536 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



well-to-do class of market-gardeners, practically by no means behind the 

 age, and they are intelligent observers of scientific research. Quite a 

 sufficient number of efficient gardeners can be hired. Our suburbs are 

 very gay also almost all the year round with scarce and well-cultivated 

 shrubs and flowers. 



Drying and preserving fruit has now become a very important 

 industry, and the export of fresh fruit is growing from year to year. 

 Last year 86,414 bushels of fruit and 29,243 packages of vegetables 

 were exported, under the supervision of inspectors, to other parts of the 

 Commonwealth ; 4,085 cases of Apples, 235 cases of Pears, and 498 of 

 Grapes were sent to London through the Produce Depot. Others were 

 sent to Germany and South Africa ; 10,000 cases of Apples are now 

 wanted for Hamburg, where they are preferred to American and 

 Tasmanian Apples. Since the spraying against codlin moth has become 

 more general, the export of Apples is likely to become very large. But of 

 all rural industries the wine-making is the most promising. As to the 

 quality of the better wines I need only mention what such a good judge 

 and extensive dealer in wines as Mr. P. B. Burgoyne, of London, said when 

 visiting this State last year : " I have tasted wines with an elegance and 

 finish not surpassed by other wine-growing countries. Of this you may 

 well be proud." And his large purchases here show that he fully believes 

 in the excellence of our wines. Of the many fairly large wine-making 

 establishments that of Mr. B. Seppelt is pre-eminently noteworthy. In 

 fact it has been styled "the show-place of South Australia," and Mr. 

 Burgoyne said of it, " you may travel the world over and not find more 

 intelligence thrown into an industry, nor will you find greater perfection 

 in the wine establishments of any country." And Professor Perkins has 

 said : " I know of no cellars, either here or in Europe, so perfectly con- 

 ceived, from the general plan down to the minutest detail, for handling 

 economically enormous bulks of wine." 440,000 gallons were pressed at 

 Seppelt's in 1903. The cellars hold about one million gallons. 



There are at present 797 acres under Currant vines, and in 1902 

 20,860 acres were under wine Grapes in this State. Last year 250 tons 

 of dried Currants were grown, and this year it will probably amount to 

 350 tons. In 1902, 157,300 gallons of wine, brandy, and other spirits 

 (equal to 105,000 gallons of wine) were exported to the other States of the 

 Commonwealth ; 650,795 gallons were exported to London, while a total 

 of 2,573,422 gallons was pressed, leaving 5,535,694 gallons in the cellars ; 

 700,000 gallons were used for distilling spirits. 



As to the suitability of South Australia for the growth of Currants, 

 I may mention that one old Currant vine produced last year no less than 

 HH() lbs. of dried Currants. The best Grapes grown or purchased by 

 wine-makers are ' Carbenet Sauvignon,' ' Malbes,' 1 Shiraz,' ' Dolcetto/ 

 for red wines ; * Riesling,' ' White Hermitage,' ' Frontignac,' &c, for white 

 wines. Prom £8 10s. to £ J 4 15s. a ton is the price. 



The pressing of oil from Olives is another promising industry. Sir 

 Samuel Davenport, K.C.M.G., and a few others have succeeded in making 

 Olive oil superior to most of that imported. 



South Australia was not well wooded when the first settlers landed, 

 except on some few hills. On better soil in the plains stately Eucalypts 



