CULTURE OF THE VINE IN COGNAC. 815 



less ravage in moist and temperate climates, and that is owing to the fact that the 

 moist lands are more favorable to the vegetation of the vine than very hot and burn- 

 ing lands. The Mediterranean region is not, therefore, considered any more as a 

 fav<m-<l laud for the reconstruction of vines. 



The soils being equally good the Charentes have the advantage over the southwest, 

 center, etc., the facility of adaptation of the same grafts to different soils being here 

 much greater. 



The influence of carbonate of lime appears more certain. It is of daily observation 

 that the richer in calcaire the lands, the less they favor the culture of American vines. 

 This has been proved by Mr. Chauzit by means of two hundred comparative analyses 

 of soil from regions quite diverse. The most interesting is to know just what these 

 " special properties " are. Others suppose that the carbonate of lime acts directly on 

 the plant. This supposition pleases me if it were confirmed. Unfortunately up to 

 the present time nothing has justified it. The researches I commenced last year and 

 have continued this year will perhaps give the key to some of these phenomena. 



To resume, neither moisture nor dryness, or the two combined, count for anything 

 in most of the cases of chlorosis and stunting which occur in very calcareous soils. 

 If their action is not completely null, it is at least very limited. 



Most of the phenomena of chlorosis are owing to the carbonate of lime, with which 

 they appear united, as cause to effect. Carbonate of lime is much more injurious to 

 thci vine in proportion as it is mixed with the vegetable soil, whatever may be its 

 depth. 



In a trial field of the committee of viticulture the vegetal land has a depth of 4ft 

 centimeters. It is a soil of good quality, where formerly vines grew with vigor, and 

 I hoped that in consequence of the depth of earth most of the American vines would 

 grow there, at least for a certain time. But it is there that they are more yellow ; the 

 soil contained 39 per cent, of calcaire. 



While in another field of the same geological formation, and of which the vegetal 

 bed was not more than 15 centimeters deep, overlying immediately a bank of chalk, 

 tender, and easily pulverized, the vines are much less yellow, the soil containing not 

 more than 34 per cent, of calcaire. I believe, then, that the composition of the sub- 

 soil has not all the importance which was at first attributed to it. Without doubt, 

 when the arable land is calcareous it will injure the vines if it contains much lime; 

 but, if the arable bed is not calcareous, whatever may be its depth, the American 

 vines have good chances of prospering, even when placed over a subsoil of marl or 

 chalk. Besides the examples cited, there are a good number of lands in Champagne 

 whose vegetal bed does not exceed 20 or 25 centimeters immediately over chalk, ten- 

 der and easily pulverized, and yet American vines grow well there. It is because 

 the thin layer of earth is not at all calcareous. There is a third deposit, sometimes 

 clayey, sometimes formed of quartz gravel. Such is also the case of several planta- 

 tions which have been cited as examples of reconstruction in chalky lands. They 

 are in reality in entirely different conditions. 



It is equally certain that all American vines are not alike sensitive to the action of 

 carbonate of lime. Most are not adapted to calcareous soils ; some appear to resist 

 it completely, and this is the case with several vines which Mr. Vialla observed in 

 America. Further on it will appear that it may be necessary to add several new 

 hybrids, both natural and artificial. 



In the same species the numerous forms inclosed present differences tangible enough 

 that it is possible by selection to isolate those which offer a real interest. 



The species and varieties the niost meritorious will now be reviewed and some de- 

 tails given on most of the vines which have been tried in very calcareous land. These 

 condensed indications have been gathered by myself in the experimental fields of the 

 committee of viticulture of the arrondissement of Cognac established in chalky lands, 

 where until now American vines have failed. We have verified them during a long 

 voyage made last year in all the regions where the soil offers some analogy with 



