164 



rental of the vineyards, or 18 per cent, on their freehold value for 

 the chance of saving one year's crop. 



Again, if the trunks of the vines be bored and the sulphur in- 

 serted, this most delicate operation could only be performed by the 

 factors themselves, and if the vines were to be cut down to the 

 ground and grafted with cuttings from sound vines, the entire ope- 

 ration (which could only be performed by the factors) would cost 

 lrf. to l%d. for each vine, or as much as the sulphuring process ; 

 and besides this, there would be a loss of four years' produce at 3/. 

 per pipe per annum, making a total loss of 16/. 10s. in every vine- 

 yard growing vines capable of yielding one pipe of wine, or about 

 33-i- per cent., or one-third of the freehold value of the estate. 



Lastly, the dressing of the trunk and branches of 800,000,000 

 vines with mineral tar could not be carried into operation within 

 any reasonable period, on account of the tediousness of the process 

 and the scarcity of labourers. The expense of the tar would also 

 be a bar to its being used. 



