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New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9493, 24 April 1894, Page 5

For some years past attempts have been made in Portugal, Italy, and Austria to cultivate a Mexican member of the family of the Ampolopsis, Cissus Moxicana, a new relation to the common vine, and which in certain climates it can replace. In the province of Sinalva, in Mexico, C. Mexicana grows freely. Here are manufactured wine, vinegar, and certain preserves called uvata, made with large red or white berries, which have exactly the same flavour as the Muscat raisin. The roots of this Mexican vino grow among the rocks, and for eight months the plant is intensely dry. on the other four months the nourishment If the branches is completed, and in October the fruit is perfectly developed. The first sign of the branches is in June, during the rainy season, and their growth is very rapid. They soon climb into the neighbouring trees and rocks, stifling all other vegetation. The leaves, which are identical with those of English vines, fall off at the end of October.. This vine should do well in many districts of New Zealand, as it possesses the great advantage of luxuriating among rocks and arid lands, where ordinary vines would nob succeed at ,all.