PROFITS OF GRAPE-GROWING. 147 



The wines of Germany would bring, at 25 cts. 



per gallon, . . . . . . $13,020,250 00 



And those of other countries, . . . 763,733,500 00 



Together, $776,759,750 00 



The statistics in regard to the quality of the wine and produc- 

 tiveness relate only to Germany. Other tables show that in 

 Italy and the south of France the wine crop is not only more 

 abundant, but more constant and more profitable than in Ger- 

 many. But although Italy is the very garden of the vine, and 

 some of the choicest wines arc produced there, such is their 

 careless habit in the manufacture, that they furnish very few 

 wines of indubitable excellence for export. Yet the annual 

 product per acre in Italy exceeds that of any wine-growing dis- 

 trict in Europe — 431 gallons to the acre ; while the product in 

 France is from 200 to 250 gallons to the acre, according to the 

 season ; and that of Germany is 136 gallons to the acre. 



Now, if under these circumstances of low prices and almost 

 half the seasons unfavorable in Germany, grape-growing is still 

 the most profitable agricultural pursuit, I think we may go on 

 with the absolute assurance that we cannot fail to succeed in 

 making the crop profitable, and more profitable than any other 

 crop ; and very possibly we may find the alternative that will 

 keep our children at home. Grape-growing is the poetic phase 

 of agriculture. The culture is easy, the harvest is delightful. 

 Except ploughing the land once or twice during the season, the 

 women and children could take the whole care of the vineyard, 

 and when at last the crop is harvested, the product from a single 

 acre is often more than the product of a whole farm besides. 



Take another point of view. Many a poor man finds it diffi- 

 cult to support his family and educate his children as the 

 circumstances of the time and the advancing standard, which is 

 ever rising, make it necessary they should be educated, and 

 spends his life-blood in merely keeping the place which he has 

 bought, merely succeeding in educating his children, with the 

 most severe toil. Let him have his half acre or acre of grapes, 

 from which he would get, possibly, $1,500 — $2,000 has been 

 realized, — surely, $500 per annum ; and you can sec how that 

 moment, you lift that man, who was a slave to the ground, to 



