THE VINE IN SYRIA. 783 



Pruning. The vines are pruned in the months of December, January, 

 and February. The first-grown shoots are cut off, so that only four or 

 five buds remain on them. A reddish humus soil with limestone beneath 

 appears to be especially well adapted for vines. The ground is worked 

 twice with the hoe, the first time after pruning, and then again when the 

 first leaves come out. The vines come into full bearing after four or five 

 years, and remain fruitful until they are at least fifty years old. No 

 vineyards are irrigated here, and if practiced would tend to diminish 

 the saccharine qualities of the grapes. The yield is from 400 to 800 gal- 

 lons per acre per annum. 



JACOB SCHUMACHER, 



Consular Agent. 

 UNITED STATES CONSULAR AGENCY, 



Haifa, February 20, 1884. 



SIDON. 



REPORT BY CONSULAR AGENT ABSLA. 

 [Republished from Consular Reports No. 41|.] 



Position. Vineyards are placed in this section of the country mostly 

 on the high mountains or on high lands from 2,000 feet in elevation to 

 5,000 feet above the sea-level. A southern exposure is preferable to 

 any other. Vineyards on the mountains away from the sea give some- 

 what better crops than those near. The vines are not injured by clouds 

 or mists ; fogs are very rare in this climate, and seem to do no harm. 

 Vines grow within two miles of the shore, but do not give the best 

 results. About thirty years ago all the vineyards of this land were 

 blasted by mildew, and the only effectual remedy was to dig up the old 

 vines and plant new ones from stock untouched by the mildew. 



Pruning. Before the vines put forth leaves they are very closely 

 pruned, all shoots being cut off, with the exception of two or three left 

 quite short. 



Soil. The nature of the soil makes little difference. Eed, loose soil 

 is preferred. Stony, rocky soil produces the best grapes. 



Cultivation. In the best vineyards nothing else is planted in the soil, 

 nor is manure usually applied. The ground is plowed three times a year, 

 which in this land is merely scratching the surface, the object being to 

 pulverize the soil. 



Bearing. Vines begin to bear fruit about the fourth year. Good 

 crops are raised by the seventh, but the frnitfulness increases to the 

 fifteenth year. 



Irrigation. No system of irrigation is practiced anywhere, but is con- 

 sidered very injurious to the crop. 



