Statement showing the annual product of currants and the exports thereof, &c.—Continued. * For orders: Zante, 402 tons; Santa Maura, 216 tons; Morea, 982 tons; total, 1,600 tons. Statement showing the annual product of currants and the export thereof, &c.—Continued. Table showing maximum and minimum temperature in the shade during the summers of 1882 FRUIT CULTURE IN CEPHALONIA. REPORT BY CONSUL LUCATA. RAISINS. What is the relative position of vineyards-valley, table, or hillside lands; inland or on the sea-coast ?-Grapevines are grown on the hillside and table-lands principally; the currant vines in the valleys and table-lands. How near to the sea coast are the nearest raisin vineyards?—On the sea-coast itself. On the coast are the sea fogs and mist injurious to grapes and apt to cause mildew; if so, what means are used to counteract the same?Sea-fogs and mist are not frequent, and when they occur are not always injurious. No means are here used to counteract them. What is the custom of pruning in the best-conducted vineyards?— The ordinary pruning, as in the Morea, is conducted throughout the island. What are the character of soil where best results are obtained?— Loam and other rich soil for currants. For grapes, the poorer the soil the better it is for them in this island. Are best results obtained on hillside, valley, or table land?—For currants, valley and table land give the best results. For grapes (Cephalonia) hillside lands and gravelly soil. Are the lands planted to vines cultivated; if so, how many times per year?-The lands are cultivated thrice a year; that is, about January, April, and October. At what age do the vines come into full bearing, and how long do they remain fruitful?-From six to seven years, and remain fruitful twenty-five to a hundred years. There are vines here more than two hundred years old. Is there any system of artificial irrigation in practice for raisin culture-There is no artificial system of irrigation here. What is the yield, value, and cost of crop per acre per annum ?—The average yield per acre is 500 pounds, though there is property that yields over 2,000 pounds. The average value would be $25 per mil. The cost of crop (per acre) varies so much in the different parts of the island that it is difficult to ascertain the average. Besides this, there are seasons when labor is dearer than at others, for instance, when the tilling, &c., have been behind time, and hands are wanting throughout the island at the same time. The average value of wine would be 25 cents per gallon in United States currency. But besides the wine there are the grape husks and refuse which are bought for spirit-making, and the less from which argol is extracted. The latter, I am informed, is sold at about 150 francs per 1,000 pounds. S. A. R. LUCATA, UNITED STATES CONSULAR AGENCY, |