The Grape-Vine in the Republic.
The culture of the vine is improving a great deal in the Republic owing to the good results obtained by those, who some years ago, tried the establishing of vine plots, which is now one of the most important industries of the country and will soon be an inexhaustible source of riches for the Republic.
Since a few years, great many people have consecrated important areas of their lands to the establishing of vine-plots, and to-day the extension of land covered with them is more than 2,000 hectares, the greatest part of which are already producing.
Many societies have been created for fomenting that new industry, among which we may mention the Viticola Uruguaya with a capital of $120,000 and the Viticola Saltena with a capital $200,000.
The Viticola Uruguaya counts with:
Vine-Plots.
| 17 | hectares, | with plants | 5 | years old, | $3,500 . . . | $59,500.00 |
| 51 | " | " | 3 | " | 1,500 . . . | 76,500.00 |
| 24 | " | " | 1 | " | 200 . . . | 4,800.00 |
Land.
| 1,283 hectares, which have cost | $28,279.65 |
| Fencing | 2,000.00 |
Other Plantations.
| 150,000 forest trees, 2, 3 and 4 years old at 10 cents each | $15,000.00 |
| 8,000 olive trees, in nurseries, 10 cents each | 800.00 |
| 2,000 fruit trees, 20 cents each | 400.00 |
| Various Plants | 1,000.00 |
Materials for Construction.
Existing materials $800.00
Buildings and Cellars.
| Existing buildings and cellars | $8,000.00 |
| ————— | |
| $197,079.65 |
Although the culture of the vine was introduced into the country a great many years ago by Mr. F. Vidiella in the South, and Mr. Harriague in the North, it may be said that it is only six years ago since this culture has been really improved and spread with great intensity all over the Republic.
The actual products of the best vine-plots may be calculated for each vintage over 6,000 barrels, that is to say over 1,400,000 litres, without counting the small vine-plots that, however, gives a fair contingent for domestic consumption.
Owing to this production and also to the diminution in the consumption on account of the crisis of 1890, an important diminution is noted in the year 1891 in the importation of ordinary wines.
| Red and | |||
| White Wines. | Litres. | Value. | |
| Imported | in 1889 | 33,549,815 | $4,173,917 |
| " | 1890 | 29,327,420 | 3,632,490 |
| " | 1891 | 21,483,614 | 2,634,547 |
After a few years more the importation of ordinary wines from France, Spain and Italy will be reduced to nearly nothing.
A vine-plot, 30 hectares large and 14 years old, has given a liquid product, free from all duties, of $20,000.
Therefore, owing to the advantages that the country presents for the culture of the vine, and owing also to the vigorous impulse given to that culture during the last few years, it may be said that the day is not far remote in which the Uruguay fields will be covered with vine-plots, producing all sorts of wines, not only for local consumption, but also for exportation to Brazil and the Argentine Republic.