54 



The chief red varieties now grown are Arainon and Carignane, both of 

 which we possess, but neither of which yield as heavily here as in the south 

 of France. On the other hand, South Australian wine made from these 

 varieties is fuller and richer in alcohol than is the case in France. Of white 

 varieties the principal ones in use are Terret, Piquepoule, and Clairette, 

 which we do not possess, or at all events are only represented by a few odd 

 plants in our vineyards. 



Apart from vineyards planted in sand and those which can be flooded in 

 winter, all this vast area has been replanted on American stock between 1876 

 and 1892. In this connection Rupestris and Riparia stock are at present 

 almost exclusively made use of. 



How great must be the care and attention bestowed upon general cultural 

 operations may be gauged by the high amount of working expenses per acre 

 disbursed each year in a country in which manual labor is not very highly 

 remunerated. I had occasion to visit the cellars and vineyards of the Com- 

 pagnie Des Salins du Midi. They own a vineyard about 2,000 acres in area, 

 the general working expenses of which are represented by 32,000, that is to 

 say about 16 an acre. This figure is inclusive of vintage and wine-making 

 expenses, but it is exclusive of all interest on capital outlay. Working 

 expenses calculated on this basis I found to be generally estimated at from 

 13 to 16 an acre, although I was assured that in many cases this average 

 is exceeded. The expenses involved in the first three years of bringing a 

 new vineyard into bearing, exclusive of the cost of the land, 1 found to be 

 variously estimated from 48 to 64 an acre ; and as the life of a grafted 

 vineyard does not appear to average more than 25 to 30 years this initial 

 expense represents a heavy burden to be deducted from future gross profits* 



From another point of view the great importance of the vine-growing 

 industry to the south of France may be gauged by the number of people 

 directly or indirectly concerned in it. The 1909 statistics show French vine- 

 yard owners to be represented by 1,601,332 individuals, of which 151,499 

 belong to the four Languedoc Departments. To these must be added all 

 laborers interested, coopers, teamsters, wine merchants and their staffs, &c t 



An interesting table has been drawn up by M. Barbut showing the extent 

 to which southern vineyards are split up amongst small owners. The table 

 which is given below has reference to the Department of Aude, in which there 

 were reckoned to be 33,047 vineyard owners. Of these 



13,888, or 42 per cent., owned less than 2J acres 

 14,160, or 43 per cent. " from 2J acres to 12J acres 

 2,666, or 8 per cent. " from 12 J acres to 25 acres 

 1,320, or 4 per cent. " from 25 acres to 50 acres 

 443, or 14 per cent. " from 50 acres to 75 acres 

 570, or 1-7 per cent. " over 75 acres 



