1 June, 1899.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 461 
acre contains 700 vines, the cost will be 7s.; two ploughings at about Ss. per 
acre each; four scarifyings at from 2s. 9d. to 3s. each; hoeing round vines at 
6s. per 1,000, or 4s. 3d. per avre; disbudding, from Is. to 3s. per 1,000, 
according to variety of vine, or, taking an average of 2s. per 1,000, this would 
amount to 1s. 5d. an acre, or a total cost of 40s. 8d per acre without sulphuring, 
which is a trifling cost. 
Another estimate sent from the Albury district gives the total cost of culti- 
vation at slightly under £2 the acre, so that there is but little difference between 
it and the Viticultural Expert’s estimate. It will be understood, however, that 
the above figures may vary in certain localities with peculiar soils and cirewm- 
‘stances, but they may be accepted as a fair average cost. 
The Albury correspondent states that for bush vines, 1 to 14 tons per 
acre may be considered an average crop in that district; but it is higher for 
trellised vines. 
Prices this season at Albury were from £3 10s. to £5 per ton, the latter 
price being for Frontignac or Brown Muscat. 
Another correspondent from Corowa, New South Wales, gives the total 
cost of cultivation at about 30s. per acre—a fair average crop in good seasons 
at 1} tons per acre; and the price for Shiraz, Malbec, Tokay, Riesling, &c., from 
£3 to £4 per ton. 
No figures are to hand from Victoria, but it may fairly be taken for granted 
that they would differ but little from those already given. 
From the above figures, it results that the average cost of cultivation for 
an acre of vineyard in South Australia is from 35s. to 50s., and in New South 
Wales from 30s. to 50s. The ordinary vineyard labourer receives 24s. to 27s. 
er week in South Australia, and 30s. in New South Wales, as may be calculated 
from the pruning. 
The average crop in South Australia for bush vines is under 13 tons to the 
acre, and about 2 to 24 tons for trellised vines; and in New South Wales, 
14 tons for bush vines, and, probably, about 24 tons for trellised. 
The average price of grapes per ton in South Australia is from £2 to £7 
according to quality, the lower price being for varieties of grapes which are 
common in Queensland ; and in New South Wales from £38 10s. to £5, the 
latter price being for Muscats. 
A perusal of the above figures then shows that, in South Australia, 1 ton 
of grapes, similar in quality to those grown in Queensland, costs from £2 to £4 
the ton; the crop is ‘daa 14 to 24 tons per acre according to system of culti- 
vation, and the cost of cultivation from 35s. to 50s. per acre. Tn New South 
Wales the cost per ton of grapes is £8 10s., the crop is from 14 to 3 tons, and 
the cost per acre for cultivation 30s. to 50s., or, a’ nearly as possible, the same 
for the two colonies, and in all probability the figures for Victoria would differ 
very slightly. 
Compare now the cost of Queensland grapes this last season of £8 and £9 
per ton. How can the vigneron buy grapes and compete with southern wines 
if Federation is accomplished? The price is too high, and must be considerably 
reduced if the industry is to be in a position to meet competition. It may be 
answered that the cost of cultivation is so much more here than im the south, 
some vignerons putting it as high ax £8 the acre—few lower than £5. Let us. 
examine the matter. From the figures afforded by southern correspondents, it 
is plain that field labour does not cost more in Queensland than down south, for 
27s. to 80s. a week is, if anything, rather more than with us. So that, given 
the same amount of cultivation, the cost should be a little less in Queensland. 
Does the vine in Queensland require the extra amount of cultivation by reason 
of her climatic conditions to warrant the difference in price? Most emphatically, 
No! The only difference would be in the number of searityines. The southern 
colonies average two ploughings and three scarifyings. Add six more of the 
latter for Queensland, make it two ploughings and nine scarifyings, which is 
ample calculation, and the increase is only 18s. per acre, and against this should 
be placed a bigger average crop than is obtained in the south. On the other 
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