200 Agricuttural GazeUe of X.S.W. [Mar, 2, 1920. 



Vineyard Notes fok iMakch. 



The full extent of the damage to vines and consequent loss of crop due to 

 mildew is now apparent in the County of Cumberland, and it can safely be 

 said that it has cost growers many thousands of pounds. The regrettable 

 feature of the whole thing is that pni\ed remedial treatmt^iits were not 

 availed of. There has been too great a tendency', despite all warnings, to 

 treat the disease lightly and trust to luck. 



There is probably no place in Cumberland where vines are so subject to 

 mildew as the, Viticultural Nursery at Xarara, and if proof of the etticacy of 

 Bordeaux mixture is needed this nursery amply atl'urds it. Not only have 

 the young nursery beds been successfully piotected since early in D<ceniber 

 (when downy mildew first became appurmt), but the collection of European 

 varieties has retained luxuriant foliage and matured fine clean bunches of f t uit. 

 It is to be hoped that the exjierience of growers will have a salutary effect 

 upon future operation.s, an<l that the advice of the I>epartment of Agriculture 

 will henceforth be accepted as conclusive. Although much good work ha,s 

 been done by the growers who sprayed their vines, thevf is probalily not one 

 who sprayed often enough to achieve immunity from injury. Such results 

 as were obtained will, however, form an excellent guitle for future action. 



Vintage operations will be occupying the attention of \igne:ons in the 

 wine areas, and it is gratifying to know that tht-re has been an excellent 

 recovery of the vines from the drought of the early summer. Although the 

 yield will not be particulaiy heavy, it will be good under existing conditions, 

 and the wines should be of a high order. High prices ruling for wines and 

 grapes should constitute a sound inducement for extension. 



There is every indication that demands will more than absorb the output 

 of re.sist.mt grafts, and to any who dfsire to plant but cannot secure grafts, 

 the question of planting loothngs for field grafting should be favourably 

 considered. If groweis M'ould realise that this system of propagation, through 

 the agency of the " Yema " bud graft, is superior to the l>ench graft, it 

 would be to their a 1 vantage. If two vines, a graft and a rooiling, are 

 planted at the same time, and if the latter is budded in the following 

 autumn, it will beat the graft both in growth and fruit bearing. The pre- 

 judice against the old method of field graftinir is unfortunately levelled 

 against this simpler and more effective practice. All assistance will be 

 rendered by Departmental otllcers to an}' grower who would care to follow 

 out this plan of re establishing his vineyard. Pamphlets dealing with the 

 niethoil of procedure can be secured on :>pplication to the Department of 

 Agriculture. — ^11 E. IjAFFer, Viticultural Expert. 



Essentials to IkUral Contentment. 



The farmer as well as the industrial worker is entitled to a living wage 

 and a reasonable profit on his in\(stment. He is entitled also to 

 satisfactory eilucatii nal oppoi'tunities foi' his children and to the benefits 

 of mod rn medical science and sanitation. When these requirements are 

 met there will be no ditliculty in retiiining in th" rural districts a sufficient 

 number of contented and etticient people. \\ hat we tu-ed is not back to the- 

 land propaganda, but an acceleration of the work for the improvement of the 

 countryside which will render the abaiuionment of farms unnecessary and 

 the expansion of farming inevitable.- — D. F. HousTO>f, Secretary of Agri- 

 culture, Washington, U.S.A. 



