SCIENTIFIC GRAPE-GROWING IN FRANCE. 



655 



Plums. — The Russian plums have far exceeded pub- 

 lic expectations, and indeed, our own. 



This year I have seen and tasted specimens of Early 

 Red, Dame Aubert, Voronesh Yellow, Moldavka and 

 other sorts, much larger and better than I ever saw in 

 Russia. I am glad to report that some of these plums 

 do not suffer more by attacks of the curculio and gouger 

 than our best natives, and they are proving as hardy in 

 tree and as free from rot and other diseases. 



Prunes. — Some of the eastern prunes have also ex- 

 ceeded expectations in size and quality of fruit and hard- 

 ness of tree. Of those well and widely tested, the 



Black Prune and the Ungarish have been most liked 

 The latter variety is really equal for any use to some of 

 the varieties grown in California. 



Apricots. — So far we have not tested any Russian 

 apricots that will be likely to prove valuable on our soil 

 or in our part of the west. The Shense apricot, from 

 northwest China, is the most valuable variety yet tested, 

 but this is not hardy enough to prove profitable north 

 of the 42d parallel ; where it is hardy it is likely to 

 prove of considerable importance. 



J. L. BODD 



Iowa Agricultural College. 



The Grape Station at Villefranche. 



SCIENTIFIC GRAPE-GROWING IN FRANCE. 



the viticultural station ok villefranche 



THE greater part of the agricultural, and es- 

 pecially the viticultural, regions of France 

 possess scientific establishments, agricultural 

 schools or stations which, by their work, their re- 

 searches and their discoveries, aid the viticulturists, 

 unfortunately so much troubled, and indicate to 

 them the safe course to follow. 



The Beaujolais were in need of such a guide. The vi- 

 ticultural station at Villefranche supplies this want. 



It is situated in the center of Beaujolais, essentially a 

 grape-growing country, which has acquired a universal 

 reputation for the quality of its wines. All this vast 

 vineyard has, in its turn, been ravaged by the phylloxera. 

 And, to-day, when all these hill-sides are covered with 

 foliage as formerly, the grower painfully sees the num- 

 ber of enemies attacking the vines increasing each year. 

 He must continually be on the alert in finding new reme- 

 dies for the new diseases. 



Never has the grower been busier with all that is con- 



nected with the vine ; defense against insects, fungi 

 physiological diseases and atmospheric conditions, adap- 

 tation and improvements in pruning, methodical culture, 

 perfecting the processes of vinification, treatment of 

 diseases of vines, etc., etc. It is with the view of study 

 all these questions that Mr. Vermorel has founded at 

 Villefranche a viticultural station, the motto chosen 

 being " Progress by Experience. " 



If the station is well located, so its equipment leaves 

 nothing to be desired. Mr. Vermorel has done every- 

 thing in regard to the number and importance of the 

 labors which it is designed to undertake. 



The buildings comprise a physiological and patho- 

 logical laboratory, including a hall devoted to micro- 

 scopic work. This laboratory is also connected with a 

 greenhouse, divided into several compartments in which 

 are raised the plants upon which the experiments are 

 performed. 



A chemical laboratory, in which special attention is 



