
Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4 Volume 3 Number 1 January, 1962 Article 2 1-1-1962 Marketing export grapes W R. Jamieson Follow this and additional works at: https://researchlibrary.agric.wa.gov.au/journal_agriculture4 Part of the Food Processing Commons, Marketing Commons, and the Viticulture and Oenology Commons Recommended Citation Jamieson, W R. (1962) "Marketing export grapes," Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4: Vol. 3 : No. 1 , Article 2. Available at: https://researchlibrary.agric.wa.gov.au/journal_agriculture4/vol3/iss1/2 This article is brought to you for free and open access by Research Library. It has been accepted for inclusion in Journal of the Department of Agriculture, Western Australia, Series 4 by an authorized administrator of Research Library. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Cleaning and packing Ohanez export grapes MARKETING EXPORT GRAPES By W. R. JAMIESON, R.D.Oen., Viticulturist. N RECENT years there have been many changes in the buying power and of the avail­ I ability of fresh fruit on our principal overseas grape market, Singapore. The market has become highly com­ ensure that the grapes are properly petitive and trade acceptance today de­ handled. mands that only grapes having a large Increasing cost of production is a major berry size for the particular variety be problem that is confronting the grower. exported, and that the grapes arrive in This is a challenge which has to be met. sound condition. Rejection of borderline or substandard Large berry size can only be obtained grapes greatly increases costs and it pays by avoiding overcropping the vines. This every grower to make certain that the may mean removing some of the crop, grapes comply with the Export (Fresh Fruit) Regulations when they arrive at bunch thinning, or judicious use of irriga­ the cool store. tion water. This article outlines the main points to For grapes to arrive in sound condition be observed when harvesting and packing on the consumer market requires that the grapes for export and gives a summary of grower, the cool store and shipper and the requirements of the Export Fresh the importer must each play a part to Fruit Regulations. » Journal of Agriculture Vol 3 No 1, 1962 GROWING GRAPES FOR EXPORT It is most important that the soils In this article it is possible to make only should be properly managed. This entails: a brief reference to the cultural factors • Growing a good cover crop. which influence the production of high quality grapes. • Discing in the cover crops and weeds Vineyard management practices are the at the appropriate time to prevent exces­ most important factor influencing the sive loss of moisture. quality of fruit over which the grower has •Cultivation of the soil at the right control. They can also exert a consider­ time, i.e. when it is neither too wet or too able influence on the cost of producing dry. grapes. • Leaving a surface mulch of weeds or cover crop to stop 'sand blast' and the re­ (a) Choice of Soils flection of heat from the soil. This is par­ Grapes for export should be grown on ticularly important on light lands. soils with reasonable fertility and ade­ quate moisture reserves. (b) Trellising Early varieties such as the Canon Hall Muscat can be grown on light lands if The type of trellising to be erected there is sufficient moisture stored in the depends on the variety and the soil type. ground to carry the vines and the fruit Chief points to remember are:— through periods of intense heat. (1) The trellis must allow proper The development of a vigorous root distribution of the fruiting wood. system to enable the vine to obtain suffi­ Rod pruned varieties growing on cient moisture to replace that lost by fertile soils need a small T arm transpiration through the vine leaves where the vine is 'headed'. during a heat wave demands deep, well drained soils as the first essential require­ (2) The trellis must ensure that the ment. fruit is protected from wind dam­ The variety most suited for the particu­ age and sunburn. This requires lar soil type should be chosen for plant­ the provision of foliage wires. ing. Further advice on this or any other (3) The trellis should enable spray­ aspect of grape growing can be obtained ing, pollenising, picking and from your District Horticultural Officer, or thinning of bunches or berries to from the Department of Agriculture, be carried out with ease and Jarrah Road, South Perth. thoroughness. Vines trained on a suitable overhead trellis on an Upper Swan vineyard 5 Journal of Agriculture Vol 3 No 1, 1962 (c) Pruning It is desirable that all irrigation should The system of pruning adopted should cease at least six weeks before the matura­ be that which experience has shown to be tion of the grapes. This enables the best suited for the particular variety. In vegetative growth processes to slow down some instances it may be necessary to so that the transport of food material to modify accepted pruning practices to get the grape berries can take place. the best results. Grapes high in water content are very Pruning is the main method of regulat­ prone to 'breakdown' disorders. ing crop production. The aim of the pruner should be to establish a balance (g) Disease Control between crop production and the vigour The control of fungus diseases and of the vine. insect pests is outlined in the accompany­ It is most important that over-cropping ing spray programme. of the vines be avoided, as this leads to a Absence of disease or insect damage is low sugar content in the grapes, under­ essential in export grapes. This can only sized berries and lack of colour develop­ be obtained by closely following control ment. recommendations. (d) Fertilisers and Manures On soils of reasonable fertility there is doubt whether the application of ferti­ HARVESTING EXPORT GRAPES lisers gives any increase in yield, but (a) When to Pick growers are advised to apply superphos­ If possible, only experienced and reliable phate when sowing the cover crop in the pickers should be employed picking grapes autumn. for export. Bulky organic manures such as poultry At the beginning of picking on any par­ and other stock manures, abattoir refuse ticular soil type the vigneron should and so on can serve a useful purpose in satisfy himself that the grapes are suffi­ building up the organic matter in the soil. ciently mature. Care is necessary when applying these, as To meet the requirements of the Export too much can induce excessive vegetative Regulations this is best done by the use vigour at the expense of fruit production. of the Beaume hydrometer to determine Vines growing on soil with a high nitro­ the sugar content of the grapes. However, gen content mature their fruit much the grower should also consider whether more slowly than vines where the nitrogen other characterists such as berry colour content is lower. If the vines receive and bunch stem colour are satisfactory. excessive nitrogen the fruit is watery and Well matured stems are less subject to prone to breakdown. dessication, discolouration and mould attack than immature ones. (e) Pollenising The Ohanez variety should be cross The Beaume Test pollinated to ensure satisfactory setting of This is very simple, and the equipment the crop. needed is also simple and inexpensive:— The customary procedure today is to 0-10c Beaume hydrometer. make a water suspension of pollen from Measuring cylinder (200 milligram) or a variety such as Black Malaga and apply wide mouth pickle bottle. with hand sprays to the Ohanez flowers. The spray is applied every two or three Two important precautions must be days during the flowering period, using a taken: freshly made pollen suspension. • The grapes when tested should be cool to avoid large errors due to tempera­ (f) Irrigation ture when reading the scale on the Judicious irrigation is of great value in Beaume hydrometer. the successful maturation of heavy crops • It is important to gather a truly of export grapes. Only well drained soils representative sample of the fruit it Is can be successfully irrigated for this pur­ intended to pick. To do this sprigs of pose. berries should be collected from all parts 6 Journal of Agriculture Vol 3 No 1, 1962 SPRAY PROGRAMME FOR GRAPE VINES Disease or I'.-st Treatment Time of tpplicali.m lUte Itemarks Black Spot (Anthracuuae).... /.hum or Thiram sprays... (a) l.:lli: dormant - tillilsU'i II. a III. Ill ;< II../IU0 gallons water Dormant Spray essential and should be ton gallons applied at high pressure. (b) Wiien slinota are 2 4 latihja long 11 lb. 11 Ib./lUU gallons water in ion gallons (c) Before dowering 14 lb. In 10X1 gallons .... i; II. , IIKI gallons water id) After fruit set 1111.. in 100 gallons .... 1, Ib./lOO gallons water (e) Thereafter at any time when wet weather conditions favour further black spot infections Powdery Mildew (Uidlum).... sulphur Dust or Sulphur (a) When shoots are 4 Inch.* long Wettable Sulphur can bo used in the Zlrara Sulphur dust Is probably more effective limn Sprays (b) Just before tlowcriiiK or Tldrum sprays at the rate of 1J lb.,'40 •praying when the fruit has set and thu (c) After fruit set gallons water. Dust at .. • in II. per acre foliage has become dense. (d) Any time thereafter according to seasonal conditions Mealy Bug .... D.D.T. spray Lata winter just bafen bodawai }% water mixture — 2J gallons 20% Ivsseiitlal to spray at high pressure (800- li U T./KKI gallons water 860 lb.
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