WHAT TO DO WITH THE FARM. 7 



I visited some of the vineyards in Concord last year, and, on 

 making inquiries as to the matter of profits, I was convinced 

 that Mr. Bull had not overstated the results. A proprietor of 

 one of the small vineyards informed me that his net profits for 

 the preceding three years — one of which had been unfavorable 

 for grapes — had been an average of $990 per acre. 



But may not the market be glutted, and the prices be so 

 reduced as not to be remunerative ? This question is discussed 

 by Mr. Bull, and satisfactorily answered in the negative. More- 

 over, it is worthy of remark that no one apprehends a glut in 

 the market for apples, when planting an orchard of that fruit. 

 The truth is, that, ever since the temptation in Eden, the appear- 

 ance of good fruit awakens in beholders a desire for it ; and it 

 makes a market for itself to such an extent that, taking the 

 average of seasons, it pays well. 



As I have referred to the apple as an illustration, permit me 

 to close this long digression with the remark, that an acre of 

 grovnd ivill produce more pure loine than pure cider, and begin 

 to yield several years earlier ; and that while a first-rate quality 

 of either article can be made only by the exercise of neatness 

 and care, wine may be made as easily as cider, and when made, 

 as it should be, from the right kind of grapes, well ripened, the 

 pure juice needs no water, nor sugar, nor extra ingredients, nor 

 " doctoring" of any sort, to preserve it. 



Wlien I contemplate these facts, and see around me so many 

 localities that would be eligible sites for vineyards, used as pas- 

 tures, lean and poor, or planted with some of the ordinary crops, 

 I am reminded of the Spaniard who lived in poverty and died 

 of starvation on a piece of land that covered a gold mine ; and 

 when I see how slowly these facts attract the attention of our 

 farmers, I cannot but think of the long occupancy of California 

 by the Jesuits and Spaniards, without the suspicion that they 

 were actually in El Dorado, which for centuries had excited the 

 hopes of these adventurers, and where, with simple spade and 

 pickaxe, they might have dug more gold than they had dreamed 

 of in their wildest imaginings. 



But let us return to our subject. Not every farm presents 

 the proper aspect and soil for a vineyard, and the most of our 

 cultivators must be content to raise some other products. Con- 

 sequently, having well considered what crops his farm is best 



