PROCEEDINGS OF THE FARMERS* CLUB. 289 



(In the southern part of our State they plant 1,000 vines to the acre; at 

 the north, GSO; here usually an average of 500 vines to the acre.) The 

 cost of planting and cultivating' until in full bearing (which is four years) 

 can be estimated, including the price of the land, on an average $200 per 

 acre; this will show a capital invested of $5,000,000. Now to show the 

 real value of the vineyards of our State we have to ascertain their returns 

 on wine, brandy, vinegar and grapes sold as such for consumption; and 

 we give here their valuation at reduced prices, viz: 

 40,000,000 lb. of grapes for consumption, IJ centsonan average, 



would give $600,000 



12,000,000 gals, wine, averaging 30c per gal 3,600,000 



800,000 gals, brandy, averaging $1 per gal 800,000 



500,000 gals, vinegar, averaging 10c per gal 50,000 



Total $5,050,000 



EXPENDITURES. 



Cultivating 25,000 acres land at:$20 per acre $500,000 



Picking the grapes and mailing the wine at, 2|c per gal. 300,000 



Barrels for 2,000,000 gals, at 5 cents per gal 600,000 



Barrels for 800,000 gals, brandy at 6 cents 48,000 



Making the brandy at 10 cents per gal 80,000 



Barrels for 500,000 gals, vinegar at 4 cents 20,000 



Interest for the stock capital of $5,000,000 at 18 per 



cent 900,000 



Interest of $900,000 invested on buildings, cellar, etc. . 180,000 



$2,628,000 



Leaving a clear profit of $2,422,000 



"Now, if $18 a year, at the current rate of interest in this State, repre- 

 sents a capital of $100, the above income of $2,422,000 represents a stock 

 capital of $13,444,250; or each acre, -which cost, with all the improvements 

 thereon, but $200, is Jiow worth $437.71. The estimates for working the 

 vineyards are calculated upon the very highest wages, $45 per month with 

 board; so, also, the prices of the barrels are stated at very high rates." 



It is estimated that the State of California has 997,760 acres peculiarly 

 adapted to the culture of the grape, which would yield a yearly average 

 of 598,656,000 gallons, which, at only 25 cents per gallon, would amount 

 to $149,664,000, or more than the entire cotton crop of the South. Speak- 

 ing of the population that a wine producing country may sustain, the wri- 

 ter says : 



" The number of persons who, as owners, laborers, or members of the 

 families of laborers, may derive support from the grape culture, must, at a 

 low estimate, be sufiicieut to average three individuals per acre — giving a 

 total of nearly three millions, who might easily find sustenance by this 

 one branch of industry in California, while the number of persons partially 

 sustained and benefited by such an extensive culture of the^ vine, would 

 amount to three times this number. In some of tWe mountain districts of 

 Europe, where no other occupation of comparative importance is pursued, 

 a numerous population, not directly engaged in vine culture, derive their 

 support from this source. The small, rocky island of Malta contains pro- 



[Am. Inst.] T 



