lOi THE NATIVE GRAPE VINES OF AMERICA AND AUSTR.\LIA. 



^vhicll, as far as my inquiries reach, have been experimented 

 upon in our pubHc gardens, or by vineyard proprietors. Three- 

 of these, ]7;/.s- -xctosa, ]'itis itntinctirit, and Vitix /n/pii(ili(iic(i have 

 large well-formed fruit, which could readily be improved in size 

 and flavour by cultivation. From the wild grapes of V. acetosa 

 Mr. A. Giles is said to have made wine of fair quality resembling 

 clai-et. It has been suggested by my friend Mr. F. M. liailey, 

 that since our native vines are all evergreens, while the cultivated 

 species of Europe and America are deciduous plants, this fact 

 might prove an obstacle. But the possession of evergreen 

 foliage has not prevented the improvement under cultivation of 

 such plants as the cacao, coffee, mango, olive, orange, lemon and 

 citron ; while in the same order may l)e found deciduous and 

 evergreen cultivable plants, as the apple and loquat in UosKciur. 

 Possibly the improved Australian species might be found to 

 possess blight-resisting properties which would render them of 

 exceptional value. 



