CHOICE OF AMERICAN VINES. 01 



to those suiting- Riparias. In calcareous soils they bear less 

 fructiferous grafts, but as they can grow in poorer and more 

 pebbly soils, they are preferred under certain circumstances. 

 It grows better than the latter in rainy and damp climates, 

 such as the centre and west of France. 



The Rapestris da Lot is rerriarkable for its resistance to 

 limestone ; it withstands 40 per cent, in the Mediterranean 

 region, and sometimes 50 per cent, when the soil is deep and 

 the limestone not too soluble ; therefore, it would be advis 

 able to use it in the damper climates of the south-west in 

 soils containing more than 25 per cent. It bears grafts of 

 great vigour, but which (projbably on account of the excess 

 of vegetation) are sometimes little fructiferous. It is, there- 

 fore, in poor, pebbly soils that is should be planted ; in such 

 soils it presents advantages, and is equal, if not superior, to 

 Riparia so far as the fructification of its grafts is concerned. 

 Heavy clayey soils do not affect it provided, however, that 

 they are not too damp, for it is easily attacked by pourridie 

 (Dematophora necatnx). It has sometimes been stated that 

 its resistance to phylloxera is not perfect ; but, although we 

 have seen a few tuberosities on its roots, they were never 

 mi nerous or sufficiently developed to become dangerous. 



The Riparia x Rapestris 101-14, of Millardet and de 

 Grasset, and the 3306 and 3309 of Courderc, are less 

 known as graft-bearers, but, however, have certain real 

 qualities. They seem to be endowed with great resistance 

 to phylloxera, and, with regard to limestone, may be re- 

 garded as equivalent to the Rupestris du Lot. They can 

 even withstand a high percentage of limestone, and bear 

 very fine European grafts. They should be used instead of 

 the Rupestris du Lot in damp soils, where the latter might 

 be attacked by pourridie, or in soils so rich that they cause 

 a powerful vegetation resulting in diminished fructification 

 of grafts. 



V. Berlandieri. The well-selected forms of this species 

 resisting limestone well are also remarkable for their great 

 resistance to phylloxera, the facility with which they knit 

 with Vinifera grafts, their abundant fructification, and great 

 resistance to drought. They may be used in soils containing 

 more than 25 per cent, of limestone in the west, and more 

 than 40 per cent, in the south of France, or in all soils 

 where limestone is in the dangerous form, or where local 

 conditions increase its action. 



