32 



•of direct producers; most of those obtained so far being -what we 

 might term three-quarter resistant, and therefore liable to suffer 

 .seriously from the attacks of the phylloxera in soils -well suited for 

 its development. I do not wish to be too severe on direct pro- 

 ducers, as some of them, in soils where the insect does not develop 

 very rapidly, are destined to be of great use to us. In such soils 

 as the sandhills of the lower Goulburn and the Murray the resist^ 

 ance of such American vines as the Jacquez is ample, and the 

 vinifera element they contain causes them to unite very rfeadily 

 with the vines of Europe, so that, even employed as stocks, they 

 would give good results. 



Although French nurserymen are in hopes of yet obtaining a 

 hybrid which will combine the fecundity and excellence of fruit 

 ■of the European parent, with the resistant qualitiesof the Ameri- 

 can one, they cannot as yet claim a complete measure of success; 

 and we must be careful, about planting them in any but soils 

 where their resistance is likely to prove sufficient. 



With resistant stocks the case is different. The character of 

 the fruit as well as its quantity being unaltered by the American, 

 roots upon which it is made to grow, consideration as to quality 

 or quantity of wine do not prevent the selection of thoroughly 

 resistant sorts as stocks upon which the best European varieties 

 .can be grafted. 



With stocks thorough resistance is of course the most essential 

 requisite. Want of attention to this point was the cause of fre- 

 quent failures in France, where, in the early days of American 

 reconstitution, any vine of American origin was deemed eligible 

 for use as a stock. 



We must profit by the experience of the past 25 years in 

 France, and employ no stocks but those which are capable of 

 shielding us absolutely from the attacks of phylloxera. 



Having recognised the absolute necessity of a high degree of 

 resistance, two other considerations present themselves, viz.: 



The adaptability of American vines to soil and climate. 



The affinity which exists between diifFerent stocks and scions. ' 



Ths adaptability to the soil is the most important question of 

 the day in France, and one which has been a frequent source of 

 msuccess. In our case we are more fortunately situated, and I 

 am confident that we will have no serious trouble as far as this 

 important factor is concerned. 



With few exceptions- American vines will not thrive in soils 

 contammg 35 or 40 per cent, of carbonate of lime. In such soils 

 these vmes are liable, especially when grafted, to a constitutional 

 disease termed chlorosis. The leaves turn yellow, and the vitality 

 •Ot the vmes is so much reduced that they are no longer able to 

 lorm or-nourish the fruit. The great majority of Southern French 

 vineyards are planted in limestone soils. lu Victoria limestone 



