464 Journal of the Department of Agriculture. 



very remunerative. The viticultural industry depends for expansion 

 on the creation of an export trade. While the outbreak of war, with 

 the consequent curtailment of cold storage accommodation, was a 

 serious blow to exporters of table grapes, it caused a reduction in the 

 production of wine in France, resulting in an opening for South 

 African wines for which inquiries were made by English firms, and 

 thus opening the way for a wider market than hitherto for our wines. 



In 1916-17 some useful research and analytical work was per- 

 formed in the laboratories ; numerous inquiries were dealt with in 

 regard to viticulture and wine-making; many visits were paid to 

 farmers for the purpose of advising them or making observations ; a 

 number of lectures were delivered at different centres ; and arti<^,ies 

 were published on certain aspects of viticulture. The demand for 

 cuttings of vines true to name obtainable from the division was great. 

 During the 1917 vintage 129 bottles of pure Levures were issued, and 

 the use of these cultures, particularly by winemakers who had come 

 under the influence of the division, was extensive. At Groot Con- 

 stantia an apprenticeship scheme was inaugurated with the object of 

 giving practical training in viticulture and horticulture to youths 

 whose means and educational attainments would not permit of their 

 attending one of the schools of agriculture. Accommodation was 

 provided for twenty, but double that number applied for admission, 

 and practically all the manual work on the farm was carried out by 

 these students. The season was fair for wine-making, rhe quality of 

 the wine was excellent, and the total farm vintage amounted to 15,402 

 gallons. The country's grape crop of 1916 would have been extra- 

 ordinarily good but for a severe summer. The price for the average 

 wine varied from £4 to £6 per leaguer, red wines being in greater 

 demand than white. Grape brandy averaged about £16 per leaguer 

 and wine brandy about £20. 



Dr. Perold, who combined the duties of Chiet of the Division of 

 Viticulture with that of Principal of Elsenburg, lesigned in 1917-18 

 in order to become Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture at the newly 

 constituted University at Elsenburg, and Mr. S. W. van Niekerk was 

 appointed Acting Chief of the Division. A limited staff owing to 

 war conditions was just sufficient to cope with the most pressing of 

 the technical work of the division, and much-needed scientific inves- 

 tigation had necessarily to be kept in abeyance, while it was not 

 possible to do as much in the way of visiting farms as could have been 

 wished. However, during the year lectures on wine-making were 

 given at various centres, and some eighty farms were visited by the 

 viticulturist. A successful short course was held attended by twenty- 

 two, and evidence was shown of the advantages derived from these 

 courses. The collection of grapes at the Paarl Experiment Station was 

 enlarged by new varieties from England, Australia, etc. Mr. T. L. 

 Watermeyer, who had been in charge of the Government Wine Farm. 

 Groot Constantia, and universally recognized as one of the best wine- 

 makers and foremost authorities on wine in the country, died on the 

 2nd November, 1917 — a great loss to the country and the Department 

 in particular. Owing to consequent staff changes it was arranged 

 to include the farm, with Mr. S. van Renen as manager, with the 

 Division of Viticulture instead of allowing it to remain as an indepen- 

 dent unit as during the late Mr. Watermeyer's time of office. The 

 system of training young men at Groot Constantia was successfully 



