At Montpellier, in France, the course of viticultural education is elaborately comprehensive, and includes the study of the anatomy of the vine, its flowers, leaves, seeds, &c.  The pupils become thoroughly acquainted with every variety of wine in practical form; they see it grow, learn the art of pruning, and of everything pertaining to the growth of the vine.  They also master all the details connected with grafting, the laying out of vineyards, the diseases to which the vine is liable, and the remedies which are most effectual.  And, in addition, there is minute instruction in every step in cellar management and the after care and treatment of the wine itself, from the start to the finish.  In this way the subject is studied from a thoroughly scientific standpoint, with a result that influences for good the whole of French viticulture.

But if the benefits derived from the establishment of Viticultural Colleges in France are thus remarkable, those which have followed their introduction into Italy are nothing less than wonderful.  The School of Viticulture at Conegliano has been the means of increasing the wine production of Italy to an incredible extent.  In 1870 Italy exported only 4,000,000 gallons of wine; yet in 1890, in the short space of twenty years, this had risen to 88,000,000 gallons.  This school has taught the people to make good wine; it has induced people who had never dreamt of it to plant vineyards; it hag led people to plant them properly, since they were shown the way on a rational principle; and lastly, they have thus learnt how to make wine on a scientific basis.  The course of study there is extremely severe, and as a result all those who receive diplomas from it thoroughly understand the cultivation of the vine and the management of the cellar.  This School of Viticulture has been such a phenomenal success that other provinces of Italy brought pressure upon the Government.  As a consequence therefrom, secondary schools have been established at many places, notably Gioia del Colle, Pozzuolo, Tmola, Avellino, Alda, Catania, &c.

In conclusion, there is that other most important matter to which I should like to draw attention.  It is to advocate the establishment of an Australian Wine-Growers’ Association on a federal basis.  The advantage resulting from the formation of a strong Association, with a numerically powerful membership roll, would be very great.  Such an organization would be well able to conduct a weekly paper of its own, with contributors from all the different colonies.  There would be no dearth of literary material, for the whole subject is one teeming with interest.  Even now a substantial beginning has been made, and the Australian vigneron and fruit-growers journal is well deserving of success, and is already doing good work in this very direction.  And besides the foregoing, an Intercolonial Wine-Growers’ Congress should meet annually at the different Australian metropolitan centres (Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Brisbane, &c.), in rotation, where there would be the opportunity of discussing theoretical questions, and of tasting practical results.  In all these many ways public interest in the Australian wine industry would be continually sustained; and, rising from its unfairly neglected position, it would speedily attain to that pride of place which is manifestly its destiny.