CULTURE OF THE VINE IN COGNAC. 817 



which is now called affinity. On the other hand, the morn two grafted vines differ 

 from each other, the more the subject will suffer from the grafting. 



Riparin being quite different from the French vines, which it must bear, it is not 

 surprising that, for the reasons given, the grafts are always feebler than other kinds. 

 This weakness will, in certain cases, kill the vine, or, at least, engender chlorosis and 

 stunting of grafted roots. Rlparia has frequently developed quite vigorously, as well 

 as other vines, as long as it is not grafted, even in very bad soils ; bat once grafted 

 \ rotation suddenly stops. And then the disorders caused by grafting increase those 

 of the non-adaptation of the soil. This weakness is produced in all kinds of soil, but 

 it is, perhaps, mitigated by a good adaptation. For these reasons the Rlparia re- 

 quires a deep and rich soil, or it must be manured very highly, and the manure must 

 be azote" to maintain it in good vegetation. And thus Riparia will prosper many 

 years. For some time it has been an experiment to plant Riparia in all soils, but 

 noon it appeared that it could not be an universal graft-bearer. Wherever the white 

 marl, chalk, tender and easily pulverized, forms a part of the arable bed, Riparia, 

 when grafted, turns yellow. It is one of the most calciferous of American vines. All 

 these varieties are not equally subject to chlorosis, and some were selected which 

 turned yellow less than others, although none have a sufficient vegetation to be safely 

 used. In general these varieties die earlier than the common varieties. Consider- 

 able noise has, however, been made of late about a certain species of Riparia called 

 Riparia-Ramond. This species has its own value, as the propagator of it has succeeded 

 in reconstructing vineyards in parts where the ordinary Riparia and other graft- 

 bearers have rapidly turned yellow. 



As it has become notorious, let us examine under what conditions of soil and culture 

 it thrives with Mr. Ramoud. 



The subsoil of his vineyards is very calcareous. Sometimes quite hard, of white 

 rock, but now and then quite tender, and softening under the influence of frost, it 

 changes in some parts to a pulverizable marl. The composition of the vegetal land 

 varies. It is almost deficient in calcaire in narrow places where it has not been broken 

 up or mixed with the subsoil. In some places it is siliceous, flinty in others, what- 

 ever may be the depth. Wherever the subsoil is near the surface, ferns, pines, chest- 

 nuts grow, although I did not know that such plants and trees were adapted to cal- 

 careous soils. The composition of the parts cultivated is unlike. In plowing the 

 subsoil has mixed with the siliceous or flinty surface and numerous small fragments of 

 calcareous marl, and the soil is consequently quite diversified ; but it offers often 

 strong resemblance to land of Groie. Now and then it is a sandy soil, with 20 per 

 cent, of calcaire ; sometimes the land is quite fertile and even very rich, with 12 per 

 cent, of carbonate of lime. This proportion of carbonate of lime may be less than that. 



The depth is from 10 to 40 centimeters, with subsoil more or less compact of calcare- 

 ous rock. The Riparia-Ramond thrives in all these lands; the grafts last year were 

 much admired and the harvest bountiful. But in every case the soil is broken up 

 carefully and abundantly manured. It moreover profits by the flinty and sandy soil. 

 The Riparia-Ramond certainly benefits from this cultivation. But unless it resists 

 chlorosis better than Riparia it can not last. Still, in addition to increasing the nutri- 

 tive properties of the soil, these considerable additions to the land from the third year 

 of plantation profoundly modify the physical composition of the arable land. There 

 are some places, it is true, where this is not the case, but then either the grafts have 

 not been grafted or only recently. To be able to estimate the value of this vine it 

 should be planted under the most ordinary conditions. 



In an experimental field containing above 40 per cent, of calcaire, Rnpestris, York, 

 and Solonis fail, while Riparia-Ramond thrives, but only after two years of growth. 

 lliparia-Ramond, in fine, in lands of Groie, of Charente, Bourgoine, etc., which are 

 partially calcareous, will do well, but it will certainly be insufficient in chalky 

 grounds containing a large proportion of carbonate of lime. These lands have been 

 tried in four different places and invariably the vines turned yellow, although lesa 



