VITICULTURE, 125 



We next come to tlie Hunter and its tributaries^ wliero l;lie greatest 

 variety of geological formation is found ; consequently in the alluvium 

 of its lower waters tlicre is a great and favourable mixture of soil, and 

 heavy crops of light wine are harvested. Higher up the soil of the 

 hills improves, and wines light in character and in certain seasons of 

 excellent quality are produced. In fact, as far as soil goes, this district 

 has everything required within a comparatively short distance of navio-- 

 able water. The Paterson district is of Devonian formation ; the Lower 

 Hunter carboniferous and sub-carboniferous, with occasional volcanic 

 remains, which supply potash, iron, and phosphate. The valleys of Black 

 Creek, the Wollombi I3rook, Mulbring Creek and Goulburn River are 

 sub-carboniferous, and abound in lime. At Singleton, beds of old 

 alluvium exist, rich in all the vine requires, and on the Upper Hunter, Fal 

 Brook, and Isis, wherever the coal measures have been either worn away 

 or have never existed, the soil derived from sub-carboniferous forma- 

 tion and further supplemented by the washing down of Devonian 

 formations, is admirably suited to the production of high-class wines. 



Of the counties of Cumberland and Camden, except in a few 

 localities where the remains of volcanic outbursts exist, the soil is not 

 favourable to wine-making. Further south, beyond the coal measures, 

 the soil is good all the way to the Victorian boundary, but the 

 humidity of the climate about vintage time prevents it being availed 

 of for wine-growing. 



It has now been shown that for quality of soil, and extent thereof. 

 New South Wales has certainly no reason to complain, having in fact 

 all that can be desired in that connection. 



Climate. 



We now pass on to climate, of which this Colony has indeed every 

 variety, but weighted with an uncertainty of season, winch has exer- 

 cised a depressing effect on the wine industry and caused other colonies 

 having a more equable climate to pass her in the race of development. 



How this has occurred, and the action proposed in remedy, will 

 appear later on. 



Success or failure depends on rainfall. If it occurs in fair quantity, 

 at the proper time, all is well. If rain is denied altogether, or abundant 

 at the wrong season, failure occurs. 



In winter, rain is required to enable the vine to absorb its mineral 

 plant-food. In spring, to bring down nitrogen from the atmosphere 

 and enable the vine to assimilate its plant-food. The summer or 

 '^ Tropical '^ rain continues the action of the spring rain, and finally 

 swells the fruit before ripening. This rainfall occurs usually in Janu- 

 ary, and is an absolute necessity in the elevated districts of the west, 

 where vines are later in ripening than in the east, and the summer 

 climate is less dry. 



As in describing the soil, we begin with the climate of the valleys of 

 the Murray and Murrumbidgee. Excepting for late frosts, the climate 

 of the upper parts of these valleys is all that can be desired ; but as 

 we proceed downwards these frosts are scarcely felt. The winter climate 

 is excellent ; the cold causes the vines to shed their leaves early and 

 bud late, giving the vines a long rest, which appears to brace them for 

 the work they have to perform in summer. At an elevation of 8U0 



