PROFITS OF COMMERCIAL GRAPE GROWINf!. 221 



PROFITS OF COMMERCIAL GRAPE GROWING. 



"Every acre of ^ood bearing vineyard," said one of our largest 

 and most successful Western New York growers, "you cau put down 

 as costing' $.'^()(.)." Let us see: 



In the vi'ide range of the grape belt, the first cost of the land varies 

 all the way from $25 to, in rare cases, as high as f200 per acre. For 

 our theoretical vineyard, we will put the land at $1()U per acre. In a 

 full discussion in the horticultural society on the cost for roots, 

 posts, wire and labor for a vineyard froin planting to the second 

 bearing year, the estimates were none higher than $80 nor lower 

 than $i3() per acre. Let us take the first named figure, and our bear- 

 ing vineyard has cost us all told, $180 per acre. Now, we will let out 

 the vinejard to halves, each party furnishing half the baskets, and 

 will call the yield 800 baskets per acre, bringing 12c per 9-pound bas- 

 ket. 



This then is the waj- our balance sheet will appear: 



One acre vineyard Dr. Cr. 



400 baskets of grapes at 12c ^ $48.00 



Interest on cost, $180 at 6 per cent $10.80 



400 baskets at $20 per m 8.00 



Fertilizers 5.00 $23.80 



Balance, net profit per acre $24.20 



If we put the yield at 1,000 baskets, which vineyards on $100 per 

 acre land ought to bear, the net profit will be $10 more, or $34.20. If 

 instead of leasing out the vineyard, the owners carry it on, the 

 account will be about as follows: 



Une acre Krj'pes Dr, Cr. 



800 baskets at 12c $96.00 



Interest on investment $10.80 



Cost of pruning, tying and cultivation 10.00 



Fertilizers 5.00 



800 baskets 16.00 



Picking, packing and hauling to station 800 baskets 



grapes at 2^0 c 20.ai 



Taxes ." 2.50 $64.30 



Balance, net profit per acre $;^1.70 



A yield of 1,000 baskets would add $15 to this, making the net pro- 

 fit $46.70 per acre.— Fruit. 



To the above expense account the Minnesota vine growers 

 rau.st add the expense of burying and a .slight increased cost 

 of baskets, which is more than offset however by the saving in 

 cost of transportation and the increase of price for fresh home 

 grown fruit. Grape growing can be made fairly remunerative 

 on any location in our state that is reasonably frost proof, as 

 the high lands south and east of our larger lakes. Sec'y. 



It has recentlj' l)een demonstrated for the first time, and that bj' 

 Cornell K.xperiment Station, that the production of apples is far 

 more exhaustive to the soil than wheat growing. 



