1 May, 1898. ] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 383 
for a few years and then collapse, and this may be explained in both cases as 
due to a light sandy soil, almost without humus, overlying a more or less ° 
impervious clay subsoil. Nitrogen is wanted. Plentiful manuring would be 
the remedy, but there enters the question of cost, &e. A certain amount of 
good could be done by sowing leguminous plants like the lupin, cowpea, 
vetches, &c., during the autump and winter and then ploughing them in, 
the power of these species of plants to assimilate free nitrogen in their 
rootlets with the aid of certain bacteria being a well-known fact. In Southern 
‘Italy this way of enriching poor soils has been customary since the time of the 
Romans, although even now profoundly ignorant of the why or wherefore. 
That the custom is beneficial to poor soils is an established fact, and it might 
with considerable benefit be practised in the Stanthorpe district. 
There is one vine, the Isabella, that has a remarkably vigorous. growth, 
amidst vines already exhausted, but the grape is,of poor quality and unfit 
for wine-making. It has struck me that this power of flourishing and 
bearing in so poor and unsuitable a soil could be utilised by using them 
as stocks for grafting the better kinds, provided always that a scion 
of sufficient affinity be taken. Mr. Hoggan, of Ballandean, who was 
very kind in affording me every assistance and information in his 
power, has distributed 1 number of Shiraz cuttings far and wide, and it is 
possible more favourable spots for viticulture will be found than some of those 
I visited. But if this district is unsuited for the growth of wine grapes there 
can be no doubt about its adaptability for the cultivation of table grapes, some 
that I saw in one or two orchards being the finest I had seen in the colony. I 
would recommend viticulturists in this district to plant their vines in deep 
soils or débris of the range of hills, and pay careful attention to pruning and 
treatment for disease. 
Wanrwick.—In consequence of the very bad weather and condition of 
the roads I was only able to visit two vineyards, but it was sufficient to show 
me that a large part of this district is well adapted for viticulture and wine- 
making. Some of the wines I tasted were well prepared, with a good bouquet, 
and unfortified, showing that it is not necessary to fortify to preserve wine in 
this colony, as has been stated. In some red wines there was a scarcity of 
colour, which can easily be remedied by planting a few Tinto grapes with the 
others. 
I was unable to make any tests for density, as the grapes were too unripe, 
but to judge from the wines I tasted it would be about that of the Burgundy 
district in France. The atmospheric temperature at the vintage time would be 
very favourable, which is of great importance in producing wine of finesse and 
bouquet. Climate and rainfall appear to be equally propitious for viticulture. 
T regret that the weather did not permit me to visit other parts of the Warwick 
district to verify to what distance the soil on which the vineyards I visited were 
planted extends. A second visit about vintage time would be useful in 
acquiring further knowledge of the possibilities of this promising district. 
ToowoomBa.—The soil of this district is almost everywhere on the surface 
of great fertility, being a rich red volcanic soil; but in some places the subsoil . 
is poor, passing into a kind of tufa. As the vine is a deep-feeder, vignerons 
should be careful before planting their vines to test the character and quality 
of the subsoil. In some instances this has not been done, with the result that 
at a comparatively early 2ge the vines have begun to decline, yielding small 
crops of poor quality. Attention should likewise be given to planting the 
yines in as sheltered a position as possible, as much of the country is exposed 
to cold winds during the spring months. Where these dangers have been 
avoided the vines show a very luxuriant growth, and good sound wine has been 
made. In many vineyards a better system of pruning is indicated, far too 
many spurs being allowed, which weakens the vine, and causes premature 
decline. Also, more attention to precautions against disease, such as the use 
of sulphur for oidium, of iron wash for anthracnose. 
