus, presence of free carbonic acid, clay, humidity, 

 <fec.) may greatly vary the effects of this substance. Humidity 



