thrive more or less in most parts of Australasia, except in tropical 

 regions, and comparatively poor soils, which are useless for other crops, 

 may be often utilized to advantage with Grape Vines. But though the 

 Grape will readily adapt itself to various conditions, yet the fruit will 

 vary considerably in quality according to the climate, nature of the soil, 

 and treatment. As a rule, the strongest and highest flavoured wines 

 are obtained from calcarous or limestone soils in the medium warm 

 districts ; clay, schistose, and volcanic soils also yield rich wines. 

 Though heavy crops of fruit may be obtained from rich deep alluvial 

 soils, yet the wine from them will usually be only of a secondary class. 

 Sandy soils are more suited to the production of light than strong wines. 

 The same remarks will apply when the fruit is grown for raisins or 

 currants, but to a less extent with table grapes. As regards the site 

 for a vineyard, the question of aspect is not of much consequence in the 

 medium warm regions. In the colder districts, however, or in other 

 localities where the frosts are apt to linger, the aspect is a matter of 

 some importance, and when a choice is arailable, some care should be 

 taken to get the best one as far as is practicable. The most perfect site 

 is a gentle slope, with an aspect between north and east, so as to obtain 

 the advantage of the morning sun. Alluvial flats, or the bottoms of 

 gullies, where cold fogs are prevalent, should be avoided for vineyards, 

 as late frosts are generally common in these localities. In situations 

 that are liable to these late frosts, a crop of Grapes can never be 

 depended upon, as if they occur when the plants are in blossom, there 

 is small chance of any fruit setting. Proximity to mountain ranges 

 will often have a material effect upon the climate, and consequently 

 upon the quality of the fruit for wine-making. The cultivator will find 

 it to his advantage to take into consideration all these details, in order to 

 obtain the maximum of success in his business. 



PREPARATION OF THE SOIL. 



It is advisable in planting vines to prepare the ground in the best 

 possible manner, as far as is practicable, as a good foundation is of 

 greater importance than is commonly supposed. The treatment required 

 is not the same in all classes, and the cultivator must modify his practice 

 to suit local conditions. Heavy retentive soils require to be deeply 

 stirred, so that air may be able to penetrate freely, and to give the plants 

 facilities for sending their roots down. These soils are too compact to 

 afford a good feeding ground for the vines unless they are worked deeply. 

 Things are, however, somewhat different in the case of loose sandy 

 and gravelly soils, or where the subsoil lying near the surface is free and 

 open. An ordinary deep ploughing may be sufficient in these cases, as 

 no mechanical treatment is required to free the under soil, which is 

 naturally open enough, when the top crust is broken, to admit air and 

 allow the roots to penetrate. When such conditions exist, it is un- 

 necessary to spend labour and capital in stirring the land deeply. But, 

 unless in soils that are naturally light and open, deep cultivation should 

 be the rule, and any extra expenditure in this direction will generally 



