The Wairarapa Daily SATURDAY, JANUARY 4, 1890. GRAPE CULTURE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3401, 4 January 1890, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily SATURDAY, JANUARY 4, 1890. GRAPE CULTURE.

A disidssion has recently taken place in'the columns ol the big Auckland Weekly News, a journal which deservedly occupies a commanding position throughout the length and breadth of New Zealand, as to whether grape culture can' be profi tably pursupil in this Colony. This is all the more singular, because the Auckland'Provinco has beon woiit to ho regarded as the vineyard of New Zealand, and its climate and soil hare been considered specially adapted for producing grapes. Yet there appears to be as many failures as successes amongst those, who, in the far north, have spent timo and money, in laying out viuovarda, and many grapegroworg aro discouraged and disheartoned, This to us in Masterton is a surprise, because, in this district, where wo get frosts in the early summer, and often in mid autumn, grapo growing has been made a success under no specially favorablo conditions, Some years ago a settler in this kiwn planted the eighth part of an acre with a variety of vines, and for several successive seasons he has succeeded in making from them annually some forty or fifty gallons of good wine, a claret whioh he considers better than any he oan purchase, His vintage is, however, capable: of improvement, because some of the sorts which he has cultivated do not always ripon in this climate, and his best species is probably tho black duster, which matures every season. This spring he planted a second patch of a similar size with cuttings from Napier, of, we believe, the Pineaux Noirs variety, a grape which produces in Hawkes Bay a 6rst-cluss wine, and it is his intention, when hissopond vineyard comes into hearing, to grub up the first plantation, Our Auckland friends may be interested to know that ho has hitherto grown his vines on the standard system, cutting them back every springlud growing some three or fop canes to each root, but this season he has adopted a new method ofoulture, whioh bids fair to more than double his previous crop. One cane of last season's growth is trained horizontally along a:wiro a fe iv inches from the ground, and one butj'left. to grow, upright which will forpi- tbp bearing wood of- noxt season. Each horizontal cane carrios about twenty bunches of grapes, and even: tho new shoot adds one of twp bunches'to the total. The settler we refer to, Mr-'W'H. Bee'ham, estimates that he can secure a certain crop every year. The principal auomy he has to •contend against is ftosV rad'ltuVW.pwppseii'to. njwt

I); covering the young buds from the time they germinate till the middle of December: wife a-/,straw 'plait, which is. manufactured 'at a nominal ensL. by a little niaobirio imported for the purpose.; Mr Beetham has made grape culture > -iitiiale on' a somewhat hard and unworkable Boil, but itmay be said he has had'special facilities for ascertaining-.the beat continental methods of cultivation, and "combines, practical' with : therotical knowledge. : There is nothing to prevent any working man hi the flistrictgrowinga vineyardon the same lines and to a like advantage, because the Beoret of succoos is Bimply oare and atttention, .Grapo cuttings are to be had at the proper time gjthe year, for the asking and.information as to: the best methods of growing them is obtainable with equal facility, Not that wewonld suggest that the working man should turn out forty or nfty gallons of oket per annum I His best return would be the aaleot the frnt. and even if he put bis surplus stock in a wine press we should be disposed to recommend him to give a preference to the unfermented juice as a-pleasant beverage, which possesses very refreshing, highly . nutritious and valuable medicinal qualities. If the iestiituny of Mastertqn, a place that has not yet' been counted hi the vineyards of the Colony, be taken by pur Auckland friends, it will bo deoidedly on the side of,profitable culturo, Throughout this' neighborhood thero are numerous single vines which thrive admirably in the'open, and yield abundant crops, but the special instance we lm\o- cited is the best illustration within our knowledge of systematic grape culture, A number of Bottlers in tins district, stimulated by Mr Beetham's oxample, bave'this season commenced to lay out little vineyards, and if our Auckland friends Bhould despair of growing grapes, probably they may by and by get a lead from Masterton.

A now kind ofgloy6,jVery u'joful fur shopping: and,travelling,! hisfrocently been brought out. It is a tan Suead glove withajiiiwu fixed in thepaliri;of the hiiidj and forminn part'of tho glovb; ensuring tho most perfect safety tor the puise and its couteutß.; :

' All adult 'person! whn have. resided six months in the borough ur tho small farm settlement of Miistertun who are deilrous of being on (he voters Hit nf the Masterton Truat Lands arc nUified in-another, nolumn tint they must register their namos at tho Town clerks office prior to ;tho' expiration ot the' current month Tho Horth British & Mercantilo Fire Insurance Company have paid Mr J. Orenlmnn's olatm in full, £OO, on account of the fire on 18th Decoratier-last, by which the whole- of his furniture and effects wore dostroyed. The wiolder of n paint brush and a pleader of law, who reside not many miles from the Oaiterton Post Office, came to fisticuffs the orlior day over a despute about one of the canine breed, but the uniiß.il strong smell uf paint 80011 overcame the man of law, who was B'lOii measuring his length on (lie ground with his features rather disfigured. - Two to one on paint," Mr Dillon and; Sir T. EBmonde arrived in the Wairarapa yesterday, and wore met at tho Feathorstun mil way station by tho IWFaiher McKenua, aocompauiod by Mr A; W. licnall, They druvothrough, calling at the residences of a fow settlera en route to Masterton, where they were met by a number of sympathiser* and supnotters, The distinguished viiitots are ninfe a short stav in Misteitnn where they are tlio niwnts of tho Rev J at the Catholic presbytery, They leave to-uiorrow for Napier via the FortyMile Bnah, afterward) pasaengoi-j tn Auckland and the Hot Likes prior to lheir departure for Homii. Their trip through this district isono of pleasure, their desire being to set a view of th-i country where their business engagements have not already carried them, fioth gentlemen are very affable : and courteous and evidently woll pleased with the; reception they have met on thvir tour. This morning they paid a visit to the Fish Ponds, Good accounts continue to arrive" o f tiie success of the En/Ink artistes in Uni'iica, A hearty welcome hue .open given m New York to Mr and Mrs l.endal in their comedies," and to Mr Terriss and Miss Milward in the drama founded on'' Roger la Honte. The same cheery note of o ngratulafi'in cornea from Boston, dure Mr Charles Wyntliain and hia Criterion' Company, at the now Fremmt Theatre, have delightedeve'ybidywith u David Garrick," and scats have heeu Bold at a premium, over 10.0 M dols havim; baon taken at the box-office.. Mr Wilsone Barrett has also impressed ' earnest audiences at Bostunin " btn-my-Clireo.'' Mr R, G, Marsh of Wellington is in Masterton, obtaining subscribers for several new and valuable publications, which are b.'ins issued by the oxtenivo American firm of Scammell and Co. One that is dcslined to command a very larjio sale is " Soamraell's Uiiivertal Treasure House of.uselul Knowledge." This work is an encynlopediaof valuable receipts, anrt cuntnins over loflO paijes of closely p.intfcd matter and 8000 illustrations, it includes complete treatises on practical chemistry and health, domestic lif->, the culmary art, farm interests dealing with every branoh such as Hardening, foresty, cropa. bee keeping ailk culture, tho dairv, raising livestock treatment of discise, bacon curinjj, poultry raising, and fish culiuro. The uiechanical arts are extensively treated mercantile life, and fine arts, The last hundred pages an devoted to recreations gyinasfcics, tisldsports, boating, angling, dancing, and games, The book is wed uauied as it is really a ■' Treasure House" stored with every branch of useful knowledge ivritfou in a comprehensive manner and forms a complete library in Itself of the subjects upon which it treats. The book has found ready sale in nil tlio South Wairarapa townships through which-Mr Marsh has passed and will meet wi'h numerous subscribers in Masterton, Two othar works are being introduced by Mr Marsh, " tho story of iho wild west" or the marvellous autobioographyof "Buffalo Bill" which is profusely illustrated ani the peerless bible beautifully b-iund ami copiously illustrated and which has gone through six editions,

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The timo for the distribution of these picsen's is limited, viz,. Jrom the present date to (lie end ot tho month of December, 1889, at To Aro House Wellington. •In the mln'i, boy-,', and youths' clothing depar'tm nl, purchasers may soleot their presents fcum a ohoico auortuient of tica, ■carfs, shirts, hats, &c, ■at Te Aro Houße Advi.