The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-10-02
PALESTINE VINEYARDS.
Jewish Colonies Revive an Ancient Industry of the Holy Land.

London Standard.
 The account of the trade of Palestine report just issued, is fairly hopeful. though neither the exports nor the inn ports reach the level attained in 1889. The prosperity of the country depends still as 1t always has done, and will probably always will do, upon the fruits of the earth. Centuries before tho present era corn and wine and oil were among the chief boons of the promised land." and though we hear little now of the first the other two are regaining their ancient reputation. To melons, which also were valued in ancient days, new fruit has been added-the orange. This indeed. and the grape are now the most important products of Palestine. though the exports of the former have declined considerably in value during the last few years Jaffa or tnges, however, maintain their reputa- tion. so that 1t may be hoped that the depression is only temporary. Southern Palestine has always been noted for it's vineyards; 1t was Judah who hound his foal to the vine and washed his clothes in the blood of the grapes
 Of the principal Jewish colonies in the Jaffa district Richon-le-Slon, Petach- Tikvas and Ekron, on the supposed sight of the Philistine city. which last receiv- ed the fatal trophy of the ark. the first Is the chief one for grape growing. A fourth colony. Sarona. also near Jaffa Is German. In all these agriculture, and | especially everything connected with | wine-makinR is conducted on scientific principles. and the first and last have become really important centers in the | trade. Ricon-le-Sion has excellent works | and machinery for the manufacture of wine, and great underground cellars for
 It's storage These last year contained about 1.1e000O gallons, in addition to considerable quantity, which Is always kept in depot at Hamburg. Two kinds are specially in demand-a red wine. like a dry claret. and dry white wine, rath- CT of the nature of sauterne. The Ger mans of Sarona make wines of a good quality, though in less abundance. They bestow characteristic care on the pro- varieties-a red and white muscat. a red wine like affentEaler, red alicante" and two other white wines-reisling and sarona. All we are told. compare favor ian wines, and are beginning to find their way to Europe, probably appearing in wine lists under French or. occasionally. German names.
 fore, that the vineyard of Palestine may once more be of not, as in the olden days. Many parts of the land seem to be naturally adapted to grape growing, neglected, partly, perhaps, because the Koran frowns upon the wine. One trav- branches of which formed a shelter more than thirty feet broad and long, and bore punches weighing ten and twelve pounds. The late Dean Stanley describes. as one peculiarity of Judea. the abun- dance of the terraced vineyards with their watch-towers and wall, just as they were for centuries before the fall of Je- rusalem. But in those days the culture of the vine was far more general than now; 1t extended south of the boundary of Judea into the region possessed by Simeon, and the late Prof. Palmer tells us how he saw even in the arid Negeb or south country, signs of former vine yards. The revival of the ancient indus try in this and other fruits Is largely due to the Jewish colonies. which have been planted by the liberality of their weathy co-religionists, and the success of their efforts at once to help their own people and to make Palestine again land to be desired is a matter for hearty congratu- lation.