28 THE RAISIN INDUSTRY. 



and solid that, when removing the berries, a sharp spade is used for 

 digging. The vintage begins in July in Zante; Cephalonia grapes 

 ripen almost one week earlier. 



Cost of Currant Vineyards in Greece. In the Grecian Islands and 

 Morea, the best vineyard land varies between $80 and $125 per acre for 

 unimproved land. To prepare the land for the vineyard and irrigation, 

 it will cost, in extreme cases, from $20 to $50 more. The first year's 

 cultivation and care of the young vines is, of course, different accord- 

 ing to locality, but the average is seldom less than $50 per acre. The 

 value of already planted property or a vineyard in good bearing is 

 seldom less than $320 per acre, and often as high as $650 per acre, 

 four stremmas. Strange enough, in calculating the cost of a vineyard 

 in Greece, no one ever takes into consideration the price of the planta- 

 tion or the capital invested. The interest on the same is never consid- 

 ered by the natives. In this respect they resemble our own farmers, 

 who, in calculating the expenses of their farms, never take into con- 

 sideration the labor of themselves and family. Of course, it is almost 

 impossible to obtain exact calculations of profit. The following will 

 serve as a sample: An acre of vineyard planted to currants yields 

 3,200 pounds. The price obtained for the same is two cents per 

 pound, or $64. The labor for the year on one acre is estimated at $45, 

 leaving a yearly profit of $19 per acre. In reality, however, this is 

 not a true statement, as it does not consider the interest on the capital. 

 If the same should be added, it is evident that there would be but little 

 or no profit in the growing of currants. The industry simply enables 

 the peasant who pursues. the work to live and support his family, and 

 possibly to pay his taxes. Only the very best land and the best vine- 

 yards can pay enough to enable its owner to save up a capital, gener- 

 ally a difficult thing in Greece for any one but a merchant or gov- 

 ernment officer. 



As a rule, the cost of producing one hundred pounds of currant 

 raisins is not less than $1.35. Whatever the merchant pays above this 

 to the producer will be for the benefit of the producer. But, as a rule, 

 this way of buying direct is not in use. The merchant sells on com- 

 mission, and what this means we who have had experience in the 

 raisin business in this State all know. We will see how a calculation 

 of an acre of currants will look, when all the expenses are taken into 

 consideration: 

 One acre of currants equals 3,200 pounds at three cents 



per pound $96.00 



Expense on 3,200 pounds at $1.35 $43 oo 



Packing and hauling 7.50 



Freight, insurance, duty, etc v 22.50 



Interest on capital invested ..''.* 15.00 



Merchant charges say 8.00 



$96.00 



In this instance the poor currant raiser has had no other profit than 

 the five per cent interest on his capital invested; he has, in othe~r 

 words, come out even. But figures, sometimes, are apt to lie. The 

 profit, no doubt, is small to the producer, but it must still be some. 



