Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-10-03
YIIICuLTURAL NOTES.
The Effect of Irrigation on Wine Grapes
-Submersion and Resistant Stocks.


in France by submersion, as a remedy
against phylloxera, have been bearing fruit,
considerable discussion has been provoked
in the Journals devoted 10 yiticu!tural in
terests throughout the country, relating TO
the effect of this practice upon the quality
of the wines produced from the grapes.
MANY have contended that the wines SO
produced were inferior, but recently Mon
sieur Faucon, who has the honor OF hay
ing originated this remedy In the valley OF
the Rhone, has made public statement in
which he contradicts the theory that sab
mersion of the vines in winter time will
injure the quality of the wines. His con-
illusions are that IN soil where there is
free and easy drainage the application of
water during the winter time does not
leave any marked effect during the sum
mer so as to cause any injury to the fruit
but he adds that this irrigation ought not
TO be practiced in the summer. The causes
where the quality of wine has been in
iured, he claims, are traceable to the prac-
tiee of summer irrigation, whereas sub.
mersion as a remedy against the phylloxera
is only properly applied in winter His point
that the soil should permit free drainage,
s that the roots of the vine may not remain
wet during the summer is forcibly taken.
This discussion in France is of special in
terest to this coast, and the result of it, as
reported upon by Mr.. Faucon, who is the
leader in the submersion practice, fully
sustains the recommendations that have
been made by members of the Viticultural
Commission in this State, cautioning the
yine-growers against summer irrigation
wherever it is unnecessary for the yigor of
the vines, and advising extreme caution in
such cases where it may be absolutely
necessary advocating the use of water in
the winter time where there is an INSULT
Gent supply of rainfall, and the promotion
of complete drainage of the subsoil in
which roots are imbedded.
IMPovERIsHxENT OF THE SOIL.
A long communication from Monsieur
Rivaud, OF Mulhausen, Alsace, has been
received by the Commission, containing the
views OF the writer, who has published
several papers in Europe for distribution
concerning the nature OF the phylloXera
pest. He belongs to party which still has
some representatives in Europe, who be-
lieye that the phylloxera is an effect and
not the cause of disease. During the first
few years OF the phylloxera invasion in
Europe the notion prevailed that perhaps
the vines were becoming weakened by the
system of continuous culture and propaga-
ton by means of cuttings, and that they
might be renewed in strength by propa-
CATION from the seed. The theory gained
many supporters as it appeared on the face
of it plausible, but it has been demonstrate
ed, both in France and California that the
seedlings even of the wild European and
Asiatic vines are not more resistant than
vines propagated the usual way from cut
tngs. Since then this party, who believe
that the phylloxera is an effect and not a
cause, have been attempting to demonstrate
that the source of the disease is in the i'm
pOverishment Of the soil, and they have
been recently nrisled in some places in
Europe by reports of the effects of the
phylloxera on the vines of California, be-
cause they have assumed, enormously, that
IN California we are cuthvating generally
the American vines, which are claimed to
be resistant. They are therefore citing the
instance of the phylloxera in California as
proof that the American vines will not
resist the phylloxera. Experience in
this State, however, has practically
set at rest the doctrine of this
party, because We have found not only
that the seedlings of the wild vine of Asia
die rapidly under the influence of the
phylloxera, but also that the disease spreads
as rapidly in our richest soils as well as in
our poorest, with this exception, that the
poorer the soil Is the quicker the vine sue
cumbs by a known rule that the resistance
OF the vine TO the attack of the disease is
proportional to the vigor of the plant.
The resistance of the wild American vines
has also been tested here, under the most
trying circumstances young tender seed
hngs being planted in soil that of itself
scarcely supports good vine, Immediately
over the diseased roots of dyingvines. Under
such circumstances, even without disease,
ii is very difficult TO make a vine grow, bat
the experiments of the Commission prove
that several of the species OF the wild vines
OF America will continue to live under these
most unfavorable Circumstances and make
growth, resisting the disease while the
vines around them are dying out. In some
cases in this State the phylloXera is attack
ing vines that have been planted on virgin
soil before they are even two years old. IN
other cases In5y have been found upon
vines yielding from thirty to forty pounds
OF grapes, in soil that continues to be very
rich. II is not commended that these resist
ant vines are in all cases absolutely proof
against the phylloXera, but they are called
resistant because the wounds made upon
the roots by the insect heal over, and if the
soil is favorable to the growth of the plant
they continue to live and produce crops
notwithstanding the presence of disease.
The problem in this State at the present
time IS TO ascertain which of the known
resistant species are best for different To-
calities, and which of them are the best
stocks to graft the European varieties upon,
rs some are more difficult in taking the
graft than others. As this question is of
great Importance at the present time, and
many are proposing to rely upon resistant
vines as 4 precauton against the invasion
of the disease in this State, reference is
hereby made to certain parties in different
sections of the State who have tried these re-
sistant vines, some of whom who have al
ready grated and received fruit. None Of
these resistants roots are, however, of any
great age, the work of propagation having
been carried on during the last few years.
Those interested can visit the vineyards
where they are growing or have been
grated, before the foliage drops from them
this season, in order 10 Judge for
themselves as to tneir relative vigor and
the success of gratis. Reference is made
therefore to the following parties j. T.
Packard, Pomona, Los Angeles county,
S0,000 seeding Californicas planted in 1884,
grated in 1885 r. T. Pierce, Santa Clara
Seeding Californicas, grated IN 1885; c.
II. Wakelee, Mountain View, table and
shipping varieties, grated on Riparias this
year, Riparias planted in 1888: j. l.. Beard
Centervllle, Alameda county, Seeding Cal
ifornioas planted in 1881; Professor e. W.
Hilgard, Mission San Jose Seeding Cali
fornicas and Rjparias, planted in 1884. At
LiyermOre considerable tracts of land more
or less grated can be seen at the vineyards
of Hon. J. J. Black, Hon. G. H. Perry. +.
L. Fowler, j. II. Wheeler, Clarence J. Wet
more and Charles A. Wetmore Sample
gratis one, two and three years old can be
seen in the latter vicinity. f W. Maslin,
Clerk of the State Board of Equalization,
Office Sacramento, vineyard in Placer coun-
ty, seeding Californicas planted in 1882
grated in 1884, bearing fruit this year;
som, three-y ear-old seeding Californicas
grated in 1883 with Black Ferrara Arpad
Haraszthv & Co, Orleans Hills Vineyard,
near Madison, Yolo county, Seeding Ripa-
rias, Californicas and Arizonicas, planted
in 1889 and 1884 A L Tr1hhs l,alistn.-n