10 June, 1916.] V iticuUiiral Nursery, Wahcfunt/ah. 345 



VITICULTURAL NURSERY, AYAHGUNYAH. 



Visit of Inspection. 



(From the Rutherglen Sun. 14th April, 1916.) 



On Wednesday afternoon about 70 persons interested in Viticulture 

 and Citrus Fruit Growing accepted the invitation of Mr. G. H. Adcock, 

 F.L.S., principal of the Viticultural College, and visited the nursery at 

 Wahgunyah, for the purpose of viewing the work carried out at the 

 nursery during the past year. 



Mr. A. E. V. Richardson, M.A., B.Sc. (agricultural superintend- 

 ent), Mr. F. de Castella (Go'vernment Viticulturist), Mr. P. J. Car- 

 mody (chief orchard supervisor), and Mr. H. Wilkinson (vineyard man- 

 ager), were present. 



Among the visitors was Hon. John Bowser, M.L.A., and a party 

 from Wangaratta. 



Mr. G. H. Adcock, F.L.S., in welcoming the visitors, pointed out 

 that the officers of the Department were always pleased to see growers 

 at the nursery. They wished the growers to become familiar with the 

 work that was being carried out. Each year the staff endeavoured to 

 improve on its previous year's work, and he trusted that in a few years 

 the acreage of the vineyards, in the district, would be equal to what it 

 was previous to phylloxera. He had pleasure in inviting all present to 

 m.ake an inspection of the nursery, and during their walk through the 

 nursery, questions would be answered and explanations given. 



The visitors were then escorted over the nursery by Mr. Adcock and 

 the officers of the Department who were present, a stay beiiig made at 

 numerous points of interest, where brief addresses were delivered and 

 operations which had led to the present results were explained. Rather 

 less than a quarter of a million phylloxera-resistant vine cuttings were 

 bench grafted. The strike was an excellent one, and the general apjjear- 

 ance of the young vines (see photo.) which will shortly be lifted and 

 distributed, left nothing to be desired. 



Half a million ungrafted resistant cuttings had also struck in a most 

 satisfactory manner, and the number of ungrafted resistant rootlings 

 available for those who intend to reconstitute by the metliod known as 

 field grafting will probably be in excess of requirements. 



The oranges, of which 24,000 were being budded, excited much 

 attention. Demonstrations of this interesting operation were given by 

 the Horticultural Staff. 



The rec<-ntly installed pumping plant driven bv ^ Ronaldson and 

 Tippett's 12 h.p. oil engine, manufactured in Balhiral, was much 

 admired. This plant, which has been working most s<itisfactorily during 

 the summer months, is capable of irrigating the nursery when the whole 

 of the available land will be under nursery stock. 



On returning to the grafting shed, afternoon tea was partaken of. 



Mr. F. de Castella, in the course of a short address, which lie was 

 requested to deliver, said that it was gratifying to compare the present 

 condition of the Ruthergh-n wine industrv with what it was on Mie 

 previous Field Diy, just a year ago. Tlie difference was enormous. Tl»e 

 recovery after last year's drought was most satisfactory, and bore out the 

 reassuring forecast th«-n made. The vines had very wisely been pruned 



