GRAPE-VINES FOR NEW ZEALAND CONDITIONS.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume XXXVI, Issue 2, 20 February 1928, Page 106

GRAPE-VINES FOR NEW ZEALAND CONDITIONS.

RECENT TRIAL IMPORTATION OF EUROPEAN VARIETIES.

J. C. WCODFIN,

Vine and Wine Instructor, Horticulture Division

With : a view to extending its experiments in the selection of suitable grape-vines, and to keep abreast of the increasing interest taken in the culture of outdoor grapes throughout New Zealand, from Central Otago to the north of Auckland, the Horticulture Division imported last year a number of European varieties of vines from France, particulars of which are given in the accompanying list. The vines have • been selected for qualities which are most likely to render them suitable for the needs and conditions of the Dominion, and from them it is hoped to reselect a number which can be added to those that have already proved their worth under the numerous local conditions of both Islands.' An important feature in the choice made is the selection of vines from a point of view of early ripening, which is an essential condition for -their successful adaptation to climatic conditions in the cooler parts of the Dominion. The vines - were treated before despatch from .France with a fungicide and insecticide, and received a similar treatment on' arrival here. They were then grown in quarantine for one growing season, and after being passed as sound and healthy have now been planted in the State experimental vineyard at Te Kauwhata, whence they will eventually be made available for viticulturists after having been given a thorough trial under the supervision of officers of the Horticulture Division. Besides some of . the best varieties of pure European vines, the collection includes a number of American X European hybrids known as “ direct producers.” The object of the hybridizers has been to produce ' fruit having the finer qualities of European vines on vines having the disease-resistant qualities of the American varieties. Many thousands of these hybrids have been produced and tested in France during the last forty years, but few have given satisfaction. It is from among these that a choice has been made. Some of the vines are said to give the best results on their

own roots, while others do better grafted on resistant stocks, particularly on the hybrid Baco No. r stock and the Riparia X Rupestns 3309. Some of these hybrids require no spraying in France, while others require from one to three treatments against downy mildew.

The quality of the fruit, and the wine which is made from it, are the subject of much discussion in the European viticultural world. Taking a mean course through the conflicting . opinions expressed, the best of the direct producers are heavy producers of good fruit and wine without attaining to the higher qualities of the aristocrats of ampelography, the leaders of whichthe Cabernets, Pinots, and Rieslingsare now well established in New Zealand. The direct producers should prove valuable for cultivation in the districts where humid climatic conditions are favourable to the development of fungous diseases, and where the cost of spraying is a considerable item in growing the finer varieties. Included in the recent importation are also a few additions to our collection of resistant stocks.

Visitors to the Te Kauwhata Horticultural Station (lower Waikato district), where the experimental vineyard is situated, can on working-days, in addition to the numerous varieties of previously introduced vines, inspect the following American table and grapejuice vines imported from the eastern United States and Canada in 1922. These varieties ripen their grapes from the middle of February to the middle of March in normal seasons.

Variety. • Colour. Ripening Period Diamond .. .. ' White . . . . Early. Eclipse .. . . . . Black . . .. Very early. Brighton . . . . . . Red . . . . Mid-season. Herbert .. .. .. Black . . .. „ Lucile . . . . . . Red . . . . Early. Niagara .. . . . . White . . . . Mid-season. Lutie . . . . .. Red . . .. Early. Campbell’s Early . . . . Black .. .. ~ Hicks .. ... .. ~ .. ... Mid-season. Moore’s Early .. .. ~ ■ .. .. Early. .. Worden .. ■ . . . . ~ Philip . . .. .. ~ . . . . Concord . . . . .. ~ . . . . Mid-season. King . . ... • • ~ • • . . Stark’s Delicious . . . . Red . . . . ~ Barry .. . . .. Black .... ~

A collection of choice varieties of Italian table-grape vines is expected to arrive about June of this year.

Shearers’ Accommodation.— The administration of the Shearers’ Accommodation Act has continued to be carried out by the Live-stock Division, and it is satisfactory to report that a gradual improvement in the accommodation provided generally is being effected. Consequent on complaints to the Minister of Labour regarding the conditions of the accommodation provided on the East Coast and Hawke’s Bay districts more particularly, arrangements were made for a comprehensive inspection of the sheds in these districts by a responsible officer. Generally the accommodation was found to be satisfactory. In all cases when the contrary was found instructions were issued and arrangements made to enforce compliance. In a number of cases bunks and mattresses were not in evidence, and these were ordered to be supplied. It is usually asserted that the Native shearers, who are largely employed on the East Coast, do not use the bunks when provided ; but, on the other hand, complaints were made by representatives of the Maoris that they are not provided, and in the circumstances it is not unreasonable to require that they be available for use. — Annual Report of Live-stock Division, 1926-27.

X' t ; Variety. Variety. Colour. Ripening Colour. Ripening Period. Remarks. I Alphonse Lavallee . . Black 2 Belgian under-glass table grape, suitable for outdoor culture also. 2 Chaouch .. .. • White 2 Turkish table grape ; one of best grown. 3 Chasselas Dore Salomon White - f Selected Golden Chasselas, universal table and Wine grape. 4 Chasselas Rose Salomon Rose I Selected Chasselas Rose ; table. 5 Gradiska . . White 2 One of handsomest grapes grown ; outdoor and under glass. 6 Lignan White I Excellent table grape ; also used - for wine. To obtain best results growth should not be restricted too much. 7 Madeleine Alice Salomon White V E Table grape seedling of Madeleine Angevine, but sets its fruit better. 8 Madeleine Royale . . White E One of best early table varieties. 9 Muscat Salomon White I Table grape with fine Muscat flavour. IO Aligote . . .. White 1-2 Makes excellent wine in Burgundy Makes excellent wine in Burgundy district. ii Chenin Blanc White 2 Celebrated wines of Saumur and Vouvray. 12 Chenin Noir Black 2 Makes a good wine on clay soils. 3 Cinsaut .. .. Black 2 Excellent table grape, and produces one of best wines of Southern France. ■ ■ 14 Gamay Gloriod White 1 Wine. Vigorous and fertile vine. 15 Gamay de Beaujolais Black 1 Gives abundance of good ordinary wine on most soils, and high-class wine in Beaujolais district of France.

No. 1 Variety. Colour. Ripening | Colour. Period. Ripening Remarks. Period. Remarks. 16 Gamay Hatif des Vosges Black V E Table and wine.- Fertility and quality of wine equal to any of the Gamays. Well-known “ Vin Gris des Vosges ” is made from it. Should ripen its fruit in coldest parts of Nev/ Zealand. *7 Gamay Teinturier . . Black I Wine. Has dark-red juice. Should be blended in proportion of onefifth with other black Gamays ; increases colour without detracting from quality of wine. 18 Lasca Black t Makes good wine. Resists rot and accommodates itself to most soils. Should be allowed to extend —pruned light. 19 Limberger Black i L Table _ and wine. Heavy bearer. Good ordinary wine. 20 Malvoisie Rose Rose 1 Excellent table grape, which produces high-quality white wine. Gives optimum results with light pruning. i. pruning. 21 Melon (Muscadet) . . White 1 L Produces high-class wine of Chablis type on stiff clays. 22. Merlot .. Black 2 Makes a smooth wine, and when blended with Cabernet and Malbeck helps to produce finest Bordeaux wires. Good cropper. 23 Mondeuse . . Black 2-3 Wine similar to Syrah (Hermitage), but vine a heavier bearer. .Favourite in frosty regions of Savoy. 24 Muscadelle White 2 Vigorous and fertile. Produces celebrated wine of Montbazillac, and is blended with Semilion Blanc in making terne wine. Does well on clay. 25 Noir Hatif de Marseille Black V E Produces good table and wine grapes at extreme northern limit of the European viticultural region. 26 Pinot Blanc de Bronner White 1 E Selected Weisser Kloevner (see below), produces high-class wine. 27 Pinot Blanc Hatif (gros) White 1 Same character as Pinot Blanc Chardonnay, the Chablis grape, but has larger bunches and berries. 28 Pinot Noir Comte Odart Black I Selection of well-known Champagne and Burgundy variety, Pinot Noir, which it surpasses in fertility. 29 Pinot Noir Oberlin . . Black E Produces remarkably fine wine. 30 Pinot Noir Reveney. . Black 1 Selection of Pinot Noir, of which it has the same characters added to a greater fertility. 31 Pinot Noir St. Laurent Black 1 E Is recorded as producing crop of grapes equal to double that of best selected Pinots, and makes an excellent wine. Will be. interesting to compare this variety with Pinot Meunier under New I Black 1 E Is recorded as producing crop of grapes equal to double that of best selected Pinots, and makes an excellent wine. Will be interesting to compare this variety with Pinot Meunier under New Zealand conditions.

No. Variety. Colour. Ripening Period. - Remarks. 32 .. Portugais Bleu Black I Fine table grape, very vigorous and fertile ; largely grown for Paris market. Makes a good red wine blended half-and-half with Pinot Noir St. Laurent, and good ordinary white wine blended with one - third Early Malingre or Madeleine Royale. 33 Poulsart Blanc White 2 Good table and wine grape. Is very productive on level ground, and makes good wine on clay hills. 34 Poulsart Noir .. Black ■, 2 Good table and wine grape. 35 Sauvignon Blanc White 2 Is blended with Semilion to make renowned Sauterne wines. 36 Semilion (gros) White - 2 Leading white grape of Bordeaux district. Famous Chateau-Yquem Sauterne wine is made from this variety. 37 Tannat Black 2 Produces excellent, very deepcoloured red wine. Does well on clay soils. 38 Weisser Kloevner . . - White I White Pinot, largely grown in Alsace. Good all-round wine variety, making an excellent wine, bears well, and is resistant to fungous diseases. Recommended as a main crop for production of white wine. 58 Agostenga White E One of best early table grapes, but too delicate to stand transport and marketing conditions. 59 Goldriesling Blanc White 1 E Table and wine grape, producing (Riesling x Courtiller heavy crop of handsome golden Musque Precoce) White 1 E Table and wine grape, producing heavy crop of handsome golden berries. ....... 60 Rousette . . White 2 Produces renowned sparkling wines of Saint Perry (Rhone). Hybrid Direct Producers. 39 Baco No. 1 (24-23) .. Black E In addition to other qualities, has proved to be good stock for other direct producers. 40 Baco 2-16 (Totmur) White VE Table and wine. 4i Baco 30-12 (Estallat) Black 1 L Table and wine. 42 Bertille Seyre 893 . . Black 1 E Wine. . 43 Castel 19637 Black 1 E Wine. 44 Couderc 7120 Black 0 Table and wine. 45 Gaillard -Girard, 157 Black i L Table and wine. 46 Oberlin 595 Black VE Wine. 47 Oberlin 782 White E Table and wine. 48 Siebel 880 White 1 Wine. 49 Siebel 1000 Black 1 Table and wine. 50 Siebel 2003 .. Black 1 Table and wine. 5i Siebel 2007 Black 1 L Wine. 52 Siebel 4643 Black 1 L Table and wine. 53 Siebel 4986 White 1 E Wine. 54 Siebel 5279 White E Table and wine. 55 Siebel 5409 White 1 Table and wine. 56 Siebel 5455 Black 1 Table and wine.

No. Variety. Colour. Ripening Period. Remarks. Resistant Stocks. 39 Baco No. i .. .. 57 Solonis x Riparia 1616 61 31 Richter

LIST OF VINES IMPORTED IN 1927. Abbreviations indicating approximate ripening periods: I, Late February and early March ; E, a week later than I; V E, a fortnight earlier; I L, a week later; 2, a fortnight later.