436 



TINE CULTURE AND THE GRAPE. 



In 1860 there were l,87i,751 vines in bearing, and 1,948,510 non- 

 bearing, from wliicli 182,087 gaUocs of wine were produced and 28,398 

 cwts. of grapes sold. In 1861 the planting of the vine proceeded 

 vigorously in the colony. 



In 1864-65 there were 6,586,009 vines bearing, and 2,831,971 not 

 bearing ; 798,647 gallons of wine were produced, and 30,627 cwts. of 

 grapes sold for table use. In this year one-tenth more land had been 

 planted with vines. 



In 1871 the vines were 5,783,674 productive, and 385,084 not bear- 

 ing ; the wine made was 801,694 gallons, and the grapes sold 85,847 

 cwts.* 



In South AustraKa the production of Zante cuiTants, and Sultana 

 and other raisins, is satisfactorily progressing ; and many of the 

 growers are grafting their inferior vines with these valuable varieties. 

 The first sample of South Australian grown Zante currants sent to 

 Melbourne were pronounced of better quality than those imported 

 from Europe ; and when we bear in mind the fact that more than 

 120,000Z. of dried fruit are annually imported into the Australian 

 colonies, a large opening presents itself for the development of this 

 industry. 



New South Wales. — The introduction of the vine into Australia is 

 due to the efforts of the late Sir W. Macarthiu-, who in 1840 received 

 cuttings from Eiu'ope and planted them on his estate at Camden Park 

 about forty miles from Sydney. 



The quantity of land laid out in vineyards in New South "Wales in 

 1852 was but 1096 acres, from which 92,744 gallons of wine were 

 produced, and 1581 gallons of brandy. 



In 1872 the number of acres of vineyards had increased to 2466, 

 and of these 1084 acres of vines were as yet unproductive. There 

 were made 413,321 gallons of wine, 1765 gallons of brandy, and 508 

 tons of grapes were sold for table fi'uit, from vineyards exceeding one 

 acre in extent. 



New South Wales contains millions of acres of soil admirably 

 adapted for the growth of the grape, of which nearly every European 

 variety is rooted in the colony, and the produce of her vineyards 

 compares well with those of the countries of southern Europe. The 

 wines of the Albury district, on the Murray, are famous thi'oughout 

 Australia, and the produce of the Hunter Eiver and New England 

 country has been awarded many medals at the great International 

 Exhibitions of London and Paris. All through the coast districts the 

 grape flourishes, and generously rewards the grower. It is to be 

 found in nearly every garden, and as an article of diet it is within 

 the reach of the poorest in the land. The consumption of colonial 

 wine increases year by year, and it is thought that the wines of New 

 South Wales would compete successfully with the light wines of 

 France in the English market, were they admitted at the same rate of 

 duty. Wine-growing is a very profitable branch of agriculture in the 

 colony, and may reasonably be expected, with the growth of popu- 

 lation, to be more so. It does not confine its rewards to the large 



* Mr. J. T. Fallon on " Australian Vines and Wines," ' Journal of the Society of 

 Arts,' vol. xxii. p. 39. 



