Part 18

1849, 1st year, 1,500 750 $1.25 $600 00 1850, 2d " 2,000 150 1.25 95 00 1851, 3d " 2,000 500 1.25 300 00 1852, 4th " 1,800 210 1.25 120 00 1853. 5th " 1,500 580 1.25 500 00 1854, 6th " 2,500 750 1.50 600 00 1855, 7th " 3,000 230 2.00 150 00 1856 8th " 4,000 150 2.00 75 00 1857 9th " 4,000 2,000 1.20 600 00 1858, 10th " 4,000 210 1.20 60 00 1859, 11th " 4,200 1,200 1.20 360 00 1860, 12th " 4,200 1,300 1.25 405 00 1861, 13th " 4,200 150 1.00 37 50 1862, 14th " 4,200 20 2.00 10 00 1863, 15th " 4,200 150 2.00 75 00 1864, 16th " 4,200 150 2.00 75 00 1865, 17th " 4,200 500 2.00 250 00

Which will show the average yield per acre, to have been somewhat over 250 00 Deduct from this cost of labor per year, per acre, 50 00 Interest on capital, 40 00-90 00 Would leave a clear profit, per acre, of 160 00

The poor returns were nearly all occasioned by mildew and rot, with the exception of 1862, when a very destructive hail-storm swept away almost the entire crop; and in 1864, when the vines were all killed down to the snow line by frost the preceding winter.

The following is the cost of a vineyard planted by me in May, 1861, containing about 3,000 vines, on 2-1/2 acres of ground. The ground could not be made ready until late in the season, consequently many of the vines failed to grow, and had to be replanted the second season:

1700 Norton's Virginia, $20.00 per hundred, 340 00 400 Concord (small), 25 " 100 00 350 Delaware, 50 " 175 00 150 Herbemont, 25 " 37 50 50 Cunningham, 50 " 25 00 Other varieties assorted, 100 00 Cost of clearing, ploughing, and planting, $50 per acre, 125 00 Putting up trellis, $150 per acre, 375 00 Interest on capital, 100 00 -------- $1,377 50

PRODUCT.

For layers and cuttings made 1st year, 339 00 " " 2d " 1200 00 " " 3d " 2500 00 Concord grapes sold, 2,000 lbs., net 16 cents, 320 00 Plants and cuttings fourth year, 4000 00 2,040 lbs. of grapes (Concord), marketed at 24 cents per lb., net 489 60 -------- $8,848 60

PRODUCE FIFTH YEAR.

1,030 gallons Concord at $2.50 $2,575 00 1,300 " Norton's Virginia 4.00 5,200 00 125 " Herbemont 3.00 375 00 30 " Cunningham 4.00 120 00 40 " Delaware 6.00 240 00 10 " Clinton 3.00 30 00 50 " Other Varieties 3.00 150 00 336 " Hartford Prolific Grapes 20 cts. per lb. 67 20 57,000 Plants from cuttings and layers, average price $100 per thousand 5,700 00 --------- $14,457 20

Leaving the product of the first five years $23,305 80

From which deduct expenses for plants, trellis, etc., 1,277 Interest on capital at 5 per cent. 500 Cost of labor 1st. year, 150 2d. " 300 3d. " 400 4th. " 500 5th. " 500 ----- Total Cost $3,627 --------- Leaves clear profit for first five years of $19,679 80

The fourth year, nearly all the fruit buds of the vines had been killed above the snow line, but I made, besides the grapes sold, about $1,500 worth of wine, which was emptied by the rebels in their raid that fall, and consequently lost. The vines were not all in bearing this last season, for reasons already given; and the whole amount of vines bearing, was not more than 2,200--hardly two acres. If my readers will contrast this with the yield of the Catawba vineyard, they will see the difference in yield between varieties suited to the climate and soil, and those unused to it.

The last season--although unfavorable to the Catawba--produced an enormous yield of Concord and Norton's Virginia, and cannot be taken as an average crop. I think about 700 gallons of Norton's Virginia, and 1,200 gallons of Concord would be a fair average estimate per year--which the vines can easily produce, and remain healthy and vigorous.

YIELD OF MR. MICHAEL POESCHEL's VINEYARD.--CATAWBA.

Year after planting. Acres in Vines. Yield. Price.

1847, 2d 5-6 24 gallons 2.00 1848, 3d 3-6 1,000 " 2.00 1849, 4th 2 600 " 1.50 1850, 5th 2 350 " 1.25 1851, 6th 2-1/2 450 " 1.75 1852, 7th 2-1/2 500 " 1.50 1853, 8th 2-1/2 350 " 2.00 1854, 9th 3-1/2 800 " 2.00 1855, 10th 3-1/2 50 " 1.50 1856, 11th 3-1/2 1,000 " 1.25 1857, 12th 6 4,500 " 1.50 1858, 13th 6 1,100 " 1.75 1859, 14th 6 1,500 " 1.50 1860, 15th 6 2,000 " 1.25 1861, 16th 6 250 " 1.00 1862, 17th 6 300 " 1.50 1863, 18th 8 2,000 " 1.15

NEW VINEYARD OF MR. MICHAEL POESCHEL, PLANTED IN 1861, 1863--FIRST PARTIAL CROP.

500 Gallons Norton's Virginia--2 acres, at $3 per gallon $1,500 00 Grapes sold from 1/2 acre of Concords 400 00 Plants from cuttings and layers sold 2,000 00 -------- $3,900 00

1864.--SECOND CROP.--VINES BADLY FROSTED IN WINTER.

2 Acres of Norton's Virginia produced 600 gallons, at $4 50 $2,700 00 2-1/2 Acres of Catawba, produced 400 gallons, at $2 15 850 00 Grapes sold from 1/2 acre of Concord 400 00 Plants sold 1,500 00 -------- $5,450 00

1865--THIRD CROP.

2-3/4 Acres of Norton's Virginia, produced 2,000 gallons at $4 8,000 00 2-1/2 Acres Catawba, produced 450 gallons at $1 75 787 50 1-1/4 Acres Concord, produced 1,000 gallons, at $250 2,500 00 1/2 acre Herbemont produced 400 gallons, at $3 per gallon, 1,200 00 1/2 acre Rulander produced 50 gallons, at $5 250 00 Plants sold, 1,500 00 --------- $14,237 50

This vineyard was trenched at an average cost of $120 dollars to the acre, and most of the vines are planted 5x5, evidently too close. They are trained to wire trellis, as described in a former part of this work, and receive close attention, and the very best cultivation.

YIELD OF VINEYARD OF MR. WILLIAM POESCHEL--1857.

1-1/2 acres of Catawba produced 1,050 gallons of wine; sold at 1,402 50

1858.

1-3/4 acres of Catawba produced 250 gallons; sold at $1.10 per gallon, 275 00

1859.