Polynesian., 1858-06-26
No. 8.
The Vineyaras ~ the Murray Valley,

important is unquestionably the grape. The wheat
and Hour markets may be easily syerdone by the
efforts of our farmers, and by the speculations Of
the Adelaide traders-for the consumption of the
adjacent gold-feds is but limited, and the mouths
in our immediate neghborhood being once supplied.
there is no outlet for our surplus produce. We
have no roads, and if We had them, il would be
impossible for the producers in the interior TO COM
pete with those nearer the seaboard owing to the
higher rates OF wages ruling in the bush, 10 saw
nothing of the cost Of cartage. Our farmers with
wheat at rs. bushel, even now complaining
that they are ruined prices falling every year
and the cry for protection increases The opkis
destroys the bulk of our vegetable crops, and the
pOtatO-rot has lately committed such rayaees that
some have declared the soil and climate to be un-
favorable to the growth of this root. We'do not
mean To say that our district is particularly un-
favorable in these matters, for similar objections
and disadvantages exist IN nearly every other To-
cality We simply wish to contrast the relative
risks and profits attending the growth Of the usu-
al descriptions of crops, with the risks and profits
peculiar to the culture of the vine.
The results accomplished in Albury by few
German yigneruns are familiar to all residents in
the neighborhOOd; but for the benefit of distant
readers may observe, that the experiment of
growing grapes, not only on our hill slopes but ON
our level bats, has succeeded beyond the anticipa-
tlOns OF the most sanguine. The Germans assert
that three year old viRe in this locality bears
more grapes, and is as forward in every respect
as the five year old plant in the latherand The
average yields hYe tons to the acre, and during
the past three years the grapes have been sold nc
an average Of Is. per h., thus yielding a gross
annual incume, after the third year. of $500 Der
acre. During the season OF 1855 the grapes were
retailed at the Ovens at 2S 6d. Der h. but the
prevailing prices the dggings this year is Is. cd.
Owing t. the high rates Obtainable for the fruit
IN IT'S natural state, the Albury vine-growes have
hitherto only manufactured sufficient wine for their
own consumption, but the gradual decline of the
Ovens diggiDgs is inducing them to plant only
those varieties of vines suitable for producing
wine. Increased quantities of wine are now being
made here every year, of quality equal 10 any in
the world, and superior to the great msi,rity of
colonial wines. We believe the average quantity
OF wine yielded by an acre Of vines is about IL
hOgsheads, and it should be remembered that the
refuse may also be converted into a source of profit
by distilatiOn. The price of colonial wine in Al
bury is rs. per gallon; and suppOsing each hogs
head to contain 54 gallons, it will be found that
the gross return from each acre of the yineyard,
when the fruit is manufactured into wine, is rep
resented by G64S.
From these totals We have to deduct the cost of
labor, the interest on capital employed and the
expenses of manufacturing the wine. The Albury
vineyards unfortunately are as yet of too recent
formation, and too limited extent to enable US 10
calculate with any degree Of accuracy, the expen-
of raising five tons of grapes and turning them
into wine. We may observe however, that the
cost of trenching and planting is about $50 per
acre. This expenditure has to be incurred the first
year, after which the vines require but little at
tentOn, the outlay for pruning and loosening the
roots being comparatively trihing. At rough
estimate, we imagine that GlO0 per acre would
cover all expense up TO the third year, provided
the experiment were tried on q large scale. Pa
rpnthptIpaIlv vn m hat oc IL.
year old vines is worth in Albury at least El ,OOO
We will not trust ourselves to give any opinion
as to the cost of wine manufacture in Albury, but
it must be obvious that the gross receipts are suE
fciently large 10 yield splendid margin of profit
and to render vine growing Of the most lucra-
tive investments for capital and industry that has
ever offered itself. As regards the risks attending
the pursuit, we are happy to state 5bst the grape
crops have been known TO fail in this part of
the country, the vines being entirely free from all
disease, and attaining q most ln1uriant growth.
The only effect of a dry season is to improve the
quality of the fruit, while wet season increases
tie quantity, but ut sacrifice OF flavor
1t would he absurd To imagine that vine culture
can ever be nyerdnne in Australia even surprising
the entire population Of all the colonies were to
devote themselves TO the occupation. Our esIlnnial
vineyard proprietors will have more than they can
accomplish Tor many years 70 come. in supplying
the heavy demand for home consumption, which
must inevitably arise. In all wine countries the
native product superSedes all imported beverages
and is consumed alike by prince and peasant at
almost every meal The hume demand b.ino sat-
isfe'. attention will BE- turned to the export trade
Ihe Continental vineyards ha7e fallen of eunsd-
erlbly of late years. the Australian wines will
enter the European markets with1ut experiencing
competition. Already u brisk demand for Austria
liln wine has sprung up in England, and latest
advices informs Us that tickets are exposed in
many OF the LnndOn puiIic-hOuses. intimating
that Australian wine is 10 BE- procured at ths ss-
adjustments. The eff-ct Of the introduction Of
an unadnlterated article To replace the artificial
compounds that the English public have hitherto
been drinking, is beginning To develop itself: and
already II Is iuund quite impossible for colonial
wine-grDwers 20 execute the orders that are pour
ing in from all quarters As regards the value Of
tic colonial wine in England, We NAV remind our
readers that lately copied paragraph from
the Adelaide Register. stating that tue English
wine merchants are selling 1t. including the bottles
and hampers at As per dozen.
The great obstacle ~ the extension Of vine cul-
ture amongst Us Is the want Of capital. In these
days, when many bubble companies are concOc-
ted in England. we wonder tnat the genuine and
golden opportunity of securing high dividends by
deyoting large capital TO the cuItiva ton Of the
vine in the valley Of the Murray has been overlook
ed. English wine merchants profess to be alarm
ed at the decline Of their staple in Europe how
it is that they do not combine to devise means
for protecting their trade from depression and in
juryl The cotton lords of Manchester, who labor
under similar apprehensiOns in reference to the
supply of cotton for their mills are taking steps
to form companies for growing c1tton at MOreton
Bay. Surely this is precedent which might be
advantageOusly followed.
DEPARTURE FoR THE NoRTH OF THE BRrrrsH
PLESIPoTESTIART, &c.-Fhe British Plenipotenti.
airy, Lord Elgin. and suite, left Hongkong 70.
Northern China, Ito deal direct with the Enper.
or \ in Fl NJ shin Furious IN "a M.rh IN