788 FRUIT CULTURE IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 



in these regions was respectively 28, 49, and 28 inches, making for the 

 entire empire an average of 36 inches per year. 



The average cloudiness of Vienna, estimating complete obscuration 

 at 10, during the years 1853-'72 was 5.7, the months of July, August, 

 and September giving a minimum of 4 and November a maximum of 

 7.4. Consequently the degree of moisture in the air is very large, averag- 

 ing for Vienna during the last thirty years a humidity of 72, when reck- 

 oning complete saturation at 100. 



The foregoing data will aid those interested to estimate the general 

 influences of climate upon the production of fruit in this empire whose 

 territory in general is usually far removed from the sea and other large 

 bodies of water which might injuriously affect the grape crops by exces- 

 sive moisture. 



The same influences, however, arise from the large river system of 

 this country, particularly in Hungary, to the end that the best vine- 

 yards are found upon the highlands and slopes of hills and mountains, 

 of which Austria possesses a great number and variety. 



GRAPE AND WINE INDUSTRY. 



The methods of grape culture, as practiced in the neighborhood of 

 Vienna, will be seen from the following reply of Eobert Schlumberger, 

 proprietor of valuable vineyards in the Voslan region, given in response 

 to certain inquiries as to soil, vines, crops, and the methods of cultiva- 

 tion practiced in his district. He says : 



The methods of pruning the vine in the various wine-growing districts of Austria 

 differ somewhat, and vary also in regard to the kind of grapes in the same part of the 

 country. 



In most districts, especially those to the south of Vienna, in the neighborhood of 

 Voslan, where the best red wines of Austria are produced, the branches are cut down 

 to one or two eyes, and ou each vigorous vine five to six branches are left. At a 

 longer cut, the vines usually grown in the country, the Portuguese and Blue French, 

 bear grapes superabundantly, producing an inferior quality and resulting in the ex- 

 haustion of the vines in a few years. A longer cut is only customary in regard to the 

 Blue Burgundy and the St. Laurent vines, which, however, are not very extensively 

 cultivated, at which operation either four eyes are left on each of twelve branches, or 

 on a longer grape-bearing branch five to seven eyes, whilst the remaining branches 

 are cut down to one or two eyes. During the subsequent year, the old grape-bearing 

 branch is cut off and the strongest of the branches produced from the ej^es of those 

 cut down the preceding year will be employed as the grape-bearing one. 



The soil in the vicinity of Voslan and Gumpoldskirchen, where the most excellent 

 white wines are produced, consists of a light, flat, and loamy ground, the subsoil of 

 which near the mountains consists of calcareous rock and on the plain of alluvial 

 gravel. 



The fine wines grow on the slopes only. The valleys are left to the cultivation of 

 other products. 



In the plains wines of inferior quality are produced, but in larger quantities than 

 on the hills. The produce, however, is very uncertain on account of the night frosts 

 in spring, which do great damage on the plains, while the slopes are spared. 



The soil in nearly almost all the vineyards of Austria is worked three times a year 

 with the hoe : First in spring after the April cutting ; second after the binding up and 

 weeding at the end of June ; and third, at the end of July or early part of August. 



