THE RAISIN INDUSTRY. 35 



times as much as Yerly and Carabourna. A somewhat varied estimate 

 of the Smyrna raisin crop is given by Consul W. E. Stevens of 

 Smyrna, in his report dated February 28, 1884. According to him, the 

 raisin crop of Smyrna should amount to one million, nine hundred 

 thousand hundred weight or ninety-five thousand tons. These two 

 consular estimates would give Smyrna as follows: 1871, forty-eight 

 thousand tons; 1872, thirty-one thousand tons; 1879, seventy-five 

 thousand tons; 1881, forty-nine thousand tons; 1884, ninety-five thou- 

 sand tons. This, of course, includes all kinds of raisins. As regards the 

 Sultana raisins, the reports of the two consuls also differ. By Consul 

 Stevens, it is estimated to be thirty-two thousand, five hundred tons, 

 or sixty-five million pounds; while Consul Heap puts the figures at only 

 nineteen million, four hundred thousand pounds, or only nine thousand, 

 seven hundred tons. We have no means to verify the statements, but 

 are inclined to think the higher figure the more correct. If it is true 

 that the raisin yield of Smyrna to-day reaches one hundred thousand 

 tons, it would be absurd to think that only ten per cent should be 

 Sultanas, which is the principal raisin grape of the district. It is 

 more probable that at least one-third of the whole crop consists of Sul- 

 tanas. About eighty per cent of all the Sultana raisins go to England, 

 ten per cent are consumed by Eastern Europe and Russia, a small part 

 only going to the United States. 



Cost of Vineyards in Smyrna. The cost of vineyards in the Smyrna 

 district varies just as it does elsewhere. Bearing vineyards change 

 hands at from three hundred to four hundred and fifty dollars per acre. 

 The j-earlylabor on an acre of vines, including pruning, cultivation and 

 drying, amounts to fifty dollars an acre or more. The average yield 

 per acre averages from about eighty-five to ninety dollars, leaving a 

 profit of from thirty to forty dollars, equal to from about eight to ten 

 per cent on the capital invested. I believe, however, that these figures 

 may be modified, and that the profit on an acre of average vineyard 

 often reaches from fifty to sixty dollars. The fact that an acre of vine- 

 yard sells for four hundred and fifty dollars indicates that it must not 

 only give a fair but a good interest^ on that sum. The raisins from 

 one acre of a Smyrna vineyard 'are sold for $88. The interest 

 on the par value of an acre ($450) for one year at five per cent is 

 $22.50. The other expenses during the year amount to $50, leaving,' 

 as net profit, $6.50. The above is a low estimate copied from English 

 statements. 



Other Varieties of Raisins. Besides Sultanas, Smyrna produces an 

 enormous quantity of raisins of other kinds. The demand for these 

 has been and is constantly increasing, the most being shipped to manu- 

 facturers of wines, distilled liquors of all kinds, jellies, jams, etc. 

 These varieties are known as Large Black and Large Red. These 

 varieties are grown in all the Smyrna districts, and in quantity far exceed 

 the Sultanas. The following will give an idea of how this trade has 

 increased of late. Red and Black Smyrna raisins in tons: 1868, 12,795, 

 1876, 15,500; 1881, 40,000; 1883, 45,000; 1888, 60,000. The price 

 varies from three to four cents per pound in the local market. Judging 

 from the constantly increased export of these kinds of raisins, it is not 

 likely that the production of the same is likely to soon be overdone. 



