116 



that wine-making grapes have been planted. The progress of the industry 

 since that date is shown in the table below : 



Tunisian Vine-growing Statistics, 1882-1909. 



In the above table, under " Area " are included both European and Arab 

 vineyards. The latter are assumed to show no variation from year to year, 

 and to be represented by the figure 4,165 acres. The columns dealing with 

 " Production " and " Yields," on the other hand, have exclusive reference 

 to the vineyards owned by Europeans. For these vineyards the average 

 yield per acre is represented by 212galls. of wine, or what corresponds to about 

 1J tons of grapes. And since the varieties grown are of the heavy -bearing 

 type, such as Mataro, Morrastel, &c., these yields must be looked upon as 

 light. It should be recollected, however, that when vineyard areas are 

 gradually extending in any country the total area under vines will always 

 include a fair proportion of vines not in fall bearing, or even not in bearing 

 at all. Yields, too, must necessarily vary with districts and with the indi- 

 vidual skill and care of owners. It is stated that many of the well-kept 

 older vineyards placed in the better districts yield between 520galls. and 

 700galls. of wine to the acre, corresponding to 3J tons to 4J tons of fruit. 



There is no doubt that since 1905 Tunisian vinegrowers have found them- 

 selves in a very difficult position. Seasons generally have not been favorable 

 to heavy yields, and the price of wine in bond before shipment has fallen 

 from 7Jd. to 4Jd., and has remained constant at that price ever since. The 

 average quantity of wine exported per annum during the past five years 

 has been represented by about 2,000,000galls., having an average value in 

 bond before shipment of 41,815 ; of this quantity the French ports absorb 



