936 PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION G. 
the soil, as follows: one-third of Cabernet-Sauvignon, one-third 
of Malbec, one-third of Merlot). It is also most important, both 
with red and white grapes “never to omit the adoption of a species 
which will give to the wine finesse and delicatesse.” 
I have quoted these opinions, published 1 in M. Bonnard’s able 
report on the Bordeaux Exhibition of 1882, because they entirely 
apply to the situation of to-day, and I commend for particular 
attention the export data in the report. Recently the Depart- 
ment of Agriculture analysed the wines of a leading Sydney 
wine-house, and a comparison was drawn with Thudichum’s 
table of leading continental wines. As to acidity, the wines of 
New South Wales were, if anything, less pronounced, and there 
was noticeable throughout a close similarity. Chemical analysis 
is, however, not everything, and cannot approach the delicacy of 
discrimination exercised by an educated palate. Australian wines 
possess, however, a flavour of their own, and, if made to perfec- 
tion, will undoubtedly win favour by reason of their inherent: 
merits. In 1895 there were imported into New South Wales 
1,017,749 gallons of various spirits, whilst with regard to brandy 
production it is an anomaly that a single gallon of wine alcohol 
should be introduced into a country so pre- eminently favoured by 
Nature for the home of the grape ; but an antiquated Distillery 
Act blocks the way. The suggestion put forth by Mr. C. F. 
Lindeman, representing the wine industry on the Board of 
Exports, that absolutely pure brandy distilled within New South 
Wales should bear a differential excise duty of 9s. per gallon 
instead of 14s., the present rate, would undoubtedly result in 
large areas being immediately planted with the brandy grape. 
The dark cloud of possible devastation by phylloxera is at present 
met by an Act which offers inadequate compensation, whilst the 
replacement of the entire vineyard area of the Colony by phyl- 
loxera proof stocks only awaits the issue of the stocks now in 
preparation at the Government nursery vineyard at Wagga Wagga. 
In California, when every winemaker was working on a lone hand, 
the industry was in a sorry plight ; yet within six months of 
introducing ‘the co- operative marketing of wines, chaos was reduced 
to order and a market value was fixed for all wines. The hotel 
and saloon interest throughout the United States used to ignore 
Californian wines ; but when the wine-growers found money to 
start a continental wine café in the important towns, the public 
tasted, appreciated, and compelled the local hotel and saloon 
keepers to stock the wines. At the present time the Californian 
wine industry is making a strong effort to obtain a market in the 
United Kingdom by lavish ady ertising and moderate prices. In 
these respects the wines of Australia, with which Californian 
wines compete, have the priority ; and eabalee the vast population 
of North America lies at the doors of California, and may shortly 
