Agricultural and Horticultural Resources. 53 



even this season of an average weight of 25 lbs. of fruit on 

 vines three or four years old, bunches attaining a weight of 

 upwards of 2^ lbs. ; and it may be expected, that whenever 

 the training of the vines is regulated more generally according 

 to the particular climate of the locality in which they are 

 established, with due reference to the varieties chosen, and by 

 a more general adoption of the training on espaliers, that 

 not only a considerable increase in the productiveness of some 

 of our vineyards might be secured, but also often a fruit of 

 superior quality. Instances are recorded, that this season in 

 the vicinity of Melbourne, the return of grapes obtained by 

 trellis training proved two tons per acre from vines two years 

 old, whilst of several varieties, including the Muscat, Fron- 

 tignac, Chasselas, &c, the produce obtained on adjoining land 

 from plants of the same age, grown on the low stool and 

 gooseberry bush fashion, was limited from five to eight cwt. 

 per acre. 



The space assigned to this document permits not to enter 

 into details on the prospect of yield which the respective 

 varieties of the grape hold out in the various localities of this 

 country, and under varied climatic influences. The observa- 

 tions, moreover, on well-established varieties in different parts 

 of the colony are as yet much scattered, whilst some important 

 sorts have been only very recently introduced. Many of the 

 northern parts of Victoria, however, bear so close a resemblance 

 in point of -.climate with the territory of our western neigh- 

 bors, that even the tender varieties, such as the Roussillon, will 

 in all probability be luxuriantly developed. Wine made of 

 the Scyras grape sold wholesale in South Australia at 20s. per 

 gallon, and that prepared of the Mataro at 12s. per gallon ; 

 both of these grapes being well adapted to certain localities of 

 that country. 



The rapidity of growth of the vine in these latitudes is 

 most encouraging for their culture. An experienced vine 

 grower compares our plants at the age of three years to those 

 of seven years' growth on the Rhine. 



If the best varieties of raisin grapes were chosen for our 

 vineyards, we cannot for a moment doubt that raisins of im- 

 surpassed qualities may be produced at least in the milder and 

 drier parts of the colony. 



We may be permitted to introduce here a list of those 

 varieties of vines which Mr. Alfred Seidel, near Geelong, has 

 proved by m;my years' experience to be particularly adapted 

 to the southern parts of the colony : — 



