Thibodaux minerva. [volume] (Thibodaux, La.) 18??-1858, 1855-05-19
The Wine Trade of France.
Letter from Mr. Goodrich, United States Consul 1yo

|
not only on the level ard undulating lands, but
also on the hill sides and mountain SUBMITS. These
| lands are mostly stony, sandy, and sterile, worn
out and unfit for wheat growing. During the last
| three or four years destructive disease has at
tackled the vine, not only in France, but in Italy,
Spain, and Portugal This malady is Of fungoid
character, and its preventive remedy has hitherto
eluded the vigilance and researches of the chemist
and naturalist
In the statistics l shall give you-and they will
be Official viii, for brevity avoid the smaller
numerals as my object can be obtained without
them The number of acres of land under vine
culture in France differs but little from S, 900, 600
There are about 100000 of persons (mostly te
males employed in the cultivation of the vine and
the manufacture Of wine, exclusive Of 100000 en-
gagged in the transportation and sale of wine. The
annual average product is little more than $780,
100000 gallons; for obvious reasons give you
American rather than French terms. The domes-
tic 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 to two hundred per
cent. on former prices. The annual value may be
set down in round numbers at $780, 100000.
In the year lS49, which is probably the best in
several years, the number Of acres under cultiva-
ton was 100000, producing $4,000, 900 gal
Ions OF wine This was an increase of 1l5, 900, 900
over that of the last decade, 1889. Nearly 3d.
100000 gallons are annually exported as French
wines. In 1s49, 100000 were exported; in
1850, 42,000,000; in 1851, 100000; in 1852,
SO, 100000; in 1858, 43,5OOOOO. Ninety mil.
lions of gallons annually distilled into brandy,
although for the ensuing year. owing to Govern
ment restrictions, there will be but little French
brandy exported to the United States except that
made from American whisky imported into France.
One seventh, or about 1873 900, 900 gallons of wine
are annually exported either as wine or brandy,
and its products paid into the French Exchequer
during the past year was 500, 100000. This in
cludes the ordinary excise, as also the "ocro' or
city duty There are, by estimate, 22O, 600, 600
gallons of wine manufactured into spirits, inclusive
OF the 9O,OO0,000 made into brandy. This leaves
more than 700,0o0,0oO gallons of wine for home
consumption, or about twenty-one gallons for each
inhabitant for the year.
Wine, as beverage, is universally used here by
all classes. The stronger liquors are chiefly for
expectation; hence you see but very little drunk
enness 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 wne This
is on the increase, and fears are entertained that
it may totally destroy the vine. Under this appre-
henson may not the subject of wine culture lesi-
timaely and appropriately attract the attention of
our Southern and Southwestern planters? Many
of our Southern lands, l opine, are peculiarly
adapted to the vine. and from natural sterility or
other causes, are unsuited to products requiring
richer and stronger soils. The lands of Southern
Europe employed by the vine are light and sterile,
unsuted to wheat and other grains
[J0erchants' Magazine.
Two CHILDREN NEARLY STARVED TO DEATH
SHOCKING CRUELTY.-A most shocking instance of |
inhuman depravty, has just TRANSFERRED in Coving-
ton, KY. 1t seems that the wife of an Irishman
recently died, leaving an infant boy and two girls
three and five years of age. The husband soon
after her death married again. introducing into his
family the wretch, who, with fiendlike GOODNESS
set herself Immediately at work to destroy the lives
Of the little ones to whom she ought to have been
a mother.
The youngest Of three died but week or two
after her entrance into the family, but with an
arocity scarcely conceivable-one would not suffice
she must destroy the others. This she undertook
to do by Withholding their food, with an obvious
intention of starving them to DEATH Fortunately
The of the little ones were heard from with
out, and vague rulnors getting a1oat that all was
not right within, and reaching the Of the Coun-
ci 1T was resolved to send Committee to investi-
gate the matter. They went last evening, and not
IN hour too early. Entering the house they found
The step-mother at home, but on inquiry for the
Children she told them that they were asleep and
could not be disturbed. This did not satisfy the
and on searching the house, they found
door to one of the rooms locked Hearing faint
,ries within, they instantly broke down the doors
md entered. What sight met their eyes There
we're two Children infants, their flesh as white as
ieath and drawn tightly over the bones; each
eature defined with the yividness of corpse,
while their eyes were almost bursting from their
,ockets.
As the gentlemen composing the committee were
from the house with their precious
charge, the female find informed them that they
night well leave the children as she had plenty
# food for them.
On arriving at safe quarters with the unfortunate
nfants, warrants were Immediately issued for the
lrrest of the woman, and who calls her wife but
he officers on visiting the spot again, found that
he birds had flown; neither the man or female
,eing about the premises.
T. S.-Latest information renders it probable
hat the children may survive. Their condition,
however, IS critical-cin. Times.
The OPELoUsAs RAILRoAD.-We are gratifed
o learn from the Opelousas Patriot that the
prospect is encouraging for the early completion
# that portion of the road from Bayou La
ourche to Berwick's Bay. There are now, +
ays the Patriot, near seven hundred hands ut !
york between the Lafourche and Bayou Black,
most Of the work being done under the direct
uperintendence Of the Company. When about {
i've miles of granding, mostly through swamp
ands, shall be completed, the road will be ready
or the laying of the rails from the Lafourche to
Bayou Black, distance of about twenty miles ,
Reaching Bayou Black, communication will be
lad by steam with Berwick's Bay, distance G
hen of some six miles IA portion Of the work
n which has been ne)-remains to be COM J