OF THE VINE. 63 



Hermann, there are five hundred acres — in Indiana, 

 two or three hundred — in Illinois about one hun- 

 dred; and in Kentucky the same — making about 

 twenty-five hundred acres in alL It is estimated 

 that Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky, will this year 

 produce at least half a million gallons of wine! 

 The yield on some of the vineyards will be equal 

 to seven or eight thousand gallons — allowing 

 twenty-four hundred vines to the acre, planted 

 about three feet apart each way, Mr. Robert 

 Buchanan, who is among the most successful cul- 

 tivators of the vine, this year obtains about eight 

 hundred gallons of wine from each acre, which will 

 net him about seven hundred dollars per acre! 

 Some other vineyards will do equally well. Persons 

 however, are not advised to embark in grape-grow- 

 ing with the expectation of profit, if it shall be 

 necessary to hire labor. The German vine-dressers 

 muster all capable members of their family into 

 the service — ^the wife often being the most ejfficient. 

 In this manner they realize an adequate income. 

 It has been customary to give a piece of land of 

 say fifteen or twenty acres, with a house on it, to 

 those Germans, on condition that the tenant shall 

 plant a certain quantity of grapes each year in a 

 proper manner, and pay the proprietor one-half the 

 proceeds of the vineyard. 



" The fruit is purchased of the vineyard man, for 

 from five to six dollars per one hundred pounds, (or 

 two bushels) each bushel yielding three and a half 

 to four gallons of wine. It is then mashed by the 



