232 



The World's Commercial Products 



wine-growing districts exist in Florida, Virginia, and California. In spite, however, of the 

 extent of the cultivation in the New World, the wines do not equal those of Europe, which 

 stand unrivalled. The wine-making countries of Africa are limited to Algeria and Tunis, where 

 the industry is one of considerable importance, and to Cape Colony, whose wines are now in 

 part regaining something of their former popularity. In the southern hemisphere viticulture 

 has made great strides in several of the Australian states, and the wines of these countries have 

 • an established reputation in the world's markets. 



THE VINE 



Having thus briefly outlined the history and present condition of the vine-growing industry, 

 we will turn our attention to a consideration of the plant itself, and to the methods of cultivation 

 and manufacture which have for their object the production of the wines of our tables. 



The majority of people in this country would describe the vine as a climbing plant, with 

 large, deeply lobed leaves, and bearing bunches of round berries, either green or blue-black in 

 colour. While this description would hold good for a common variety of the vine, it would 

 be quite inaccurate for many others, for "the vine is a very variable plant, and there are innu- 

 merable varieties cultivated 

 in different parts of the 

 world. While some vines 

 are climbers, others may be 

 trained as hedge plants, 

 others may be induced to 

 form arbours, but the most 

 variable characters of the 

 plant are to be found in its 

 leaves. These are -frequently 

 deeply lobed, of a brilliant 

 green colour, and with well- 

 marked veins and downy 

 coating on their under sur- 

 ' pumping water -FOR IRRIGATION in Portugal' faces. The greatest Variation 



■ v : '. ■ ■• , . -'"•.' . . '. • . from this type, however, 



is found in- the' different varieties' of the- plant. The fruits grow in clusters which may be 

 long and pyramidal, or short and dense, and much variation is found in the characters of 

 the -berries, or -grapes themselves.- Some are as large as a plum, as in the American varieties, 

 others are not much larger than a pea, while the differences in colour are known to everyone. 

 In some Gases the pulp is soft, -in 'others firm, and the juice may be either colourless or red. 

 The well-known " bloom " of the common hot-house grape is absent in many varieties. 



The vine' will yield satisfactory vintages only when grown in a temperate climate, and 

 supplied with a moderate amount of moisture. -Too much water results in an excessive growth 

 of' the leaves and- shoots, and the grapes are watery and acid ; on the Other hand, in a dry 

 climate the fruits -are small and contain toO'large a proportion of sugar to render them of use 

 for 1 wine-making. Light is another important factor,- and the cultivator chooses situations for 

 his Vineyards where the plants will not run the risk of- scorching by the sun, nor, on the other 

 hand, be deprived of a generous' supply of its- warmth and light. 



• Although "the climatic conditions must be very favourable for the grape-vine, the plant is 

 much less -exacting with regard to soils, for it will accommodate itself to most, growing especially 

 yvelh inHhose of a gravelly, chalky;- or stony nature. Nevertheless, a knowledge of the 

 chemical composition and physical condition of the soil is of the utmost importance in viti- 

 culture, since the flavour of the wine depends to a very large extent upon these factors, for 

 under identical atmospheric and climatic conditions we may have wines produced of totally 



