402 
Proceedings of Learned Societies. 
reference to the production of wine ; but in the drying of the 
fruit for the supply of raisins and in the manufacture of brandy 
and vinegar large profits may be relied on. According to Mr. 
Hector’s calculations, it appears that the cost price of a farm at 
the present time of 240 acres—namely, 40 acres fit for planting 
as a vineyard and 200 acres of forest—would be from £200 to 
£250—but which he puts down at £300; that the cost of bul¬ 
locks, horses, carts, ploughs, harrows, and other necessary im¬ 
plements, together with twelve months’ supply of tea, sugar, and 
other stores, including contingent expenses, would amount to 
£200 ; that the expenses of maintaining the required labourers 
for four years, the wear and tear, and other outgoings, would 
average £200 a-year for four years—giving, as a total of capital 
required, £1,300. This calculation has, however, been made on 
the supposition that the vineyard would yield no returns during 
the whole of the four years ; whereas, in consequence of the rapid 
growth and early maturity of the vine in the climate of New 
South Wales, enough wine would probably be made in the third 
year to defray the expenses of that year. After the fourth year, 
the quantity of wine obtainable varies from 200 to 1000 gallons 
per acre—and on rich land and under judicious management 
approaches much nearer to the latter than to the former quantity. 
This colonial wine has hitherto found a ready sale at from 5s. to 
8s. per gallon ; and Mr. Boydell finds no difficulty in disposing 
of the whole produce of his vintage at 5s. Considering, however, 
that a time will come when wine will be plentifully produced in 
the colony, Mr. Hector assumes its value to be only 2s. per 
gallon—the present price of colonial beer. The result would be 
as follows ;—40 acres of vines producing 400 gallons per acre at 
2s. the gallon, £1,600. Deduct, annual expenses, £200; ex¬ 
penses for vintage, £100; interest on capital, at 8 per cent., 
£100.—leaving a clear annual profit of £1200. Mr. Hector 
observes, in conclusion, that should the wine prove too light 
for the English market, the grower possesses an easy and 
cheap remedy, the law permitting the distillation of brandy 
for the purpose of mixing with the wines, and thereby imparting 
to them strength and fulness.— Athenaeum. 
