374 
THE TROPICAL 
AGRICULTURIST. [October i, 1881. 
ti keep the water in, and a depth of from 40 to 50 
centimetres is considered sufficient, the time for the 
operation being early in the winier — November or 
December — and the water remains on the land about 
forty days. I am informed that a vineyard in the 
South, belonging to Mr. Faucon, treated by submer- 
sion every winter for ten years, is in the most flour- 
ishing condition ; and that whereas in 1869 the crop 
only yielded 25 hectolitres, it. has since come up to 
2,500 in the year 1S75. Mr. Faucon appears to have 
been the first person who tried the system of sub- 
mersion. 
Insecticides. 
Sulphide of Carbon. — The drawbacks to the employ- 
ment of this specific are its dangerous nature from 
inflammability, the difficulty of diffusing it equally in 
the ground, and that, if used in two great quantities, 
it destroys the vine as well as the phylloxera, but, 
used with prudence, its good effects are incontestable. 
During winter or towards the commencement of spring, 
but before vegetation commences, one or two treat- 
ments should be given ; if two, not more than 15 
grammes in each, with an interval of eight to ten 
days between the two doses ; if only one treatment, 
from 25 to 30 grammes. In spring and summer it 
is not advisable to apply the sulphide, except in very 
bad cases. The soil should not be disturbed for at 
least a fortnight after treatment. 
As the roots of vines extend in all directions under- 
ground, the sulphide should be introduced so as to 
extend as evenly a? possible throughout the vineyard ; 
thus it should be injected by holes bored at equal 
■distances— for instance, if the vines are planted 1 
metre apart, one hole between each two vines ; no 
hole should be nearer than 30 centimetres to the vine. 
In this country the instrument used for injecting is 
the Pal Sujecteur Gastein, which is a kind of large 
syringe wit a a long nozzle, and contains the sulphide, 
the quantity being regulated by washers, limiting the 
strike of the piston. 
S'.ilpho-Oarbonate of Potassium. — This insecticide, 
which, from the quantity of water required on using 
it, is so expensive as to be excluded from general use, 
although it is still in request where patches of disease 
manifest themselves, has the advantage of containing 
potash in considerable proportions (about 28 per cent), 
which fertilises the ground, whereas the sulphide of 
carbon possesses no manurial qualities. 
The cost of employing sulpho-carbonate is about 
600 francs per hectare, whereas the sulphide of carbon 
co'-ts about 200 francs. A poisonous solution is formed 
by mixing it with water, and it is thrown into basins 
hollowed out round the foot of each vine. These 
basins should be carefully prepared, so as to allow of 
the mixture reaching the whole of the insects under- 
ground. The quantity of sulpho-carbonate to be applied 
to each root varies according to age and vigour of 
the plant— for young plants from two to four years 
old, from 20 to 30 grammes according to size, diluted 
in 10 litres of water to each vine. When the solu- 
tion has been absorbed by the ground, 10 litres of 
water should be thrown on it to drive it deep into 
the soil. In summer, when young roots are superficial, 
and may carry insects on them, or if the solution has 
not been absorbed, no water should be added. The 
ground should be filled up round the roots a-< soon 
ai possible after the operations, and should not be 
disturbed for a few days afterwards. Many other 
insecticides have been tried, but the above appear to 
be the only means proved to be practicable and effic- 
acious by long experience. 
Plantation of Ana r lean Vines. — Experience has shown 
that American vines, although not exempt from the 
attacks of the phylloxera, are hardier, and their roots 
poisesa much more resistance ; consequently a system 
of using American roots with French vines grafted 
on them has been carried out lately, when new vine- 
yards have been planted, or to fill up vacancies ia 
existing ones. The species of American vines most 
in vogue for grafting upon are, I am informed, Riparia, 
Clinton Vialla, Solon is, Elvira (which, without graft- 
ing, produces white wine of good qu dity), and also 
the Facquez (which gives a vine of the type of " Vin 
du Midi"), Herbemofc, &c. 
Various methods of planting and grafting are used, 
which I shall eudeavour to explain as cle n-ly as 
possible. 1. American cuttings are planted in the 
vineyard, and after a year, at the time when the sap 
has risen, and before the buds begin to swell, the 
grafting takes place. 2. By planting the American 
cuttings in a nursery to root, and after a year lifting 
them, grafting and planting out in the vineyard : this 
plan is more certain. 3. By taking two cuttings, one 
American, the other French, grafting the latter on 
the former and planting in a nursery. After a year 
all thosj which have succeeded are lifted and trans- 
planted in the vineyard ; this is the quickest method. 
The graft is always below the surface of the ground, 
and, when done, loam or clay is covered round it in 
a cone to protect it, without using any mastic. A 
clever workman can, with an ordinary grafting-knife, 
and assisted by another mm to tie up, graft from 
250 to 300 plants in a day. 
Several machines have been invented for grafting ; 
the one mo3t recommended is the "Machine Petit," 
invented by Mr. Petit, engineer of Langon, Gironde. 
This machine is for performing the operation (" greffe 
en fente Anglaise") in a house or shed : it is placed 
on a table, and contains two blades— one for making 
the diagonal cuts, and the other for splitting. Price 
35 francs. "Machine Berdageur," said to be not so 
complete as the former, but less expensive. Price 12 
francs. "Machine Leydier," for the " greffe Cham- 
pin," which is a more complicated form of graft, "en 
fente Anglalse." " Moule a greffe Teysonneau," (12 
francs), for grafting "en fente Anglaise," either on 
a table or in the ground ; but when grafting on a 
plant rooted in the giound is practi3 d it is usually 
done by hand, as there is difficulty with any machine 
cutting so low down, and the knives get spoilt by 
the clay, stones, &c. With one of these machines, 
when the plants are out of the earth, and can be 
operated on on a table, two men could get through 
more than 1,000 in a day. 
Japanese raphia, previously soaked in a solution of 
sulphate of copper to prevent it rotting, is much used 
for tying the grafts. Vineyards planted in virgin sea- 
sand are said to be free from phylloxera. 
Mr. Armand Lalande has published a .pamphlet 
entitled Le Phylloxera dans la Gironde, which is well 
worth reading; and I may mention the following 
works, which have been recommended to me : — Manuel 
pratique de Viticulture, par Gustave Foer, containing 
much useful information and plates of various methods 
of grafting ; and Traiti theorique et pratique da Grefage 
de la Vigne, per Amie" Champin — a very complete 
work on grafting. 
CINCHONA IN COORG (SOUTHERN INDIA). 
Mercara, 24th August. 
As the elevation of the coffee cultivated portion 
of this country in place exceeds 3,900 feet, or is less 
than 2,750 feet, this altitude is most favorable for the 
growth of certain kinds of cinchona, &c. C. Succi- 
rubra has been proved to grow quicker and more 
luxuriantly than any other variety, although hybrids 
C. Condaminea and C. Officinalis are met with. The 
pure plants of the latter varieties thrive but sparingly 
and give little encouragement to cultivate them on a 
large scale. 
