132 A'FJV SOUTH WALES. 



When llie day comes that the millions of acres in New South Wales which are suitable 

 for wine production are respected by capitalists, there will be some prospect of Australian 

 wine being well respected in England. My limited exjieriencc here leaves the impression 

 that the present system of marketing Australian wines or of using the name Australian 

 on wines sold is doing much injury to the future trade. I know a London wine house 

 Avhich is said to have 2,700 agents in Great Britain. It would be a difficult matter on the 

 jjart of a single winegrower to influence these agents in favour of Australian wine, but a 

 winegrowing company with a good capital could have its own depots and its own agents. 



I am strong in the opinion that a good reliable market for Australian wines can be 

 obtained in Britain. I know that tlie light wines (they must l^e light and sound) can be 

 readily sold in England, Scotland, and Ireland, and that the same countries will willingly 

 pay fair remunerative prices for sound red wines. I would not be afraid to place some 

 of my small savings in a strong Australian Vineyard Company. I have many times put 

 the plan of such a company before readers in Australia. The plan has been discussed, 

 but when the call for capital was made the sums offered were too small to start a venture 

 of the kind. There is jirofit in wool-growing, and small sums set it going, because wool 

 is easily marketed, and is an annual crop, but more than six years are required before the 

 vineyard comjjany can hope for a return." 



Tlie above is perliaps the most recent opinion to hand, on the 

 subject, and, moreover, from the pen of an able business man, and 

 one who is disinterested ; therefore, his opinion is worthy of the 

 serious consideration of those interested in the progress of the wine 

 industry of this colony. 



Writers in California also deplore the state of the wine trade in 

 Eastern markets and also in Great Britain ; they complain that there 

 is no encouragement offered to growers to plant vines of higher class 

 which do not bear so freely — that low-priced wines only are in demand 

 by dealers ; they further regi'et the want of judgment on the part of 

 consumers, who, if they understood the subject, would repudiate an 

 inferior article. 



It is not to be expected that wine-brokers and dealers will take 

 much interest beyond the question of immediate profits, neither can 

 the wine-growers wait till the popular taste so far educates itself that 

 inferior wines will be shut out of the market. 



In the meantime a favourable opportunity occurs for a strong com- 

 pany operating on the lines herein projected to step in and sell a good, 

 sound, wholesome wine at present ruling rates. 



If the dealers find it remunerative to pay fees and commissions, it 

 will pay a company to do the same. 



By woi-king on a large scale, employing labour-saving machinery, 

 having command of strong wines to bring up weak musts, and thereby 

 keep up a uniform strength and character, Xew South Wales could 

 compete with any other country. It would simply be a question of 

 capital and time. 



The returns published in the Statistical Bogistcr give an average of 

 only 207 gallons per acre as the produce of New South AVales vine- 

 yards. But these figures do not represent the producing power of 

 properly cultivated vineyards, and the crops of Avhich had been pre- 

 served exclusively for vintage. For the purposes of this paper it will 

 be necessary to add 70 per cent, to the averages of districts given in 

 the Statistical Rojjister, and with this addition a very good criterion 

 can be formed of the yield to be expected from vineyards cultivated 

 as they would be by a strong company. 



