A GARDEN IN VENICE 



unprotected windows at Venice smashed and our 

 garden uninjured. Fortunately for us, the 

 mainland suffers much more than we do. The 

 storms seem to be less bad near the sea and 

 near the mountains, worse in the intermediate 

 plain. 



With occasional hail-storms, ever-present 

 disease, cost of material, of labour, and low 

 prices, the vine-grower's budget is not likely to 

 show a large surplus. To set his mind at rest as 

 to the paying probabilities of his vineyard the 

 Government steps in. Land is very highly 

 taxed ; our inner garden of about four acres pays 

 two hundred and sixty francs a year. At the 

 market the grapes are taxed 10 per cent, by that 

 honest broker, the licensed go-between, and 

 before they are cut in Venice their amount is 

 estimated by a Government official and charged 

 at the rate of six francs ninety-five centimes the 

 quintale of a hundred kilos. Last year was an 

 abundant year, the grapes were not of first 

 quality, and I sold many quintali at ten francs, 

 some at eight. Should the reader ask where 



l 81 



