HOTHOUSE GRAPES.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XLIX, Issue 12629, 17 October 1905, Page 7

HOTHOUSE GRAPES.

THE SEASON LENGTHENED

A VALUABLE EXPERIMENT

TO BE REPEATED AT WANGANUI

(Special to the " Chronicle.") Within a space of eleven months, at a cost of less than £30, and by measures that were the essence of simplicity, the Government viticulturist, Mr R. Bragato, has revolutionised the hothouse grape industry of New Zealand. Ho has proved that ripe grapes can be produced in September —two months earlier than the first Auckland grapes have hitherto made their appearance- in the shops. The incident which threw Mr Bragato into the arms of this experiment occurred with almost dramatic suddenness at the annual ©oaife'rence of the Auckland Fruitgrowers' Union last November. Mr Rragato had been addressing the members on the grape industry and urging those who had glasshouses to get their grapes ripe earlier. " You should," he said, " get your grapes ripe in September instead of delaying till November or December." Now although the viticulturist is by no means unpopular in the northern province, a smile of scepticism passed over the faces of the assembled delegates. Among these was Mr A. M. Wilson, one of the Birkenhead delegates, who expressed a desire that Mr Bragjato should try it for himself. " I will be very pleased," was the prompt reply, " with the consent of my Department to take over one of your glasshouses for the coming season and get your grapes ripe in September." It was not without some anxious hesitation that 'Mr Wilson .accepted the challenge, for the experiment meant curtailing the winter (rest of the vines by two months, and there was no guarantee that the result would not be disastrous. Possibly the temptation of this unique opportunity of putting a Government expert to the test was the irresistible element. At all events, Mr Wilson consented, and terms were arranged. Mr Bragato was to cultivate the crop, and Mr Wilson was to reap the harvest when the time came. In pursuance of his bargain the viticulturist engaged a neighbouring fruitgrower, who had some knowledge of the work, to do the firing up and the other, routine operations, the expert himself visa'ting the house occasionally and giving what instructions were necsesary. The task was beset with difficulties. To begin with it was found that the " border" was outside of the house—a very common occurrence. The early starting of inside heat while the roots iwere out in the cold would wreck the undertaking. The expert grappled With the problem by covering the border with a layer of fresh stable- manure, thus to produce heat artificially. Over this covering he laid a few shillings' worth of corrugated iron to keep out the rain, which would have reduced the heat and decomposed the manure in a manner not desired. For the crux of the soheme was to maintain a balance of temperature- between roots and canes. Then there was gaping cracks to be filled up in the walls, for the house was a rough home-made affair not designed for heating records. So the cracks were crammed tight ■with waste newspaper. Then with everything snug, and with some glass frames1 made to open, the •heat was started on May 22nd. It was stalled at 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Moisture was supplied an a series of ways — by spraying on the trunksl and canes of the vines, on the opening buds, and, later, on the leaves; and also by spraying the loose earth floor and keeping a tveb rag on the hot water pipes to evapoirate steam. Thus red spider and other diseases were discouraged. At the same time, under the corrugated iron outside, the border was sprayed with lukewarm w rater in order to supply moisture to the roots without reducing the temperature. Week by week the temperature was raised by about five degrees till at the time of the blossoming the thermometer indicated between 7Z and 83 degrees. From that stage onward the heat was kept between 84 and 87 degrees, and a tell tale thermometer gave warning of aaiy extreme variation. During the week or so of the setting of the .terries the spraying was suspended, but was renewed again afterwards and continued till the colouring began. Then it ceased altogether, for abundance of water from that time onwards would only impair the flavour of the grapes. The temperature was also lowered after' the colouring began to 72 or 75 degrees. 1 This was regulated by openeing the ventilators. The last day of September was a great day, for on it the first ripe bunch of grapss was cvt —some deepcoloured Black Hamburgs. Mr Bragato had proved his contention. The special difficulties encountered and the fact that;the -vines had not yet been " educated up " to early ripening made the task more difficult than would be the case under more favourable circumstances. Mr Bragato is confident that with the same hcmse next year he could get ripe grapes in August, and in the following season in July. A party of Auckland fruitgrowers who inspected the vines last week expressed astonishment at the results. The fruiterer who lias already bargained for the crop estimates its value as not less than 3s' per lb. This is three' times the Auckland value- of an ordinary early crop. On the usual basis of 30s per vine the increase is handsome. Mr Wilson declares himself not only converted, but delighted, and he seems to contemplate repeating the experiment on his own account next year. He says the crop in that house is heavier than usual, and the vines are surprisingly healthy and ripening off well. In some complimentary speeches in the vinery Mr Johns, President of the Auckland Fruitgrowers' Union, said the viticulturist had completely justified his contention. The value of this simple experiment to the indoor grape growers would be enormous, for there were people who would pay any money for grapes at this time of year. The thanks of fruitgrowers were due to the Department and Mr Bragato for what had been done. *

Mr Bragato, replying, said he hoped to repeat the experiment in all parts of the colony, from the exh-eme north down to the Bluff. There was a wide field in Australia for New Zealand's early grapes, fca- they could not grow grapes successfully'under glass in Australia. FUTURE EXPERIMENTS. Interviewed >as to his proposals for continuing the experiment all over the colony, Mr Bragato said he would he going south early this week, and would offer bis services to growers in different centra?. " This plan," he said, "of repeating the experiment in numerous centres will give an opportunity to growers all over the colony to learn how to grow early grapes, and also how to improve their vineries generally." " The only doubt remaining," observed the interviewer, " is whether the early starting of the vines will be followed by the early shedding of the leaves to give the vines the required rest before starting the heat for the next crop." "It doesn't matter," was the reply. The great essential is to get the wood properly ripened. As you have seen in the grapehous© at Birkenhea-d, the wood is already 'well advanced in ripeness. You could not wish for better wood. Even the stems of the bunches of grapes are beginning to harden and colour, showing that the vines are already beginning to rest." " What is the cause of the inability of the Australians to grow indoor grapes?" "It is too hot there. They cannot grow hothouse grapes so successfully as we grow them here on .account of the difficulty of keeping down the temperature to the proper degree. It will often rise to 120 degrees in the glasshouses

there in spite of open ventilators." " To what parts of Australia does this •apply? "

"To practically all parts. In Melbourne they have no grapes to speak of from August till December. Thcii" early outdoor grapes are ready from January till April—four months —and wo could supply grapes for the balance of the year and obtain a good market."

" They would want to put on the same duty as we put on Australian grapes."

" Perhaps so. It doesn't matter. Besides, when the Panama Canal is open we could create a very good export of grapes from here if we can produce them."

" The trip will occupy perhaps three weeks."

" Less than that proba.bly to get to America."

" Would the grapes keep good for that period?" " Yes, particularly when we have got the proper varieties here for the purpose, which I have already ordered from Europe. I anticipate a great expansion of the hothouse grape industry. It will afford employment for a great number of men, especially old men, whose age compels them to retire from business. It will "give a 'means of livelihood to many old people who might otherwise be a burden upon their relatives or upon the State. These glasshouses can be erected at very little cost. They need not be very elaborate so long as the glass, the ventilation, and the border are good. Of course the officers of the Department are always willing to give them any information they may require to put them in the right way."

" AVhere do you propose to carry out the future experiments for these early crops?"

" I expect to go south early next week, and I intend to invite grapegrowers to arrange for experiments in Invercargill, Dunedin, Oamaii'U, Timaru, Christchurch, Nelson, Wellington, Feilding, Masterton, Hastings, Pahnerston North, Gisborns, Napier, Wanganui, New Plymouth, Stratford, Whangarei, and other suitble centres. The colder the district the more suitable will it be for forcing early grapes."