CULTURE OF THE GRAPE. 275 



per acre, which, at fifteen cents per pound, would amount 

 to three thousand dollars. The estimate is based upon 

 the supposition, that the vines are planted four feet apart 

 each way, giving two thousand seven hundred and twenty- 

 two vines per acre, which, at an average of seven and a 

 half pounds of fruit for each vine, would yield twenty 

 thousand four hundred and fifteen pounds. It cannot be 

 disputed that vines may be trained to stakes at that dis- 

 tance, and that they may produce even more than seven 

 and a half pounds in some cases; but it may well be 

 doubted whether any acre ever did yield this amount. 

 Estimates based upon a few vines or a few rods of ground 

 are entirely fallacious. We must rely mainly upon actual 

 results, although we may hope to increase these results 

 by improved modes of culture. In the established vine- 

 yards of Cincinnati, the opinion of Mr. Buchanan and 

 Mr. Longworth was, that an average yield of wine per 

 acre was about two hundred and fifty gallons, requiring 

 about seventy bushels of grapes. I have no means of 

 estimating the equivalent in pounds of fruit. This is 

 called a fair average "for eight or ten years, with but 

 little rot." Mr. Lougworth, in a f eport to the Cincinnati 

 Horticultural Society in 1846, mentions some much 

 larger results. He says, "The best crop for the extent 



