Notes from the Divisions : Viticulture. 591 



NOTES FROM THE DIVISIONS. 



VITICULTURE. 



Owing to the dry summer mouths of October, November, and December last, with two 

 inches less rainfall than in 1918, the general opinion was that the 1920 grape crop would be 

 far below normal — in certain areas as much as 50 per cent. less. It was remarkable, however, 

 that although considered an exceptionally dry season, the climate was very mild. To this 

 must be attributed the fact that, when the vintage started, farmers were jileasantly surprised 

 in obtaining far bigger crops than anticipated. Further, the 1920 vintage will probably 

 exceed the i919 crop by about 10,000 leaguers (127 gallons per leaguer). This increase may 

 be put down to new vines coming into bearing and also the fact that the price of wine was 

 so high that less raisins were made. Whereas the highest prices in 1919 were £20, and the 

 average f 10, they rose in 1920 to £30, with an average of £20. These prices naturally gave 

 an impetus to the laying out of new vineyards. The result is that grafted vines are being 

 sold at very high prices ; formerly a 1000 grafted vines cost from £5 to £12, to-day they are 

 sold at £12. 10s. to £25. According to one of the largest vine nurserymen, 75 per cent, of 

 the vines sold is Hermitage. This is not a good sign, as it shows that quantity is the chief 

 object. High prices enabled farmers better to manure their vines, and this was reflected 

 not only in increased crops, but complaints ;of deteriorating vineyards have considerably 

 decreased. On the other hand they have had a bad effect on the quality of wine, as anything 

 resembling wine demanded a ready sale. The practice of buying wines long before vintage, 

 regardless of quality, cannot be too strongly condemned. It leads to carelessness on the part 

 of the farmer, and consequently very inferior quality wines arc made. 



The " Ko-operatieve Wijnbouwers Vereniging van Zuid-Afriiia, Bkt." has appointed an 

 expert to assist all farmers who are anxious to improve the quality of their wines, but as 

 this gentleman can only supervise a small quantity, and most of the crop was sold before t.he 

 vintage, the bulk of the 1920 crop is known to be of poor quality. That the production of 

 quantity, which is chiefly turned into spirits, is not desirable is recognized by the farmers. 

 With a view, therefore, of encouraging the export trade, which is Ijound to lead to quality 

 wines being in demand, a proposal has been made that merchants wishing to export wine, 

 and on account of high local prices finding the profit too small, shall be assisted by their 

 Societj\ who will contribute 6d. per gallon on condition that such wine must be bought direct 

 from the farmer as suitalile for export and should not be manipulated wines. This suggestion 

 has passed the preliminary stages, and it is hoped will be confirmed at tlie next meeting of 

 the Society. 



During the last six months many wine farms have changed hands, and some at fancy 

 prices : quite a number of the buyers are men from oversea, who are keen on growing grapes 

 for export. We arc now daily dealing with queries as to best grape varieties for export, etc. 



From figures that I have seen, it appears that a ton of grapes exported netted £100 

 aftei' deducting all expenses. (A ton of grapes is usually taken to rei)resent 1 leaguer of 

 wine.) 



The wine market has dropped lately and prices are now between £12-£16. 



The farmers are busy pruning and manuring their vineyards. Grafting operations have 

 also commenced. (S. W. van Niekerk, Government Viticulturist, July, 1920.) 



CORRIGENDA. 



July, 1920, issue of the Journal (Vol. I, No. 4). 



Page 378, C om pa ratire Valuation of Lime Manures. In the second paragraph the 

 items 3s. Id. and 3s. 6d. should read : 3 -Id. and 3'6d. respectively. 



Page 382, Fencing. — The word "in"' in second line and the word "on" in third 

 line to read "or" in each instance. 



August, 1920, English issue, page 498. Owing to an inadvertent error in setting type, the 

 title of the publication South African Poultry Magazine (Bloemfontein), having 

 articles on the Ancona, etc, was erroneously substituted by that of another publication. 



