FRUITS 



75 



Of countries within the empire we buy most wine from 

 Australia. From very early days colonists from wine-growing 

 countries, finding a climate and soil similar to their own, 

 began to grow vines, and others followed their example. 

 But they lacked the knowledge and skill necessary for the 

 production of good wine, and for many years Australian wine 

 was of poor quality. Gradually, however, knowledge and 

 experience were gained, and now the wine which Australia 

 produces and exports is considered excellent. South Australia 

 stands first as a wine-producing state. The vineyards 



are 



PICKING GRAPES, SOUTH AFRICA 



chiefly in the country round Adelaide, where thousands of 

 tons of grapes are produced every year. About half of these 

 are used for making wine ; the others are either dried or sold 

 fresh for table use. At Renmark, on the Muriay River, great 

 irrigation works have been established, and here, in addition 

 to many other kinds of fruit, large quantities of raisins and 

 currants are grown. Victoria comes next in oider. Her 

 vineyards are many thousands of acres in extent, but the 

 bulk of her crop is dried, and raisins and currants are exported 

 in large quantities. Mildura on the Murray River, the largest 

 irrigation settlement in Australia, is the centre of this industry. 

 In New South Wales, Newcastle and Albury are the chief 

 grape -producing districts, though there are vineyards in many 



