The Washington times., 1901-09-15
VINEYARDS IN PALESTINE.
Jewish COlOnists Revive Ancient In
dustry of Holy Land

The account of the trade of Palestine
| during last year, given in the consular
report just issued, is fairly hopeful,
though neither the exports nor the inn
ports reach the level attained in 1850. The
prosperity of the country depends still as
it always has done, and most probably al
ways will do, upon the fruits of the earth.
| Centuries before the 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 regaininS their ancient reputation. To
melons, which also were valued in ancient
days, a 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 form
er have declined considerably in value
during the last few years. Jaffa oranges,
however, maintain their reputation, so
that it may be hoped that the depression
is only temporary. Southern Palestine
has always been noted for it's vineyards;
it was Judah who bound 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-Sion. Petach-Tik-
vas. and Ekron, on the supposed site of
the Philistine city, which last received
the fatal trophy of the Ark, the first is
the chief one for grape growing. A
fourth colony, Sarona, also near jana, is
German. In all these agriculture, and es-
pee ally everything connected with wine
making is conducted on scientific princi-
pies, and the first and last have become
really important centres in the trade
Richon-le-Sion has excellent works and
machinery for the manufacture of Wine
and great underground cellars for its
storage. These last year contained about
1,Io0.e00 gallons, in addition to consid-
cradle quantity which is always kept In
depot at Hamburg. Two kinds are spe-
cially in demand-a red wine, like dry
claret and a dry white wine. rather OF
the nature of sauterne. The Germans OF
Sarona make wines of good quality
though in less abundance. They bestoW
characteristic care on the processes ana
turn out large number of varieties-a
red and white muscat, red wine like af-
fenthaler a red alicante" and two 9TH
er white wines-reisling and sarona. All,
we are told compare favorably with the
common French and Italian wines, and
are beginning to find their way to Eu-
rope, probably appearing in wine lists
under French or, occasionally, German
names.
There is an excellent prospect, there
fore that the vineyards of Palestine may
once more be of note. as in the olden days
Many parts of the land seem to be nat
urally adapted to grape growing, although
the industry has for long been neglected,
partly, perhaps, because the Koran
frowns upon the vine. One traveller
speaks of a vine near Acre, the branches
of which formed n shelter more than thir-
ty feet broad and long, and bore punches
weighing ten or twelve pounds. The late
Dean Stanley describes as one popularity
of Judea, the abundance of the terraced
vineyards. with their watch towers and
wall, just as they were for centuries be-
fore the fall of Jerusalem. But in those
days the culture of the vine was far more
general than now; it extended south of
the boundary OF Judeh 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 vineyards. The revival of the an
cient industry in this and other fruits is
largely due to the Jewish colonies which
have been planted by the liberality of
their wealthy co-reIlgforists. and the sue
C, ss of their efforts a once to help their
own people and to make Palestine again Il
land to be desired is 4 matter for hearty
congratulation.-Londo Standard.