173 AMEBIC A]S^ GRAPE GROWIi^G 



year may be estimated at from 85,000 to 90,000 acres, 

 making an average increase of about 35 per cent for the 

 last four years. In 1876 we exported by sea and rail 

 1,115,000 gallons wine, and 59,000 gallons brandy. In 

 1878 the exports were, of wine, 1,812,000 gallons, and of 

 brandy, 129,000 gallons ; and this year the estimates are 

 2,224,000 gallons of wine, and 160,000 gallons of brandy. 

 The French wine imports have decreased from 7,000,000 

 gallons in 1872, to 2,486,000 in 1877. About an average 

 of 30 per cent per year. This increase and reversion of 

 trade may be attributed to our protective tariff, the rav- 

 ages of the Phylloxera in Europe, and to the genuineness 

 and acknowledged merit of our wines. I commenced 

 making wine about the 20th of September, and did the 

 crushing, stemming, and pumping by steam power. The 

 crusher is an improvement on a French pattern, and is 

 capable of crushing and stemming over 100 tons per day, 

 doing the work in the most perfect manner. My pro- 

 duct for the season is about 225,000 gallons, and that of 

 the County, about 1,700,000 gallons. The last report of 

 the Surveyor General gives the product of the State as 

 7,790,000 gallons, or about 50 per cent of the entire pro- 

 duction of the United States. 



The crop of raisins cured annually is valued at from 

 $60,000 to 180,000. This year's yield is probably 600 

 tons, or 60,000 boxes of 20 pounds each, worth at whole- 

 sale from $1.50 to $2 per box. This branch of the grape 

 interest is increasing rapidly. The present active demand 

 and advance m price, with a partial failure of the crop in 

 Spain, will give a lively stimulus to the business. 



There are now about $30,000,000 of capital invested 

 here in the grape and w^me interest, and it gives employ- 

 ment to more than 12,000 persons. 



Many new vineyards, and large additions to old ones, 

 will be planted this year. In fact, I believe there will be 

 as many planted this season as there were in the last 



