836 FRUIT CULTURE IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 



to the produce of the vines and the price of the wines. The vineyards 

 at Chateau-Lafitte are valued at nearly $4,700 per acre. On the other 

 hand, there are many vineyards in the Medoc in fact, the majority of 

 them whose wines at vintage time do not obtain quite an average of 

 $168 per tun. Yet most of those vineyards are worth $390 per acre. 

 In fact, good management, a thorough experience in the matter, and 

 money always in readiness, are indispensable conditions for success. 



GEO. W. KOOSEVELT, 



Consul. 

 UNITED STATES CONSULATE, 



Bordeaux, January 23, 1884. 



ITALY. 



REPORT BY CONSUL-GENERAL RICHMOND, OF ROMS. 

 [Republished from Consular Reports No. 41^.] 



The vine in Italy is cultivated on the plains, in the valleys, and up the 

 sides of the mountains to an altitude of 500 and even of 600 meters above 

 the level of the sea. On Mount Etna the cultivation is successfully prose- 

 cuted at an elevation of 950 meters above the level of the sea. Along 

 some portions of the coast the vineyards are brought close down to the 

 edge of the sea, and the vines are planted right in the sand deposited 

 by the action of the waves. In this latter case, however, it has been 

 found that the sea-breezes are often hurtful to the vines, but no remedy 

 has ever been thought of to combat the evil effects resulting therefrom. 



The Italians cultivate the vine in vineyards, which are exclusively 

 devoted to that end, or in orchards in conjunction with other fruits and 

 vegetables. In many places the vines are only allowed to reach a low 

 growth, and are not supported by props, while in others they attain a 

 medium height, and are supported by poles or trained along wires. 

 When trained to a greater height they are attached to trees, of which 

 latter the most affected for the purpose are the black poplar (in the 

 Campagua), the white poplar (in Tuscany), and the elm (in ^Emilia). 

 There are also trellises especially adapted for the training of grapes in- 

 tended for table use. All these different methods of vine-culture are to 

 be found in the same sections, only varying with the different conditions 

 of the soil, the qualities of the vines, and the exigencies of the wine 

 trade. 



With regard to the soil, it may be stated that in Italy the vine is 

 cultivated pretty much everywhere. But there are certain qualities of 

 soil which are more favorable than others to secure a desirable result 

 as to quality and quantity of crop. The most productive vines are those 

 growing in localities subject to inundations, and the best quality of wine 

 is produced by the vineyards planted in light gravel soil of the hills, 



