In order to test the truth or otherwise of this statement, some five years ago Mr G. M. Marshall secured a few hundred plants of various varieties of well-known European grape vines from the Government viticultural station at Arataki, Hawke's Bay, and planted them out at Matangi orchard, Earnscleugh (Otago Central), out in the open, exposed to all winds and in soil that had a fair share of alkali in its composition.
The vines were grown like currant bushes, with 5ft manuka stakes to hold up the main branches that carried the fruit.
This plan was adopted in order to discover which varieties would ripen earliest under the most adverse growing conditions.
The vines have been fruiting for three seasons past, but this year quite a number are carrying some very fine clusters of grapes of even shape, good colour, and flavour.
The first to ripen this year was a variety of yellow-tinged grapes called Golden Chasselas.
This vine, notwithstanding several severe frosts in October, set quite a quantity of fruit of very even size, and although not so attractive-looking as the darker-coloured grapes, should sell well on account of its flavour and sweetness.
The next in order of ripening was a variety (Pineau Meunier), used almost exclusively for wine-making - claret in particular.
The bunches on these vines are very compact, though on the small side; but they ripen up very evenly, and there is no waste.
Having a rich, heavy bloom, they are attractive in appearance, and their flavour is very like that of a ripe elderberry.
• We publish this morning an appeal which, we venture to think, merits the sympathetic consideration of the Otago community.
It is generally known that the children in the State schools have been very willing and active workers in the cause of patriotism ever since the war broke out.
They have not only subscribed their mites and raised considerable sums by their efforts, but they have also performed a very valuable service by the manufacture of articles of equipment for the soldiers of the dominion, of comforts for the hospital ship, and of articles of clothing for the refugee children of stricken Belgium.
The full record of the work they have performed is one which redounds greatly to their credit and shows that the sacred flame of patriotism burns brightly in the hearts of the young people of Otago.
The cost of the material which the pupils of the schools have been making up has necessarily been heavy, and it is felt by the teachers that the time has come when it should not be necessary for them to rely on the liberality of the parents of some of the children and on the self-sacrifice of numbers of the children themselves for the funds with which the material is purchased.
It should not, however, be a difficult matter to overcome any difficulty in connection with the provision of the funds that are necessary in order that there may be no interruption in the patriotic activities of the children.
We have no hesitation, therefore, in endorsing the appeal which is made this morning by a committee of the teachers of Otago and in acceding to their request to act as a channel through which contributions may be forwarded to the "School Children's Patriotic Fund''. - ODT, 21.3.1916.
