Report of the Viticultural Expert. 235 



Of these 82,313 were cuttings, and 9,964 were rootlings. This 

 makes a total, distributed free of cost during the past three years, of 

 356,579. In other States, for example. Now South Wales, New 

 Zealand and Cape Colony, the cuttings are sold by the vai'ious 

 Departments, and the sum received considerably reduces the cost of 

 growth. This practice has now been adopted here, 10s. per 1,000 

 being charged for cuttings, and 20s. for rootlings. The majority of 

 recipients have tended the vines with the greatest possible care. In 

 many cases they have made exceptional growth ; in other instances, 

 notwithstanding the care bestowed on them, and owing to the severe 

 and protracted drought, the American vines supplied have not been a 

 success. 



It is also doubtful whether more than a few vignerons will be able 

 to cope with the grafting successfully. It is to them a problem of 

 more than ordinary ditticulty. The low percentage of strike is dis- 

 heartening, and in several instances the vines are already being 

 abandoned. Personally, I think it woidd be wiser policy on the part 

 of the Department to discontinue sending out stocks as such, and 

 graft as large a quantity as available with suitable European varieties, 

 and, after rooting them, sell them at as low a rate as possible to the 

 growers. 



Phylloxera is slowly, but none the less surely, spreading, and is 

 yearly throwing certain areas out of production in this State. Unless 

 we can have our area and production kept up by reconstitution, the 

 industry must continue to languish. 



Many growers were induced by means of a bonus to plant vine- 

 yards. The intrSduction of American vines was delayed for nearly a 

 quarter of a century after the ravages of phylloxera commenced. It 

 ■ would be well worth while for the Government to step in at this 

 crisis and supply hona-jide vignerons, whose vines are infected, with 

 grafted resistant stocks at a nominal price, and thus subsidise and 

 save an important but declining industry. 



Our experimental vineyard here is being established under such 

 conditions as will render it a striking object lesson. Let the 

 grower see some definite and permanent results and his very natural 

 trejjidation will vanish. Though we are now passing through such a 

 crisis as all European viticultural countries have had in turn, we shall 

 with care come <^uit all right in the end as they have done. 



The resistant vine nurseries have been completed. About 9 acres 

 were carefully planted and trellised for the growth of " wood," of 

 which we shall in future have an abundant supply. To secure absolute 

 accuracy in the names, Mr. Dubois went over every plant with the 

 greatest care, so that we can rely on their now being " true to name." 



The experimental work has been continued here on the lines 

 mapped out by Mr. Dubois. To Mr. Wyatt's assiduous and in- 

 defatigable attention the high state of efl&cieucy exhibited is due, 

 notwithstanding considerable reductions in the staff, owing to retrench- 

 ment. His efforts have been ably supplemented by Mr. Coleman, 



