CLYDE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2403, 22 March 1900, Page 11

CLYDE.

March 12. — some two or more years bad: i had a short correspondence in these columns with my friend, Mr C. Iversen, anent the possibility of grapes ripening ..outdoors in this\ district. I stubbornly maintained and expressed the opinion that they would not ripen. Ml Iversen was equally vehement in expressing an opinion to the contrary. I have now to statb that' Mr Iversen was right in his every statement regarding the suitability of our climate for wine grapes. This practically admits that I was wrong. So I was wrong, and I honestly admit it, since I have had ocular demonstration of the fact. Subsequent to the correspondence taking place 'I procured several hundred wine grape canes from our Agricultural department, with a view to- testing how far I may have been right or wrong in my assertion to the effect that the grape would not ripen in this district. The vines sent me were the Pinot Noir, Pinot Menoir, Frontignac, Shiras, and Carbernet, and the well-known Isabella. I bedded several of the canes, all of which came away rapidly, and showed vigorous growth the first year, despite an attack of the miner grub. I planted out about one hundred cuttings, of which number only a few failed ; but the following year I renio'ved the greater number of the young plants, -not -deeming the site a good one. I left some 12 plants remaining, however, and these have yielded splendid clustery of berries that were perfeotly ripe on the 15th February last. The P. Menoir was the first to ripen, the Shiraz being se'cbnd, with the P. Noir a good third. These vines are growing in an open paddock without any shelter to protect them from any of the four winds — hence the proof of the suitability of our climate for the varieties of wine grapes mentioned. I may add that the season has not been at all a warm one. Had we had one of our usually genial summers, I imagine the grapes would have ripened sooner than they did. However, that is neither here rior there, under the circumstances. While admitting my past error of judgment, I think it only justice to myself to say that I know of no other person in the district who has ever tested the wine grape here except Mr Feraud, who many years back, planted vines at Monte Christo farm, some two miles distant from Clyde, where the test was evidently a failure, since Mr Peraud afterwards uprooted the vines. So satisfied am I with the results, of my test that it is my intention to plant out some 2000 vines this coming season.

Local Industry. — The Clyde saddlery emporium has been long famed for the quality of goods it distributes amongst its customers throughout the length and breadth of Central Otago. To farmers, stockmen, waggoners, and the public generally the emporium has supplied every requisite ' in saddlery outfit during the past quarter, of a century, the name of the proprietor a synonym for quality and workmanship in all material pur--chased and made on the premises. Only last week I was privileged to view a very fine set of gig harness which Mr Smart, the proprietor of the emporium, had made to the order of a gentleman at Matakanui. The material was of very superior quality, the design and workmanship were elegant, the entire set having every appearance of possessing that durability which customers consider is the true test of quality. That the emporium merits patronage is evidenced by the popularity it has already attained through the quality of the goods made and disposed of, which, if they don't exactly speak for themselves, do quite'as well by wearing into merit and meriting wear. Hospital Building.— Mr Leslie Arthur, the contractor, is now well forward with the work of erecting the addition to the hospital. When completed, the new stone hospital will be quite a pretentious building. Vaccination. — I have been told that there arc fully 200 children in and around Clyde who have not been vaccinated. This is a scandalous state of affairs, and if allowed to continue may result in a huge and sudden mortality amongst the "wains" some day. No public vaccinator has been appointed for Clyde, therefore I deem it a, duty to point out to our local board of health the urgent need for such an appointment being made at once. It is really an extraordinary thing that this matter has been overlooked to this date.