FEB. 1.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 149

some chemical works, and the same steam-power was available
for both, being used in the case of the vineyard for pumping
the water from a well on to the land. Such a method of pro-
cedure is, however, only applicable to a considerable property,
and requires a large capital. The continued subdivision of land
in France is adverse to the combination of these two conditions.
A further and, indeed, insuperable difficulty is that much of
the land in vine-cultivation is, from its hilly character, perfectly
impossible to flood. This was the case in the Charente, which
was the principal seat of the cultivation of the strong white
wines used in the manufacture of brandy. Here the vines grew
on the stony sides of hill-sides, and they have been now practi-
cally exterminated. The production of genuine cognac may be
regarded as at an end.

The success which has attended the growth of vines in pure
sand is due, as I learn from Mr. Trimen (whose knowledge as an
accomplished entomologist was always most kindly placed at my
disposal), “to the simple circumstance that the fine grains of
sand, by their smoothness and want of cohesion inter se, hinder
the subterranean progress of the insect, both along the line of
the roots and in its attempt to pass from one root to another.”
To insure this effect the soil must either consist of pure sand or
contain not less than 80 per cent. of it. Much land answering
to these conditions in the South of France has already been
planted with vines, and no doubt a similar extension of vine-
cultivation will take place in the Landes, the curious district
which has hitherto chiefly been known for
its turpentine-industry.

8. The use of insecticides gave rise to a good deal more dis-
   cussion. It appeared, however, to be well established that two
   of these—bisulphide of carbon and sulpho-carbonate of potas-
   sium—if skilfully applied in combination with manures, are
   competent to maintain the vine in health notwithstanding the
   inroads of the Phylloxera. The latter remedy seems to be most
   efficacious, but it is, unfortunately, the most costly, the ex-
   pense amounting to £28 per hectare (about $2\frac{1}{2}$ acres) the first
   year, and £20 in subsequent ones. Bisulphide of carbon is
   cheaper, the corresponding figures being £18 and £12 respec-
   tively. But its use is not without risk; it exposes the work-
   people to possibly fatal accidents, and in some conditions of the
   soil—as when its application is followed by rain—the bisulphide
   is not dissipated through the soil, but, remaining too long in con-
   centrated form, is apt to kill the
   vines.

It appears to me that the question of insecticides is only an
important one in vineyards which produce wine of a high-class
quality. It must always be borne in mind that the back-bone
of the French wine industry is the production of wine intended
for ordinary daily consumption. The high-class wines are pro-
duced in districts of very limited extent, and bear but a small
proportion to, at any rate, what was the total production of the
country. It is, probably, worth while to go to any expense in
preserving destroyed, cannot be restored within a short period, if at
all. But whether equally costly methods are possible in the
production of ordinary table-wine may be doubted. It appears
also to be established that in the poorer and more stony soils
insecticides are inefficacious. In any case, as with submersion,
it is absolutely necessary to renew the treatment every year.

9. The warmest discussion in the Congress raged over the
   question of the cultivation of American vines. The Phylloxera
   and the American vines have grown up together in the New
   World. As the latter have not been exterminated, it fol-
   lows that they have arrived at a mutual adjustment. The in-
   jury to the roots produced by the former, which in about
   eight years after the first attack destroys the vines in a
   European vineyard, the American vines are able to withstand
   and repair. I myself saw American vines growing in the
   Botanic Garden at Bordeaux to all outward appearance in
   perfect health, yet when the roots of these were exposed
   they were swarming with Phylloxeras. It is indeed be-
   lieved that the invasion of France by the pest is due to the
   importation of American vines about 1862. The use of Ameri-
   can vines in districts thoroughly infected with Phylloxera was
   eagerly supported by the vine-growers from the South, but was
   received with less favour by those of the West of France. The
   vines are used either as “direct producers,” or as stocks on
   which European vines are grafted. The American vines which
   are in most favour as “direct producers” are the kinds called
   Jacquez and Herbemont; these are varieties of Vitis æstivalis,
   and the fruit is destitute of the “foxy” taste which is charac-
   teristic of varieties tracing their parentage to Vitis labrusca.
   Branches of the Jacquez vine were shown laden with grapes in
   an extraordinary manner, and there can be no doubt that it is a
   vine of great fertility. Both Mr. Trimen and myself were at
   the pains on more than one occasion to taste numerous samples
   of wine made from both Jacquez and Herbemont grapes. To
   our taste these wines were far from palatable, being exceedingly
   acid, and with a peculiar mawkish flavour. Of course they were
   very raw, but may improve after being kept for some time.
   Wine made from Jacquez grapes had evidently considerable
   body, and its extraordinarily rich colour was immensely ad-
   mired. That made from Herbemont grapes is said to be
   inferior in strength, but to have a more delicate flavour. It
   was supposed that these wines would, to a considerable extent,
   replace the coarser kinds of vin ordinaire and vin du midi, but
   my own impression was that the kind of merits which were
   most appreciated in them were those which would fit them for
   the processes of blending and mixing, which now go on to such
   an immense extent in France.

10. Both the Jacquez and Herbemont vines are put to a
    better use as stocks for grafting European vines. The Jacquez
    answers well for this purpose in the South, and its range of
    cultivation corresponds roughly with that of the olive. In the
    Bordeaux district it did not seem to do so well, and Herbemont
    is relied upon. The Riparia variety of Vitis cordifolia seemed,
    however, to be most in favour. The Bordeaux wine-growers
    viewed the whole question of American vines with the greatest
    impatience, while those from the South were quite enthusiastic
    about it. Some of the later discussions in the Congress assumed
    great animation in consequence, especially as the advocates and
    detractors of American vines seemed to belong to opposite poli-
    tical parties.

For my own part, I have not the least doubt that the use of
American vines, at any rate as stocks, affords the only chance
of maintaining vine-cultivation in the future in Western Europe.
There seems to be no apprehension that even in the case of vines
producing the finest wines the influence of the stocks upon the
grapes borne by the vines will be injurious. The only doubtful
question was that of how far productiveness would be affected.
Here the most opposite opinions were expressed. Some pointed
to the generally-received fact that grafting increases the pro-
ductiveness of fruit-trees, while others asserted that, as a result
of actual experience, the yield in the case of the vine is
diminished. However this may be, it remained perfectly clear
to my mind that when a vine-growing country has once become
thoroughly infected with Phylloxera, and where submersion is
impracticable, and the use of insecticides too costly, the employ-
ment of American vines, whether as direct producers or as
stocks, is the only practicable mode of saving the industry.

11. These are the most important points which I gathered by
    attendance at the discussions of the Congress. Attached to the
    place of meeting was a temporary exhibition, in which the dif-
    ferent aspects of the American vine question were well illus-
    trated. Besides a large show of plants, many laden with
    grapes, a variety of methods of grafting were illustrated, as well
    as different machines for effecting this operation with rapidity.
    It was impossible not to be struck with the ingenuity of re-
    source and the plucky and determined way in which for the
    most part the French have grappled with this greater disaster.
    No doubt a large proportion of the smaller vine-growers have
    allowed their vines to decay and disappear—as generally
    happens when plants cultivated on a large scale begin to suc-
    cumb to a new disease—attempting anything more than man-
    spicuous applications of manure as the vines progressively lan-
    guished. The great result of the Congress will, however, be to
    bring home to the vine-growers of the West—whether large or
    small—the definite nature of the disease, and the possible
    modes of combating it.

12. I have not thought it necessary to go more into detail on
    the points on which I have touched. Besides copies of the re-
    port of the Congress which I have since obtained this year
    from Bordeaux, I took the pains to procure copies of all docu-
    ments and publications which I thought would supply useful
    information to the Australian Governments on the subject, and
    practical matters (such as the cost of American vines, methods
    of grafting, &c.) connected with it. I have had these collected
    documents made up into three sets, one for each of the Govern-
    ments I had the honour to represent.

13. The postponement of the Congress till late in the autumn
    was unfortunate as regards the actual study of diseased vine-
    yards. After the vines had lost most of their leaves for the
    year little distinction was observable between the vines which
    were diseased and those which were healthy. The weather
    during the whole period was also very bad, and the official
    excursions were, for the most part, failures, and certainly were
    not very instructive.

14. What, however, impressed me more than anything was
    the material deterioration which the French wine industry has
    undergone. In the neighbourhood of Bordeaux the small pro-
    prietors had been in the habit of making pure wine from their
    grapes, which wine they sold to the large merchants. Now
    that the supply has so lamentably fallen off, the crop of wine is
    supplemented by the manufacture of vin de sucre, a product
    which was hitherto wholly unknown. After the first wine is
    made in the ordinary manner, the “marc” is placed in a vat
    and as much water is poured on to it as legitimate wine has
    been expressed. Sugar is added, and I believe, in some cases,
    tartaric acid. Fermentation then takes place, and in this way
    what is called the “vin de sucre” is made. The matter is
    involved in no secrecy. The grocers’ shops in Bordeaux were
    full of advertisements of the materials, and a small manual may