PLANTING IN SAND. 211 



develop, is sufficient to insure the life of the plantation ; 

 the roots living in the soil are attacked and destroyed, but 

 those penetrating in the subsoil are protected. 



(B.) Conditions favorable to the success of vines. Vines 

 seem to grow well in almost all the sea sands of Aigues- 

 mortes, even in the soils containing decomposed pines and 

 briars, which are generally considered as injurious. 



Of all the sea sands now planted with vines those where 

 madder was formerly cultivated seem to have given the 

 best results ; they are richer, and they have been ploughed 

 for a great number of years. They have yielded up to 

 the enormous quantity of 5,500 gallons per acre. The 

 accumulation of organic matters in such soils does not seem 

 to have diminished their insecticide power. 



Soils situated near the sea are less favorable. The yield 

 is much smaller, and the vineyards are subject to many 

 accidents. 



2ND. SELECTION OF CE"PAGES. 



Aramon, Petit-Bouschet, Cinsaut, Chasselas, and Carig- 

 nane have succeeded more or less in sea sand. Cinsaut 

 seems to be best adapted for pure sands near the sea. 

 Carignane, on the contrary, which is easily attacked by 

 anthracnosis, suffers very much from the action of winds 

 blowing from the sea. Aramon, Petit-Bouschet, and 

 Chasselas succeed very well if they are furnished with the 

 necessary quantity of fertilizing matter to recuperate their 

 enormous yield, and if they are sheltered against the wind. 



SKD. PLANTING. 



(A.) Preparation of soil. Sandy soils being naturally 

 very loose, it seems at first useless to trench them deeply. 

 However, experience has proved that trenching exerts an 

 important influence on the future of vines planted in sand. 

 This influence may be easily explained, if we remember how 

 great is the importance of dividing the soil, from the point 

 of view of its resistance and its aeration, and the assimila- 

 tion of fertilizing matter, more particularly phosphates, 

 which it already contains. 



Sands must therefore be deeply disturbed with trenching 

 ploughs followed by sub-soilers. This operation is not very 

 expensive in such soils ; it should therefore be performed 

 with the greatest care. 



o 2 



