7 
bury is fairly cool in the summer months, yet the great pureness of 
the atmosphere is favourable to the perfect maturation of grapes 
as the plant profits during those months by its full share of the 
chemical effect of the direct rays of the sun. 
Viewed in the light of practical fruit growing, abundance of 
cloudless days in connection with high and protracted heat, results 
in high sugar production, which is of great advantage in the pro- 
duction of raisin and prune, and also in the successful ripening of 
a second crop of grapes in a season. 
It is thus shown why wine for instance, made from grapes 
produced from cuttings of the same varieties, and perhaps obtained 
from the same parent vines, but grown in a hot and clear district, 
in the one instance, to another wine from similar variety of grapes 
grown in a cooler locality possessed of an atmosphere not so bright 
and clear, will present to the palate and to laboratory tests quite 
different characteristies. If, for instance, we take Malbee or Cab- 
ernet as an example, they will produce a rounder and stronger wine 
in the first district, and a wine of a lighter character and more of 
the claret type in the cooler localities: for, in the process of wine- 
making, sugar means alcoholic strength. 
In order to continue the parallel between Western Australian 
and Californian climates, and also the climate of other States of 
America, the following table is given to compare the relative degree 
of sunshine at various places mentioned below. 
In this table cloudiness is rated from 0 to 10; two observations 
are taken daily at 9 am. and 3 p.m. 
Geraldton 2e7 Sacramento, Cal. ... 2-0 
Lawlers 341 San Francisco, Cal. ... 4-0 
Kalgoorlie 3:4 Fresno, Cal. ... 2-1 
York ... 3-0. San Diego, Cal. 4-2 
Perth ... 4-4 New York, N.Y. 5-0 
Bunbury 5*5 Philadelphia, Pa. 5-0 
Katanning 5-2 New Orleans, La. 4:4 
Albany 5-0 Jacksonville, Fla. 4:5 
VaLue oF Dry Arr. 
For the purpose of fruit-growing. it can safely be stated that a 
moderately dry air, especially during the summer and autumn 
months, is in many respects more desirable than a vapour-laden 
atmosphere. 
In the first case, pests, and blights of fungus origin—moss, 
lichens, ete.—are not anything like so troublesome as in more humid 
localities. 
The oidium of the vine, for insrance, is much more troublesome 
in moist than in dry seasons; and, for the same reason, in the moist 
air districts close to the sea, than in districts situated further inland, 
where the atmosphere is drier. 
