Beport of the Department of Agriculture. 5G5 



Report No. XII. 



GOVERNMENT WINE FARM, CONSTANTIA. 



Manager : A. G. van Reenen. 



1. Apprentices. — During the period under review tlie full number 

 of apprentices (sons of parents who cannot aft'ord to send them to any 

 of tlie Schools of Agricultuie) was in residence. A good many 

 applications for apprenticeshij) were received, and these boys will be 

 taken on as vacancies occur. The general behaviour of the apprentices 

 was good. 



2. Vintajje. — The vintage was a good one, the yields being as 

 ifollows : — Sweet C'onstantia, 1915 gallons; Constantia Berg, 2020 

 gallons ; Sauvignon Blanc, 3592 gallons ; Hermitage-Malbec, 2230 

 gallons; Cabernet Sauvignon, 957 gallons; Pontac, G6 gallons; and 

 Press, 2230 gallons— total, 13,010 gallons. 



A large block of vineyard was uprooted, and 31,000 vines grafted 

 on suitable stocks planted in its stead. In the year 1922-23 more< 

 will be uprooted, and the land prepared for replanting in the fol- 

 lowing season. Some of the old orchards were also uprooted and are 

 being replanted. 



3. Ea'periments. — Experiments are being carried out to find the 

 most suitable American stocks for this district, as some varieties 

 which do well in the drier districts, such as Stellenbosch, Paarl, 

 Montagu, etc., are not suited to the Constantia area. 



Owing to the wasty condition of grapes on arrival in Europe 

 during the 1920-21 season, several varieties of table grapes were 

 grafted on certain American stocks, by which it is hoped to bettei: 

 the ripening and colouring of the fruit, at the same time making it 

 hardier without tending to coarseness. Manurial experiments are 

 also being carried out with the same object in view. 



Experiments are being conducted in conjunction with the 

 Mycologist to test the different sprays for the control of Anthracnose 

 and Peach Leaf Curl ; also with the Chietf Division of Chemistry in 

 connection with l)acteiia in the soils for legumes. 



Two large experiments in the manuring* of vines are being 

 cairied out; these will be spread over a period of tliree or four years, 

 the main object l)eing to ascertain how much of each of the different 

 plant-foods the vine iiclually requires to give the best yield of fruit, 

 both for quality and qunntity, while still retaining its vigour. 

 Apparently there are no data of this description, except that from 

 abroad, so that many people are fertilizing or manuring without 

 knowing what quantities of plant-food their vines require. 



Turkish tobacco was grown for instruction of the apj)rentices ; 

 a satisfactory crop of very good quality was reaped, although the 

 weather conditions were not favourable in the early part of the 

 season. 



For the year ended 31st March, 1922, ilie total ex])enditure 

 amounted to £3391, and the receipts to £1432. The latter is lower 

 than expected, but owing to the state of the wine market no large 

 sales were put tlirough, so tliat the whole of the previous season's 

 crop remained on hand at the end of the year. 



