Page:Transactions NZ Institute Volume 23.djvu/652

530 the violent winds, most especially the cold south-west, to prevent the danger of frost in spring-time, or the injury of the young shoots and the grapes when they are already formed; (2) an aspect towards the sun, that the vines may receive in full the rays of the sun during all the day, if possible, or at least in the morning and at noon. It is by means of artificial shelter—for instance, a wall—that in countries unfit for large vineyards it is possible to have good grapes and even wine, if not in quantity, at least of a pretty good quality.

Now, by applying these conditions to Hawke's Bay, we may easily draw the conclusion that large tracts of it are eminently favourable to vine-growing. (1.) We have the proper soil in the greatest part of the Ahuriri plains, composed of sand or gravel, and which can be well drained; in the hills which surround them, and which are chalk-marls and limestones, or calcareous sands—and almost all the hills of the province are of the same formation. (2.) Our climate is warm enough, and even more than enough, in summer months to bring to proper maturity the plants and the grapes. The coldness of the nights may perhaps delay the development of the saccharine substance in the grapes, but it is easy to correct that defect by the means used in Australia. (3.) It would be the business of the vinegrowers to choose for the vineyards places well exposed to the sun, and protected from the dangerous winds and dampness. Many are those places, like the hills and valleys near Taradale, all over the province.

A fact will prove better than any argument the possibility of cultivating grapes and making good wine in Hawke's Bay. About twenty years ago, vines were planted in the garden of the Catholic Mission at Meanee for the purpose of making wine only for the service of the altar. The attempt was successful, and the small vineyard was increased to the extent of a little more than half an acre. The plants were of the best quality: Black Hamburg, White and Red Sweetwater, Chasselas, and Alexandria Tardif. They have pyroduced every year a larger crop of grapes, which make wine of excellent quality. "When leaving New Zealand, Comte d'Abbans, the French Vice-Consul at Wellington, took with him some twenty bottles of 1885 to 1888 wine of different qualities, made at Meanee, and had it exhibited in his court at the Paris Exhibition. Unfortunately, owing to some omission of formality, the wine was not tasted by the jury: but the Comte subsequently obtained the opinion of some of the best wine merchants in Paris, who have unanimously pronounced it unmistakably superior to anything produced in Australia. They say that some of the wines are equal to the celebrated Cyprus brands, the red wines being very similar to the Hungarian or Tokay. One quality of wine tested was almost as