The following has been the produce of a vineyard of Catawba, now under
my management, since 1849:
Bearing Vines Gallons of Yield per
season. bearing. Wine. Price. acre.
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
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$1,377 50