Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1855-03-30
Letter from Mr.. Goodrich, U. S. Consul at Lyons.
The Wine Trade of France.

The most productive wine districts of France are
the South and Southwestern. The vine grows not
only the level and undulating lands, but also on
the hill sides and mountain submits. These lands
are mostly soney, sandy, and STERILE worn out and
unfit for wheat growing. During the last three or
four years destructive disease has attacked the
vine, not only in France, but in Italy, Spain and
Portugal. This malady is Of fungold character,
and its preventive remedy has hitherto euded the
vigilance and researches of the chemist and natu-
raliss.
In the statistics shall give you-and they will be
official will for brevity avoid the smaller hume
rails as my object can be attained without them.
The number of acres OF land under vine culture in
France differs but little from 5000 900. There are
about 100000 of persons mostly females) en-
played in the cultivation of the vine and the manu-
facture of wine, exclusive of 250,OOO engaged in the
transportation and sale of wine. The annual aver
age product is little than 5000 900 gallons
for obvious reasons give you American rather than
French terms. The domestic or home value varies
of course with the supply and demand, say from ten
TO twenty cents gallon. For the last two years,
owing to the disease" the price has augmented
from one 10 two hundred per cent former prices.
The annual value may be set down in round num-
bers at lOO,0O0O0O.
In the year 1849, which is probably the best in
several years, the number of under cultivation
was 100000, producing 929 10000 gallons of
wlne This was an increase of $4,000, 900 over
that of the last decade, 1889 Nearly so 900 900
gallons are annually exported French wines. In
1S49, 100000; in 1882 100000 in 1853,
43,5OO,OOO. Ninety millions of gallons are annually
distilled into brandy, although for the ensuing year,
owing to government restrictions, there will be but
little French brandy exported to the United States
except that made from American whskey imported
into France. One-sevenh, or about 1873 100000
gallons of wine are annually exported from France,
either wine or it's distillatons The excise duty
wine and lis products paid into the French Exche
quer during the past year, was $22,8OO,0OO This
includes the ordinary exercise, also the octroi"
or city duty. There are, by estimate, 220, 100000
gallons OF wine manufactured into spirits, inclusive
Of the 90,0OO,OOO made into brandy. This leaves
more than 700 100000 gallons of wine for home con-
sumption, or about twenty gallons for each in
habitant for the year.
Wine as beverage, is universally used here by
all classes. The stronger liquors are chiefly for ex
portation hence you see but very little drunkenness
in la belle France
The disease of the vine in France has for the last
two years been very destructive and it has greatly
diminished the production of wine. This is on the
increase, and fears entertained that NAV totally
destroy the vine. Under this apprehension may not
the subject of wine culture legitimatelv and appro-
prately attract the attention of our Southern and
South western planters? Many OF our Southern
lands, opne, are peculiarly adapted to the vine,
and from natural sterility other causes are un.
suited to products requiring richer and stronger
soils 1 he lands of Southern Europe emploved by
the vine are light and STERILE unsuted TO wheat and
other grains. Merchants Magazine for Februayv