CULTURE OF THE VINE IN COGNAC. 813 



That is, then, 30,000 hectares where American vines can now be planted in all 

 security ; that is to say, the area of the old vineyards before the phylloxera. Here is 

 a list of communes where success is certain : Cognac, Crouin, Saint-Laurent, Louzac, 

 Saint-Audr6, Saint-Sulpioo, Cherves, Bouthiers, Breville, Saiut-SoviSre, Houlette, Ner- 

 eillao, Reparsac, Julienne, Chassors, Jaraac, Bourg-Chareute, Saint-Brice, Goudeville, 

 Saint-Amant de Graves, les Graves, Chateauneuf, Mosnac, Saint-Snrin, Saint-Simon, 

 Triao, some parts of Fleurac, Foussignao, Sigonne, Ars, Mainxe, Saint Preuil, Tou- 

 zac. Malaville, Bouteville in Champagne. 



Besides the nature of the lands, which can not deceive us, plantations dating al- 

 ready from several years show that in these communes American vines work well 

 and give good results. 



AMBRICAN VINES IN CALCAREOUS SOILS. 



For the lands of Champagne and of Groie we are less favored. For the most part 

 American vines which have there been cultivated have not prospered well. 



But it will be seen that we need not despair of finding one, and perhaps several, 

 graft-bearers which will develop very well. 



Let us first see what is the organization of our fields of experiments. These fields, 

 four in Champagne, with Henry Perrin, of Bonssac ; Henry Pelletant, of Gent6 ; Aim^ 

 Richard, of Louzac; Filloux, of Angeac. The fifth, in Groie, with Mr. Arsandeau at 

 Sigonne. Two other experimental fields will be created this year. One in the Groie 

 will be planted exclusively with varieties which have already given good results in 

 Champagne. The other, in Champagne, will receive from two hundred to two hun- 

 dred and fifty new varieties. We will have, also, in the spring of this year, from 

 four hundred and fifty to five hundred varieties on trial, all very rare, and all recom- 

 mended for diverse reasons for calcareous soils. It is the unique collection of the 

 world. 



Each variety is represented, as far as possible, by ten, twenty, thirty, or forty slips 

 in each field. The Berlandieri, Cinerea, and Cordi folia vines are the most numerous. 

 Half of these will be grafted, the rest not ; so that we can judge of the value of each 

 old vine as a graft-bearer and direct producer (for many can do both) and the influ- 

 ence of grafting on each one of them. All these varieties resist the phylloxera ; most 

 are unharmed, others carry it on their roots but do not suffer from it. The phylloxera 

 in our judgment is the most inoffensive insect, and in what follows it will not be in 

 question. The soil is the great enemy of the vines. Jt is not then a study to find a 

 vine that will resist the pliylloxera (there are thousands), but to find a vine that will 

 not only resist phylloxera, but also prosper inlands of Champagne and Groie. This, 

 we shall see, is not far from achievement. 



CHLOROSIS IN AMERICAN VINES. 



Before examining in detail how American vines prosper in calcareous soils, we 

 should endeavor perhaps to find out what are the causes of non-success of most of 

 them in these lands. 



Notwithstanding the number of works already published on this subject, which do 

 not throw much light on it, I have not at present any plausible explanation to give 

 for want of success. I do not, therefore, give any detailed examination of opinions 

 which have been expressed on the subject. I merely observe that many are in con- 

 tradiction with certain facts, which all have had occasion to observe. 



The chlorosis of the vines, grafted or not, and the stunting which follows, have 

 turn by turn been attributed to moisture, to drought, or to these two elements com- 

 bined; to want of coloring in the soil, want of iron ; to want of light or too much 

 light ; to climate, to the calcareous soil itself, etc. The infiuence of too much moisture 

 on the vegetation of the vines can not be denied. I even believe that it may become 

 a serious cause of failure ; but to attribute all cases of chlorosis to moisture is clearly 



