784 FRUIT CULTURE IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 



Yield. This, of course, varies from year to year, and according to 

 the soil, etc. ; but on the average may be estimated at about 1,500 pounds 

 to 2,000 pounds the acre. 



SHIBLY ABELA, 



Consular Agent. 

 UNITED STATES CONSULAR AGENCY, 



Sidon, February 21, 1884. 



TARSUS. 



REPORT BY ACTING CONSULAR AGENT AVANIA. 

 [Republished from Consular Reports No* 41^.] 



The best sites for the culture of vineyards are the hill-side lands, the 

 table-lands, and in general all light soils. The interior of the country 

 is better suited than the coast. In this province there are but very 

 few vineyards in the vicinity of the sea. The largest part is at a dis- 

 tance of from 9 to 12 miles and upward. At Mersine there are some 

 vineyards at a distance of from one-half to 3 miles, the produce of 

 which is middling. Mildew and fogs not being very frequent all along 

 the province, vineyards never suffer from the same; consequently no 

 specific is used. Sulphur, however, is the only remedy used, as in Ana- 

 tolia. In this country, and I think in all the Levant, vineyards are 

 never irrigated j the winter and spring rains are sufficient. The best 

 results are obtained where the soil is a light reddish and more or less 

 sandy. Vineyards are cultivated twice a year, because if they are kept 

 free from parasites, and in condition to absorb the necessary water, they 

 yield better and last longer. In Adana, a vineyard country, people 

 sow even cotton and sesame in the vines without prejudice to the same. 

 After the third year of their plantation the vines come into full bearing 

 and begin to give fruit, which increases gradually. They remain fruit- 

 ful till their fortieth year. However, vines last fifty or sixty years, and 

 give relative fruit if they are regularly cultivated and pruned annually. 

 The pruning of vineyards commences about the end of January. The 

 pruned branches, when sound, are used for the plantation of new vine- 

 yards. 



There is not any system of artificial irrigation in this province. The 

 rains that fall are sufficient to revive the plants. 



The yield, value, and cost of vineyards per acre (of 49 square acres) 

 are in this country as follows : In every acre from 150 to 160 vine- 

 stocks are planted, which yield on an average from 13 to 17 pounds of 

 grapes each; value from $50 or $60 per acre. In this country, where 

 the wages of workmen are rather low, the keeping of vineyards costs 

 but little. 



The greatest part of the grapes produced are absorbed by the local 



