Vine Growing Successful.

After a time, Mr Palmer, of the horticultural division of the Department, suggested making a trial plantation of lines on two or three acres with a suitable aspect. These vines were planted without any specially deep preparation of the ground, but they were liberally manured, and the weeds, chiefly sorrel, were kept down between the rows by constant scarifying through the summer, which also kept the surface soil in good loose tilth. The way the vines throve on this originally unsuitable-looking land surprised every-one. Not only did the vines grow, but they bore and ripened heavy crops of grapes, from which, after a time, many gallons of light wine were successfully made. These original vines, thus experimentally planted and treat-ed, continued to bear well for several seasons, until they were replaced by fetter varieties for wine-making purposes, grafted on phylloxera resistant stocks. At the present time there are about twenty acres under vines at Waerenga, all on resistant stocks of various kinds, for experimental purposes.