VI 



Editor's Preface. 



In Germany, the average income per acre, at twenty-five 

 cents per gallon, amounts to $37 18. 



In the other countries, the average per acre, $63 98. 



But taking each country separately, their annual average 

 production of wines amounts, at twenty-five cents per gallon, 

 as follows : 



As yet the high prices of grapes and of wines in this 

 country, and the large yield per acre, have been such that the 

 gross earnings of the land appear to sustain the assertion of 

 Mr. Kennedy, though when our gross product approximates 

 that of older wine countries, it can not be doubted that the 

 returns to the farmer will be greatly diminished; at the same 

 time the cheaper production will be greeted as a boon to the 

 consumer, and this is a consummation which is much to be 

 desired. 



Two hundred and fifty gallons per acre has been considered 

 a very moderate estimate of the average crops of our vine- 

 yards, four times that amount having been produced, and one 

 dollar a gallon is certainly a very low figure for the product. 

 But the true friends of the vineyard interest look forward to 

 the time of much cheaper production. 



