52 
BULLETIN 1409, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
The cost of land and labor is relatively low. The cost of ma- 
chinery is high because it must all be imported and to the purchase 
price must be added ocean freight and import duties. Freight rates 
to consuming centers are so high that Brazilian sugar can be laid 
down in Buenos Aires cheaper than the sugar of Tucuman. The 
domestic industry can therefore meet the competition from Brazil 
only by a protective tariff to equalize the freight factor and by limit- 
ing production to the requirements of domestic consumption. The 
capacity of the sugar mills is already greatly in excess of present 
production and of domestic consumption. 
Grapes 
The growing of grapes is of considerable importance in Argentina, 
in all Provinces and Territories from Rio Negro north; but the 
industry has reached its greatest development under irrigation in 
the Provinces of Mendoza and San Juan, at the eastern base of the 
Andes Mountains. Although the consumption of grapes in season 
as fresh fruit is large, especially in the cities and towns of the eastern 
Provinces, the bulk of the crop is utilized for making wine. The 
total area in vineyards by Provinces and Territories is not accurately 
known. Tables 39 to 43 show the number of wine-making establish- 
ments and the quantity of grapes used in the manufacture of wine; 
the distribution of the industry, the area and yield per acre of certain 
vineyards, and prices of varieties. 
Table 39. — Wine-making 
establishments and production 
Year 
Establish- 
ments 
Grapes 
utilized 
Wine 
obtained 
Average: 
1907-1911 
Number 
2,662 
Metric tons 
433, 185 
694, 842 
650, 868 
687, 596 
753,004 
Gallons 
44, 841, 054 
1912-1916 
• 
4,267 
4,412 
3,825 
4,447 
125, 149, 975 
1917-1921 
124, 493, 755 
1922 
131, 522, 486 
1923 
143, 729, 699 
Table 40. 
-Distribution of wine industry, 1923 
Provinces and Territories 
Establishments 
Grapes 
utilized 
Percent- 
age of 
total 
grapes 
Wine pro- 
duced 
Percent- 
age of 
Total 
Working 
total 
wine 
Federal Capital 
Number 
84 
413 
1,765 
436 
393 
116 
134 
66 
9 
334 
361 
114 
13 
28 
13 
168 
Number 
59 
294 
1,243 
300 
177 
60 
43 
49 
1 
250 
102 
59 
5 
21 
2 
115 
Metric tons 
5,290 
6,948 
536, 770 
180, 198 
4,111 
1,751 
493 
662 
3 
3,782 
1,617 
2,566 
12 
951 
14 
7,836 
Per cent 
0.7 
.9 
71.3 
23.9 
.6 
.2 
.1 
.1 
Gallons 
895, 389 
1, 163, 083 
105, 777, 782 
31, 900, 188 
621, 831 
292, 556 
79, 432 
100, 156 
432 
660, 285 
251, 478 
402, 457 
1,770 
166, 882 
2,377 
1, 413, 601 
Per cent 
0.6 
.8 
73.6 
22.2 
.4 
.2 
. 1 
. 1 
Santiago del Estero. ... .-_ 
.5 
.2 
.4 
.4 
.2 
Salta. -- --- 
.3 
.1 
. 1 
1.0 
1.0 
Total 
4,447 
2,780 
753, 004 
100.0 
143, 729, 699 
100.0 
Compiled by the statistical bureau of the Argentine Department of Agriculture. 
