It is, perhaps, well to describe some of the differences between the fruit of Vitis vinifera and that of our native species. The European grapes have a higher content of sugar and solids, which gives them greater richness and adds to their keeping qualities. Their clear, vinous flavor, frequently with an attractive sprightliness, makes the foxiness so strong in many of our native Labruscas seem undesirable in comparison. The greater size of both bunch and berry in many of the foreign kinds adds to their attractiveness. The most noticeable difference is the adherence of the skin and flesh and their greater freedom from objectionable acid or astringency so that many kinds can be eaten whole. In general the Viniferas are more attractive, of richer flavor and better quality and keep much longer in storage.

THE EUROPEAN GRAPE IN CALIFORNIA.

While these grapes were failing so completely in the east very different results were being secured on the western coast. We seldom think of the early Spaniards as bringing anything to Mexico save destruction and desolation, yet some of their most lasting monuments are the missions which they established in the territory which is now the northern part of Mexico and the southwestern states of the Union. These pioneer padres were horticulturists of no mean merit and from the mission plantations the Indians learned to grow many European fruits. It was in this way that the Vinifera grape first reached California. Those conditions which caused the failures in the east were lacking here and the mission grapes flourished and spread to become finally the incentive and example which has made California a great grape-growing and wine-making state with 360,000 acres set to vines.

HISTORY OF THE WORK AT GENEVA.

A century has passed since the introduction of the Isabella grapea hundred years during which science has taught the fruit-grower many things to aid him in his art. We know now that the causes of the early failures with the European grape in the east were chiefly four: (1) The downy and powdery mildews, (2) black rot, (3) a root-sucking louse called the phylloxera which destroys the Vinifera roots but seldom injures the roots of the native grapes, and (4) the

inability of this species to withstand the severity of our winters without protection. For all these troubles, satisfactory methods of control have been found, yet, in spite of this, so thoroly have we been taught to believe that Vinifera grapes could not be grown in this region that few have attempted their culture.

An experiment station is always justified in trying the things that "can't be done" when a solution of the problem would seem to be worth while. Such experiments succeed often enough to show that the "impossible" of tradition is purely a relative term.

In the spring of 1902 cuttings of 14 varieties of Viniferas were sent to this Station by W. A. Taylor of the United States Department of Agriculture. These were bench-grafted on cuttings of phylloxera-resistant sorts and planted in the nursery. Lack of proper winter protection caused the loss of all but one variety. The fall of the same year plants of 5 varieties of this species were received from Dr. G. L. Tinker, New Philadelphia, Ohio, who then had a number of European varieties fruiting satisfactorily in a test plantation. Tho we have no statement to that effect, the vines sent to Geneva were doubtless grafted, as Dr. Tinker regularly treated his Viniferas in this way. These six varieties were planted in one of the Station variety vineyards in 1903, in most cases two vines of each kind being set out. Tho two or three vines have died, the remaining ones, after more than thirteen years, are alive and most of them giving good crops.

In the spring of 1910, thru the kindness of George C. Husmann, in charge of the viticultural investigations of the United States Department of Agriculture, a number of grafted vines were sent to the Station. These arrived late in the spring and then were sent to the Vineyard Laboratory at Fredonia in Chautauqua County so that the buds started into growth before planting. This, with unfavorable soil and weather conditions, resulted in the death of most of the plants.

In the spring of 1911, Mr. Husmann sent the Station cuttings of 71 varieties and at the same time Frederic T. Bioletti, Viticulturist of the California Experiment Station, sent cuttings of 30 kinds. At that time a number of vines from six to ten years old in one of the seedling vineyards at the Station had been marked for discarding. Altho these were of miscellaneous origin and contained blood of several species and so were not ideal for such an experiment, it was

decided to use them as stocks. They were, therefore, cut off at the ground and cleft-grafted, from two to six seedlings being worked to a single variety. The results were very saisfactory, only two varieties being lost and 70 per ct. of the vines being alive after two years.

The first year the grafts made a vigorous growth. In the fall the shoots were bent to the ground and a few inches of dirt thrown over them. In the spring, as soon as the ground could be worked, they were uncovered and tied to the trellis. With this cheaply applied protection they went thru the winter without injury. Some of the vines fruited in 1912 and since then the Viniferas have, as a whole, borne crops as good or better than most of our native sorts, when allowance is made for the smaller size of the Vinifera vines. In most seasons the vines have received two applications of bordeaux and lead arsenate spray. No black-rot has been seen in the vineyard and very little mildew. Owing to a severe attack of leaf-hoppers in 1915, it was necessary to give the Viniferas an extra application of a nicotine spray. Except for this, the vines have been given the same cultivation and spraying as the native seedlings growing alongside of them.

CULTURAL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR NEW YORK BASED ON THE RESULTS AT GENEVA.

Propagation. For some time to come the greatest difficulty in growing Viniferas in the east will be in securing plants of the desired varieties. This Station is, at present, unable to send out either vines or cuttings as all available material is being used in various experiments. Very few eastern nurserymen sell varieties of this species and the kinds which are carried are mainly for growing under glass too late for outdoor work. At present the best sources are the California nurseries, but even here only a limited list of varieties can be secured and frequently these are not grafted on the desired resistant roots. As soon as ocean freight traffic is restored to a normal condition it will be possible to import vines from foreign nurseries either direct or thru the agency of some New York nursery company.

It is always best to buy rooted vines but sometimes it is necessary to take cuttings in order to secure some much desired variety. This immediately brings up several problems in the handling of cuttings.

It may

The first is the question of phylloxera-resistant roots. be possible to grow Viniferas in many parts of the State upon their own roots without serious damage from the root-louse but the danger of injury is sufficiently great to make it desirable to use resistant roots and with a wise selection of roots there is usually a marked increase in the vigor and yield of the plant. The wild Riparia grape, Vitis riparia, sometimes called Vitis vulpina, makes a desirable stock in this State. Several selected strains are used, the one called Riparia Gloire being one of the commonest. Vitis rupestris is used to a considerable extent in Europe and California and a number of hybrids between these two species have been found of value. A dozen other stocks are used but with our present lack of knowledge it would seem desirable to use those in which the Riparia blood predominates as this species is well adapted to the State, growing wild in most of our woods. The other species commonly growing wild in the east, Vitis labrusca, has not proved as valuable for this work; yet many of the good vines in the Station test are grafted on seedlings which are nearly pure Labrusca.

The cions can be whip-grafted either upon cuttings of the desired stock or upon rooted vines of the stock. The work is done in the winter and the grafts are placed under the proper conditions to form a callus before being planted in the spring. These are the common methods of propagation in the nursery but they are somewhat difficult for the amateur as it is an art to secure well callused grafts. The commonest method is to tie the grafted cuttings or roots into bundles and bury them outdoors with the graft uppermost in sand in a protected location, preferably with a southern exposure. Until about a month before time for growth to start, they are kept covered with several inches of sand and frequently the sand is covered with straw. As the weather warms up the depth of the cover is decreased. On cold nights the straw should be put back or a canvas thrown over the sand. During the last four weeks the temperature at the graft should be about 75° F.

A method which is being tried at Geneva and which offers some promise of success is to plant in the nursery row one-year vines of the desired resistant stock as soon as the ground can be worked in the spring. Just before they are ready to start into growth they are cut off at the ground level and whip- or cleft-grafted with a twoeye cion and dirt mounded up to the top of the cion.

For those who can secure desirable cions and who wish to start growing these grapes in a small way, probably the best method is that used at the Station with the cions received in 1911. Vines already in the vineyard but preferably not over six or eight years old are sawed off at the ground just before growth starts. With a thin bladed saw a cleft is cut down thru the center of the stock for about 2 inches. If the grain of the wood is straight this cleft can be split with a chisel. Cions are then cut with two buds and a wedge starting at the lower bud. The cleft in the stock is opened and the cion inserted so that the cambium tissues of the stock and cion the layer of growth cells between the bark and wood — are in contact. If the stock is large it is best to use two cions, one on each side of the cleft. No wax is used and it is usually not necessary to tie the graft except on young vines. Dry dirt is then mounded to the top of the cion. The purpose of this is to keep the graft uniformly moist and at a more even temperature. Two or three times during the summer the mound should be removed in order to cut off any sprouts which start from the stock or any roots coming from the cion. While this is not a certain method, with proper care there will be but few failures.

A method which a Pennsylvania grower of Viniferas has found very satisfactory is to root the Vinifera cuttings and grow them one year on their own roots; then the vine which is to be used as a stock is planted in the vineyard and the rooted cutting planted beside it so that the shoots from the two may be brought in contact with each other. In June when the plants are in full growth, two vigorous shoots (one from each vine) are brought together and a cut two or three inches long made in each parallel to the length of the cane removing from one-third to one-half of the thickness of the shoot. These flat surfaces exposed by the cuts are then brought into contact with the cambium tissues touching and are tied in place. The tops are checked somewhat by breaking off some of the growth. The following spring the Vinifera roots are cut off below the graft and the top of the stock above the graft is removed.

Planting. Few Viniferas need be given the space that our native sorts require because of their difference in vigor and in habit of growth. Just what distance will be best under eastern conditions is still a matter of conjecture but probably six-foot rows and the plants the same distance in the row will be satisfactory.