CULTURE OF THE GRAPE. 19 



some lots running up to ten dollars, and one lot of a hun- 

 dred and twenty-five gallons being struck off to the King 

 of Hanover at twenty dollars per gallon. It should be 

 borne in mind that this is the vintner's price before bot- 

 tling, and previous to any impost duty or trade profit. 



As a general rale, the quality of the wine is found to be 

 in inverse ratio to the quantity produced. Hence, if we 

 take the average product of European vineyards to be 

 two hundred and fifty gallons per acre, and if we esti- 

 mate the average price to be twenty-five cents per gallon, 

 we have, as a result, a yield of sixty-two dollars and fifty 

 cents per acre. This is probably not far from a correct 

 estimate. It will be seen that the Rhine acre, with its 

 low product of thirty-three and three-eighths gallons, con- 

 sidering the high price of its wines, will yield a much 

 larger result than the average. 



In regard to the value of lands in Europe suitable for 

 wine-making, only a very general estimate can be made. 

 In the Burgundy wine-district, clear lands for planting 

 rent at the low rate of about ten dollars per acre per 

 annum for a term of twenty to thirty years. Planted 

 lands rent for about twice this sum. The fee of first-class 

 vineyards is held quite out of proportion to the rental, 

 varying from three to five thousand dollars per acre. 



