THE VINE.

Auckland Chronicle and New Zealand Colonist, Volume 2, Issue 27, 8 February 1844, Page 4

THE VINE.

Ik Australia and New Zealand the summers are long aud sunny. The grape ripens in February. It may be continued on the vine till the end of summer, by putting the bunches into paper bags, if the season is dry ; but a wet season is destructive of the grape. The gentle slopes of sheltered valleys, generally speaking.—ihe land which produces the famous bulbous fern roots, in New Zealand, will be found, when well trenched, and the fern -radicated, very favourable for the planting of the vine. Peaches have long been grown there, and are very fine ; also melons, at and near the Bay of Islaads ; and grapes were there in abundance, when one of my sons visited that place in 1836a38. The summers arc in general very fine and temperate in New Zealand, but the winters, though mild, are often wet: this would be in favour of planting the tine there. I remember sending a small collection of plants of frmt trees from Parramatta to New Zealand ; they were planted in the garden of the Church Mission and growing for two years, when the curiosity of the natives one day unperceived, pulled them all up to see if they bad any potatoes at their roots, and they were all lost : this I was informed of by my friend, the Rev. S, Marsden. This was about the year 1815. Since then nearly all the fruits grown in New South Wales have been introduced to New Zealand and thrive well. The culture of the grape-vine in New Zealand would unquestionably be very conducive to the general welfare, aud do away with the use of ardent spirits which are so injurious to health in nil warm climates. I consider New Zealand as very favourable also for the culture aud curing of tobacco, that climate being so fit for tile succulent plants. Its tobacco tnßy in time become as famous as its flax, which is so abundant and valuable, could they but find au easier way of cleaning and preparing it for export. Nearly all the cordage made in Sydney is ot the New Zealand Flax, and it is considered the best for whale-lines. I may inform roy New Zealand friends that cuttings and plants of great variety, amounting to five hundred of the best sorts of grapes from all parts, can easily be had at Sydney. M. Thiebaud de Berneaud in his “ Vigneron Franoais,’’ says, “ that stoney groond which has the colour of ochre, and indicates the presence of iron, is good tor the vise, produces abundance of grapes, aud good wine. Much of this kind of land of a good depth maybe found in the County of Cumberland, round Sydney and Paramatta, and which is valueless for auy other cultivation ; but it would beoi-n e most profitable if planted w itb viuesWhere the land is encumbered with solid masses of rock it would bo iu vain to attempt to plant a vineyard, unless the proprietor is prepared to bear a very heavy expense ; then it may be done by labouring up the rock, and a very superior wine produced. Experiments of this sort and others are continually beiug tried in France and Germany, to obtain new wines. Indeed I do not know any better way in which a cultivator in Australia can employ his aupeifluoits wealth, than in the planting and culture of tha vine, or one that may be inude to yield him so much of pleasure, health and profit ; wnileit would enable him to leave a valuable be* i quest to hia posterity.— Suttor on the Vine,