SUNNYSIDE VINERIES.

Manawatu Herald, 4 January 1889, Page 2

SUNNYSIDE VINERIES.

« <- A man who successfully introduces a paying industry into the district, deserves well of his country, we therefore have believed that an account of the vineries at Sunnyside, the residence of Mr Geo. Nye, will have more than a local interest. A few years ago, Mr Nye put up a small vinery, and the results obtained were so satisfactory, that to day he has a length of 279 feet under glass. We intend to describe only the vineries in this article, but as the I season gets on, we propose with the ' owners permission to give some account of his farm and orchards, both of which are well worth a visit, as is also his flower garden and Mrs Nye's choice collection of plants. The first house we entered was 90 feet long by 13ft broad, with glass on roof and half way up the side, and along the back wall, and along the front wall were vines of different ages, looking splendid, and full of fruit. Of course it must be remembered that all the vines are young. To show how the vines thrive, we noticed one, Mrs Knee's Black Muscat, a two year old, that had made over ten feet growth thia season. The vines in this house include some of the best sorts, the Black Muscat of Alexandria, whose berries are large and oval, is a reddish purple grape and is very juicy and sweet. The Blaok Hamburg, one of the most favourite varieties, a deep blue black in colour, and the berries roundish oval, the flesh firm, but tender and highly flavoured. The Golden Hamburg whose bunches are large, loose and branching, the berries large and oval, and when ripe a pale amber. It in an excellent grape but requires careful cultivation. The Lady Downe's, a blaok grape with a delicate bloom, the berries being of a medium size and the bunches from 8 to 10 inches lopg, and lastly the Black Prince a grape of a first rate quality, of a purplish blaok, very juicy with a rich and sprightly flavour. - The second house is only thirty six feet long by twelve wide and contains a few ohoice varieties. The fiolden Champion a veay nioe o*p«

and doing grand, full «•£*. OS* Golden Chasselas an eigMyeaar <f»vine, and bearing a very h&g crop it is a light coloured grapeg very firm and has a rich flavour wißfc ITaTof the Muscat. There J* also a vine grown br Mr Nye frojo, ..he seed of a r_us_k it is a nice gra£ but the bunches %d the fruit a»* too small to make it marketable, aud it will therfore be cut down and some large sort grafted on. __N aur next issue we shall cofflnleteoirr description of these vineries.