Naturalisation in Extra-Tropical Countries. 515 



France had nearly f> million acres of land planted with vines, 

 yielding close upon 700,000,000 gallons of wine ; the acreage and 

 produce of Italy were not much less. The Bulletin de Statistiqne 

 states that, the production of wine in France for the year 1890 

 amounted to 603 million gallons. In Italy, where the devastations 

 by the Phylloxera have not been quite so great, the yield was 621 

 million gallons according to the returns published by the Minister of 

 Agriculture. Chili produces about 33 million gallons per annum. 

 Major B. C. Trumon estimated the yield of Los Angeles, Califor- 

 nia, at 17 million gallons in 1888. The production of raisins in 

 that state reached in 1889 already 28 million Ibs. 



The Corinthian variety, producing the currants of commerce, 

 also thrives well in some districts of extra-tropic Australia, where 

 with raisins its fruit may become a staple-article of export beyond 

 home-consumption. The Sal tana- variety is not to be much pruned ; 

 the bunches when gathered are dipped in an alkaline liquid 

 obtained from wood-ashes, to which a little olive-oil is added, to 

 expedite drying, which is effected in about a week [G. Maw]. The 

 produce of sultana-raisins fluctuates from 7 to 30 cwt. per acre. 

 The plant is best reared on limestone-formations. In Greece the 

 average-yield of ordinary raisins is about 2,000 Ibs. per acre 

 [SimmondsJ. Besides the Saltana also Muscat of Alexandria and 

 Malvoisie a gros grains are used for good raisins. By continued 

 crossing of the Sultana-variety, perhaps other seedless kinds might 

 yet be originated. Britain imported in 1889 1,173,000 cwts. of 

 currants valued at 1,420,000, and 573,000 cwts. of raisins valued 

 at 910,000. The currants imported into Victoria in 1887 

 were valued at nearly 80,000; raisins 36,000. An exten- 

 sive special work of great value on the raisin-industry has 

 been issued in 1890 by Professor Gustav Eisen, in San 

 Francisco. Dr. W. Hamm, of Vienna, has issued a Vine-map 

 of Europe, indicating the distribution of the different 

 varieties and the principal sources of the various sorts of wine. 

 The writer would now merely add, that the preservation of the 

 grapes in a fresh state, according to M. Charmeux's method, and 

 the sundry modes of effecting the transit of ripe grapes to long* 

 distances, ought to be turned to industrial advantage. The 

 Almeria- variety has lately been introduced by the South- Austra- 

 lian Government ; this kind is distinguished for keeping well, and 

 is largely sent from Spain to the English market [Dr. Muecke]. 

 The pigment of the dark wine-berries is known as racemic acid. 

 The juice contains along with tartaric acid also grape-acid. All 

 these chemically denned substances have uses of their own in art 

 and science. As is well known, the grape-vine is subject to the 

 attacks of various insect- and fungus-pests. The most destructive 

 by far is the insect called the Phylloxera vastatrix. None of the 

 remedies hitherto suggested seem to have proved really effective, 

 or they are not of sufficiently easy and cheap application, and the 

 Phylloxera thus is still rapidly on the increase in Europe, 



2n2 



