Supporting the Vine. 165 



24,000 vines are planted to the acre, each provided 

 with a stake. 



These 24,000 vines give rise to an annual expenditure of. $19 20 



Planting, taking up, and sharpening the stakes , 2 80 



Interest, at 5 per cent on the first cost of the stakes, while they 



last, $139.92 — gives, per year ,...,. » 11 66 



$33 66 

 The staking of vines in Champagne, therefore, 



costs about $33.66 per acre, yearly. 



Finally, in the vineyards of the Bordelais districts, 



and of the hilly tract situated on the right bank of the 



Garonne, from Bordeaux to Blaye, the staking is not 



less expensive. The following is the average cost of 



the stakes, per thousand : 



Pine, 7 feet 6 inches in length, barked $20 00 



Pine, 7 feet 6 inches in length, not barked 12 00 



Chestnut, 7 feet 6 inches in length 30 00 



Pine, 6 feet 6 inches in length, barked 16 00 



Pine, 6 feet 6 inches in length, not barked 10 00 



Chestnut, 6 feet 6 inches in length 24 00 



The average duration of these stakes is : 



Pine, barked, 10 years, yearly cost $2 00 



Pine, unbarked, 5 years, yearly cost 2 40 



Chestnut, 15 years, yearly cost a 00 



In the region under notice, about i,8oo vines are 

 planted to the acre, and each is provided with three 

 stakes, on an average. 



These 5,400 stakes give rise to a yearly expenditure of. $10 80 



The stakes remain in the ground until their ends are rotten ; we 

 must, nevertheless, take into account the cost of replacing and 



sharpening the damaged stakes, which, put down at 65 



Interest at 5 per cent, on the cost price of the stakes, while they 



last, $54 — ^yearly cost for ten years 5 4° 



$16 85 



