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CHAPTER V. 



SELECTION OF SITE AND CHOICE OF SUITABLE 

 VARIETIES. 



The selection of a suitable site for a vineyard is of the greatest 

 importance, and cannot receive too serious consideration at the \ 

 hands of the intending planter. 



When it is remembered that the important factors climate, 

 aspect, soil, &c. depend upon the site chosen, the importance of 

 a judicious choice becomes manifest. 



When selecting a site the main thing the future vinegrower must 

 keep in view is the kind of wine he wishes to make. Choice or 

 abundant, light or strong, dry or sweet, red or white, all depends 

 upon these points, and they should receive the fullest consideration, 

 more especially from any one who has not as yet purchased his land, 

 but wishes to know which will be the most profitable district for 

 him to settle in. It is a delicate matter to say that any district is 

 best situated for this purpose, such a course would expose one to much 

 unfavorable criticism from residents of all the other districts, who 

 might consider that they were slighted and their land depreciated. 



We shall briefly enumerate the different advantages of such and 

 such a climate and soil, and leave it to the intending planter to 

 choose between them. 



Most wine-growing districts of Victoria, and a good many districts 

 where no vines have as yet been planted, have some distinct advantage 

 to recommend them, such as freedom from excessive moisture, and 

 consequent immunity from fungus pests ; prolificacy of the vine in 

 them ; excellent quality of the wine ; freedom from frosts ; suitability 

 to such and such a variety. 



It would be well to here warn the intending planter against 

 devoting himself to the production of abundant crops of small value 

 instead of smaller yield of superior wine. It pays a man better to 

 obtain 100 gallons per acre of wine for which he can obtain 4s per 

 gallon than 400 gallons per acre of wine only worth Is. per gallon. 



