The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-03-20
GRAPE GROWING 1NFLoR1DA.
Profits Which Some of the Vineyards
are yielding.

Fronts W hlch Some of the Vineyards
are Yielding.
Jacksonville, Fla, March 19.-As an
instance Of the adaptibuity Of land on the
upper east coast of Florida TO grape cul-
ture the experienced s9mcof the growers
IN st. Johns county may be cited. NOul-
trie is small settlement situated on
MoulJrle creek, and nor far from the Ma
tanzds river, Just five miles south Of St
Augustine. Four years ago only few
families lived there. and 10 particular in
oustrE was developed Among the few
winter residents were Charles Terry and
family Of WATERFOWL. " Y Mr.. Terry
was an extensive hon grower in New
York state and built "a winter home at
MoLltrle, because he was attracted by
the beautiful scenery and healthfulness
of the section.
In experiments with what he at first
considered worthless soil, Mr.. Terry
found that 1t seemed TO be especially
adapted to grape culture. He planted a
mum Der OF varieties and waited for re
suits. The vines were planted in March,
ana IN June of the following year the
vines were bearing fruit From that day to
TINS men have been constantly at work
clearing land in that section TO be planted
In grapes.
there are now over 225 acres in grape
vineyards in the Moultrie neigh borhood
alone They are from ! 10 years old and
are planted almost entirely in "White
Niagaras." There are a few white
Diamonds and the firm of Hubbard
Lake x Lawrence has devoted quite an
acreage to fine grapes for wine-maRing
But the great bulk of the crop is mar
keted on the stems. There are about
twenty individuals and firms engaged in
the industry, their vineyards ranging in
size from five to fifty acres
The entire cost of a teu-acre vineyard
as the price of land now holds, is about
Sl,IOO. This includes the purchase Of
land al SO per acre, which is the maxi
mum price, cost of clearing. fencing,
vines, posts, wires, labor planting 600 to
the acre. in fact everything necessary to
put vineyard in shape. These vines
Will yield from one to hve lunches per
vine sixteen months after planting but it
IS best not to let them fruit, as the
strength should 20 into wood the first
year.
The second year these vines will yield
l,OOO pounds TO the acre and the third
year Two tons to the acre. The fruit rip
ems In June and is all harvested before
the second week in July 1t nets the
grower for the entire crop from to 10
cents perpound-in some instances nearly
double that amount. The fruit reaches
the northern and western markets at a
time when there are no other small fruits
to be mad, ana in consequence the prices
obtained during the first ten days of ship
ment, frequently 90 as high as 80 and IS
cents and even 81 per pound. A ten-acre
vineyard in the third year from the plant
ing, will ordinarily bring in the grower
an average of $3.50 per acre, net, or 8, 800
for the entire crop
The Jacksonville, St Augustine and
Indian River railway which peneJrates
the entire east coast of Florida for nearly
400 miles, is especially liberal in its policy
toward the fruit-growers, putting on ven
tilated cars and running It's freight trains
during the shipping season on a very fast
schedule. The industry of grape growing
IS not an intricate one, and the profits in
1t on the east cOast-as well as in the sup
Elementary business OF wine-making- are
attracting there men of small capital
from all parts of the country