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on many chalk and marl lands, where all other stocks fail.” M. Rességuier, 
who is an expert viticulturist and a member of many agricultural and 
viticultural societies in France, says :— 
For fertile, rich, heavy, deep soils, which are not too calcareous, I 
recommend Riparia Portalis or Gloire de Montpellier. It is the best of 
Riparie for deep soils, and is far superior to any other for marly soils. For 
gravelly, light, poor soils of little depth, the V. rupestris should be planted. 
M. Viala affirms that in Texas the Riparias succeed marvellously in dry 
country, exposed to the burning rays of the sun, and yet they can withstand a 
poe erate of 28 degrees centigrade below zero, without being affected by 
the cold. 
There are many varieties of Rupestris. The best are R. Martin and R. 
Le Lot. Representing resistance or absolute immunity from disease by 20, 
and vigour of growth by 20, the results are— 
Rupestris Martin: Resistance, 19°50; vigour, 19. 
The R. Le Lot thrives in the worst of soils. Plants the size of a knitting- 
needle when planted out attain in two years a diameter of over an inch. 
One proof of their value isin the price obtained for the wine produced 
from them at the public auction sales of the wines of the Hospices de Beaune 
(vintage, 1892), which exceeded that of the old vineyards ruined by phylloxera. 
The advantages of the Berlandieri are stated to be— 
i Ae ane can withstand great heat, excessive drought, and excessive 
cold. 
2. It is the only stock which flourishes in the most calcareous and 
gravelly soils. : 
3. It is easy to graft. 
4. It increases rapidly in size, and there is no nodulation at the point of 
union. 
Tt fruits more abundantly than any other known vine. 
. It resists successfully the phylloxera. 
TON 
QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE. 
Wrrrtne on the subject of the Queensland Agricultural College, the Zropical 
Agriculturist (Colombo) says :— , 
‘Tn any undertaking—and particularly in an institution of this nature—it 
is most important that there should be no mere temporary makeshift measures, 
no impediments arising from a grudging of funds, and that ample facilities 
should be given for allowing the influence of agricultural education to spre 
“freely among those interested. We note that special provisions are made for 
the carrying out of practical experiments in the field. Such an admirable 
scheme is what might be expected when there is a qualified head to foster 
the cause of agricultural education, such as the Queensland Minister for 
Agriculture. Without the influence of an expert, and where it is left to the 
mercy of officers with no special qualifications, the cause is doomed to failure. 
Even in India there are directors of laud records. and agriculture, who are 
highly trained agricultural officers, but in Ceylon—well, things are different. 
“We heartily wish the Queensland College a prosperous career, and that 
abundant success may crown its laudable efforts to improve the agriculture of 
that rich and extensive colony.” 
WHEAT CROPS. 
Tur world’s visible supply of wheat on Ist June, according to Beerbohm, 
was only 11,142,000 quarters, the smallest quantity recorded at that date for 
a great number of years. Ina table giving the figures from 1888 onwards, 
there is no such low total, and it is necessary to go back to 1890 to find one as 
low as 12,000,000 quarters. Now, the average price in England this year on 
st June was 28s. 2d. per quarter, whereas in 1892, when the world’s visible 
supply was 17,000,000 quarters, it was 31s. 2d.; and in 1891, with a visible 
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