VINES AND WINES.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 4496, 25 October 1901, Page 3

VINES AND WINES.

A GREAT SOURCE OF NATIONAL WEALTH. HOW IT IS BEING FOSTERED BY THE STATE. Tho production of wino in New Zealand is gradually assuming such propoilion.s that attention t 0 R» development on correct lines is iimnccliatcly unpciativo. This fact has been recognised by tho Agricultural Department, aim atho present meraent the Department ha s in progress a scheme by .which the great benefits to producers following in the. train of co-operation, as applied to uuculture and wine-making, will bo dhmon. »t rated probably in the same degree as lho.se which emanate from tho cc-cpcra. tive movement in dairying In these days of commercial warfare, it is advisable that every industry possible of development in the colony should be encouraged, and there is perhaps none more deserving of State assistance in p.rdcr to establish it, on a sound basis than wine production, for which certain districts or the colony arc eminently suited. CO-OPERATIVE "WINE MAKING. Just as in dairying, whore the factory system of manufacture has made possible the production of great quantities cm high-moo and umiona products, tho wmo producer must' look to tho same principle of manufacture to ensure success. it is beyond tho region of uoubt that the present system c,r manufaccur. ing wine, m comparatively small quantities on so many clillercut properties, is not calculated ‘to produce the best article or to secure tho best prices, but, on tho contrary, must result in poor and irregular quality. Central stations must bo established, to which all the growers within a given radius should carry their grapes. These wineries could bo worked on a co-operative principle, each, vignnron holding shares in proportion to tho area of Ids vineyard. b«ch a system of manufacture would secure the' product ion of a uniform and nighclass article in considerable quantities. Tho small grape-grower cannot afford to pay tho requisite salary for a welltrained manufacturer and cellarman, to thereby enable tho manufacturing process to bo carried but on scientific and up-tc-dato principlesTho advantages of following cut such a course a.s that here outlined has been amply demonstrated in the case ot the co-operative manufacture of dairy products. It is not necessary to point out that Now Zealand butter and cneesc would never have attained the high, standard of quality the" now enjev bad thov been the product of private dairies ; .so with the manufacture of wine, concentration of the work is imperative if a fine and uniform article is to bo scoured. THE SALE OF WINE. With the" rapid development or the wino industry, greater facilities for the disposal of ‘tho product are rendered imperative, a s the following quotation from tho last annual report of the 'government, Biologist, Mi - T. W. Kirk, F.L.S., will show: ‘■Some ot Che difficulties in the way of disposing of New Zealand wine snouid be at onco removed, 'ilio outlets at present arc—the hotelkeepers, tho merchants and a small domestic trade. The profits claimed by the two former are so considerable as to leave but a small margin for tho producer, who has main risks, such as bad seasons, to contend against, also considerable! delay wffue his wino is properly maturing. What is tho remedy? Greater latitude in granting bottle licenses, and the licensing ot ref-taurant-kcepers, etc., to sell New Zealand wine only, the foe for which should bo merely nominal; but tho pun stamen t for selling any other liquor on those licenses might bo made severe. There are other matters needing control, such as the prevention of manufacture of what is in everyday life called “doctored” wino ; the sale of local wino under ether names, etc.—for it is a matter of frequent comment that there is- difficulty in obtaining New Zealand wine at hotels, although . it id' freely stated that the proprietors have bought supplies. We are hot yet, and shall not bo for some years to come, ready for an export trade/ but there can he no doubt that were tho facilities above indicated provided, there would shortly spring up a very considerable industry within tho colony, affording a comfortable livelihood to hundreds of families, and leading ultimately to a not despicable export.” WINF.DRINKING INDUCES : SOBRIETY. Sphere is another important aspect of tho jyine industry referred to in the same report by Mr Kirk—the influence of cheap wine as an agent*in the main--tcnanco of sobriety among the people. ‘ In this connection,” Mr Kirk reports, “I cannot do better than quote from a lecture delivered before the Chamber of Commerce in Dunedin by Signor Braga, to (the Viticultural Expert to the Government of Victoria), a gentleman who is lecognisod as an undoubted authority on all matters relating to wine. Ho says As an agency iu the cause of in* temperance, tho viticultural industry operates powerfully. It is now a widely, accepted fact, as proved by statistics, that in wine-producing countries drun, kenness is less known, and the morality of tho people stands at a, higher level, than in countries where wino is not tho national beverage. In France, before the pfvlloxcra made its appearance, drunkenness was but little known. Upon the arrival of phylloxera and the decimation of the vineyards, drunkenness followed; the people requiring stimu, hints, and wine not being available, they flew to brandy, whisky, and other, spir, ' its, with tho evil consequence that drunkenness became prevalent in erst, while sober communities. With reconstruction of the vineyards, with phyol-loxera-resistant vines, and the increased production of wino that will follow, B 13 confidently asserted that Frenchmen will return to ways of sobriety. In Italy and the south of Austria, where ‘wine is tho national beverage, drunkenness is looked upon as tho greatest of vices, and a person addicted to drink is ostra, ciscd from society. It is a fact beyond contention, except by a bigot, that in wine,drinking countries tho people are amongst tho most sober, contented and industrious on tho face of tho earth.’ ” 1 ’ THE WORK OF THE GOVERNMENT. Believing in tho important principle that, in order to make a thorough success of the industry, the producer of the raw product should be in a position to establish his work on the most approved and up«tc,date principles, and in order to show that oven the poorest lands in the North Island are well adapted Jor wino production, tho Department of Agriculture, some three years ago, had a portion of the Wairangi estate (Wai. kato) about three acres, planted with several varieties of vines. Different varieties were chosen in order to show tho varieties of wine-producing vines best suited to that locality. During last sea, son, which was tho first fruit season for the vines, a number of Auckland vine* growers were invited to visit tho experi, mental ground. They expressed themselves greatly surprised at the excellent

results which had been attained, results which were all the mors marked as most of the northern vineyards were in a very unsatisfactory condition, owing to the attacks of such fungus diseases as blackspot and mildew, consequent on the wet nature of tho season, it was the cause of special remark amongst the visitors that no blackspot was to be deteoted on the department’s vinos. It was explain* ed that blackspot had been bad on the vines early in the season, but that they had been immediately sprayed With Bordeaux mixture, which accounted for tho exceptionally clean appearance which characterised tho vines. Tho visitors wore greatly impressed with the up-to-dale appearance of the station generally, and tho press representatives who accompanied the party gave eulogistic descriptions of what they had seen. The visitors were supplied with a statement of what the place had cost up to date, and a demonstration was. made of 'ho effective manner in which a modern spray pump docs its work. The visit was paid shortly before tho crop was gathered, and it may now- be mentioned that off the three acres, and that with a first vintage and in the worst season that had been exnoricnced in the North for years, 800 gallons of pure wine were obtained, and Is now in cellar. It should bo noted that the throe acres, being experimental plots, contained twelve, varieties of vines, sonic of which did not find tho conditions of tho locality congenial, and, in consequence, proved to be light bearers. The crop that may bo secured off a similar space, under the same conditions, and with tho approved vines, may bo calculated. The result above indicated shows what can bo done by systematic work on up-tc-dato linos and on lands which have hitherto boon considered worthless. It is also satisfactory to know that the experimental orchard planted at the same time promises most excellent returns. So pleased is tho Government with tho results that both tho vineyard and orchard arc being considerably extended. It is, wo believe, the intention to prepare a large area of the land adjoining in a similar manner, cutting il up into small areas, and gradually bringing the.se along until each vineyard becomes profitable. Tho allotments will bo then sold or leased to suitable ocon. pants ; that is, to occupants having the necessary knowledge of grapes, fruit, etc. These small holders will be able to disposer of their grapoa to the central winery and their fruit, such as is net required for tho local market, to the central cannery and pulping-works proposed to be established. If tho senems is carried out, it will bo under tho control, of a first-class wine-maker and a fruit expert. A settlement of this kind would possess many advantages, besides being a raean s of great educational value. For instance, the curse of small birds and otho: pests, as is the case where fruit and ’-inos aro grown in small isolated areas, will be.much more evenly divided, and, consequently, less severely felt. Besides which, the combination of holdings will rentier the expense of spraying and cultivating infinitely less than would bo tho case where individual effort only exists.