10 Jan., 1916.] Victorian Grapes at Panama Pacific Exposition. 33 



inspected at A-arious dates, and for a considerable time they all kept 

 in excellent order. On 30tli June, at a lecture on grape shipment 

 delivered at Mildura by the writer and Mr. W. French, Engineer in 

 charge of Government Cool Stores, a sample of several varieties, mainly 

 Ohanez, Waltham Cross, and Valensy, was exhibited. At this date 

 all the varieties kept back were in excellent order. By the 9th August, 

 however, when they were again examined, there was a marked difference 

 between the Ohanez and all the other sorts, which showed more or less 

 signs of deterioration, whereas the Ohanez were still in excellent order 

 and perfectly marketable. The Waltham Cross from Wahgunyali were 

 still good in flavour, but, owing to the presence of a few decayed and 

 juicy berries, the condition was faulty. The Purple Cornichon were 

 better than the Waltham Cross. Their main fault, after long storage, 

 is the ease with which the berries fall off. They present the peculiarity 

 of detaching at the stalk, but without any breakage of the skin, so that 

 the other grapes do not become juicy as occurs with so many varieties. 

 The Valensy kept in very fair order until 26th September, when the last 

 of this variety was removed from the Cool Store. Flavour was still 

 remarkably good, though appearance was somewhat faulty. 



On the 12th October the last case of Ohanez were still in remarkably 

 good order; so much so that some of them were taken to ]\rildura by 

 the writer and exhibited at the lecture on 13th October, nearly seven 

 months after their removal from the vine. 



The result of the shipment confirms previous experience, Avhich 

 points distinctly to Ohanez being absolutely the best keeping grape 

 known. It also shoAvs that several other sorts, though not possessing 

 the same keeping power, can be shipped to the other side of the Avorld 

 in marketable condition, in spite of the absence of refrigerated trans- 

 port on the railways and transhipment at Sydney. Eectification of 

 these defects would undoubtedly render possible the shipment of Muscats 

 and other less resistant sorts. 



A variety worthy of special mention is Valensy, wliicli promises to 

 .surpass the Avell-knOAAai Doradillo as what might be termed a nnilti]ile 

 purpo.se grape; being oval, it is of more attractive appearance, and it 

 .seems to be quite as prolific a bearer. As a result of experiments 

 conducted at the Rutherglen Viticultural Station, it is also i)roving 

 .superior to Doradillo for wine-making, and ])ossibly also for distillation. 

 Several Tfuthei-glcn growers who s]:)ecialize in table grapes have formed 

 a A'ery high opinion of this variety, and arc jiropagating it extensively. 

 From the absence of special mention by Mr. Harrison, it ai)pears to have 

 stood tlic pi-actical trsi of >lil|)iiicnt better than Waltham Ci-oss. 



17-_'81. i; 



