780 FRUIT CULTURE IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 



in the best conducted vineyards is at the end of January or during the 

 first half of February. All the large vines are pruned on two stems, 

 but middle sized and small ones on a single stem, preserving one eye 

 more. In March the first work is done on the vine, when the first dig- 

 ging is done. In April they sulphate the vine, and in May give the first 

 nipping to all branches which grow very rapidly. In June they repeat 

 the sulphur. In July and August the heat does not permit any work 

 on the vines. The harvest begins about the first half of September, 

 and usually about the end of October the second digging is finished. 

 At the close of autumn and in the winter, manure is used for old vines, 

 but in very moderate quantities, about 4 pounds per vine in best soils 

 and 7 pounds per vine in medium, and 10 to 12 pounds per vine in poor 

 soils. They are manured every three years. The character of soil 

 where best results are obtained is on a shallow dry soil, receiving the 

 sun's rays, on hill-side, valley, or table-land. The vines here come into 

 full bearing the fourth year and they remain fruitful until the fifteenth 

 year. 



]$"o system of artificial irrigation for raisin culture exists here. 



The yield value per acre per annum is about $68, and the cost of crop 

 per acre is about $1. The different kinds of vines grown are : In dis- 

 tricts of Kallonie red grapes and white grapes, from which are made 

 the celebrated Kallonie wines, anciently Anthosmias. In the districts 

 of Ploumari black grapes, from which are made the celebrated Koun- 

 toura wines, very much better than the Bordeaux. All the wines made 

 at Mitylene are for home cosumption ; the export is insignificant. 



M. M. FOTTION, 



Consular Agent. 

 UNITED STATES CONSULAR AGENCY, 



Mitylene, March 12, 1884. 



SYRIA. 



BEIRUT. 



REPORT BY CONSUL ROBESON. 

 [Republished from Consular Reports, No. 41^.] 



In the district of Beirut, vineyards are mostly planted on high table- 

 lands or hill-sides (where the best results are obtained), at an elevation 

 of from 1,000 to 4,000 feet above the level of the sea. Some years ago 

 a disease something like mildew spread in Syria, and destroyed most of 

 tbe vineyards. Asphalt was used to counteract the same ; but little, if 

 any, benefit was gained by its use. The only remedy was to destroy the 

 affected vines, and plant in their place plants taken from healthy vines. 

 In January and February vines are pruned; two or three strong shoots 

 are left on each vine. 



The soil best adapted to the cultivation of the vine is reddish-black 

 in color; however, grapes are raised in all kinds of soil, but when the 



