THE VINE IN RUSSIA. 849 



Volga lying in this district. The wine production is unimportant, since 

 the grapes, which enjoy a good reputation, are sold as fruit. In 1870 

 not more than 48,750 gallons were produced, and, according to official 

 data in 1880, one firm made $15,000 worth of wine. 



CAUCASIAN DISTRICTS. 



The culture of the grape is carried on north of the Caucasian Mount 

 ain chain in four districts, viz, the Kuban, the Kumaschia, the Terek, 

 and the Daghestanian. The Terek-Kumyksian district produces the 

 greatest quantity, viz, in 1870, 4,875,000 gallons; in 1874, 9,750,000 

 gallons. These wines are quite celebrated among Caucasian wines, 

 about 1,625,000 gallons being sold annually at the Nischni-^ovgorod 

 fair. Grape-pressing in this district is done in vats and troughs, with 

 the hands and feet. The must ferments in casks, in which it remains 

 until autumn, when it is clarified and put on the market. The Kuma 

 district ranks second, and produces annually from 812,000 to 975,000 

 gallons. The wine of this region is sold after the first fermentation, is 

 light and watery, and consumed chiefly in the Novgorod arrul Black Sea 

 districts. In Daghestan about 487,500 gallons of a wine is produced 

 which is chiefly consumed by Caucasian Mussulmans. In the Kuban 

 district grape culture is of recent date, and the wine produced is con- 

 sumed on the spot. In 1870 the production was about 18,200 gallons ; 

 in 1873, 33,508 gallons. 



In Transcaucasia not less than 32,500,000 gallons of wine are annu- 

 ally produced. The province may be divided into five districts, viz : 



1. The Eion-Black Sea district, which yielded in 1870 10,725,000 

 gallons ; 



2. Kachetian, yielding 9,725,000 gallons ; 



3. The Kura district, with an annual production of 4,872,500 gallons ; 



4. The Arax district, yielding 3,250,000 gallons ; and the 



5. Shemahka district, producing 325,000 gallons. 



The Circassian wines are for the most part consumed in that province, 

 but latterly the better varieties are finding a market in the leading cities 

 of Russia. The best wines are round in the Kachetian and Black Sea 

 districts, where red wines especially are of good quality. The Govern- 

 ment of Erivan produces the strongest wines. Only about one-third of 

 the annual production finds its way into the markets, the larger portion 

 being reserved for private consumption. 



In Kachetia the vintners erect a peculiar style of barn called " ma- 

 ralyen," in which are placed wooden or stone presses, whose floors slope 

 to an opening for the issue of the wine. Abpve the press is a beam, to 

 which the laborers cling whilst treading out the grape juice with their 

 feet. Earthen jars serve as receptacles. The must first issuing is 

 separated from that resulting from an increased pressure. The former 

 yields a poor and weak, the latter a better and stronger, wine. The fer- 

 mentation takes place in jars. White wines ferment from eight to ten, 



