238 ON COLONIAL WINES. 
of climate, exposure, and soil that is to be met with 
between Neufchatel and Lisbon. 
And as the industry itself is, in my belief, but in an 
infantile state, though making fair progress, and as the 
products of vineyards of the same district are known 
to vary so markedly, I conclude that very much 
remains to be learned by those, who are about to 
establish vineyards, and by makers and treaters of 
wine as well as by the student of cenology. Of course, 
I hold myself alone responsible for any opinions, state- 
ments, or deductions here laid down. I would pre- 
mise, however, that the matter of this essay has been 
collected, and the remarks recorded from time to time, 
as opportunity offered, so of course I have made no 
attempt at literary composition. 
Circumstances, to which I may have to refer here- 
after, induced me, many years ago, to make the study 
of vines and wines an occupation for my leisure hours ; 
the results of which I have, now and then, laid 
before the public of the Australian colonies. I would 
refer briefly to some of these. In 1861, I was 
appointed chairman of the experts of the wine jury, 
and had a fair chance of judging of our native pure 
wines at that time. As chairman and reporter of 
the wine experts of the Intercolonial Exhibition, 
1866-7, 1 drew a somewhat lengthy account of the 
introduction of the vine into Australia, and the for- 
tunes of colonial wine to the end of 1866. Subse- 
quently I had opportunities of making more lengthy 
and detailed inquiries into several matters affecting the 
making, keeping and maturing of our wines — to say 
nothing of efforts to remove prejudices against them. 
Though those investigations were by no means as 
