Chile.
128
Viticulture. The cultivation of the grape, and the manufacture of wine, is undoubtedly one of the most important branches of agriculture in Chile, both the lower and the higher grades of wines and brandies being made, considerable quantities being exported to Bolivia and Peru, although the home consumption is always increasing. The Government is also assisting this industry in various ways, having established various schools for the study of viti- and vini-culture,
and introducing new methods and machinery. There is now an area of 60,000 hectares under cultivation
in Chile,
yielding over 2,000,000 hectoliters of wines. Few countries are more adapted than Chile to the cultivation of the vine, says Davila-Larrain, in his work above quoted, as winter is sufficiently cold to give vegetation a needed rest, spring sufficiently early and mild to help along the budding and effervescence of the plant, and
long and warm to properly ripen the fruit. Vitiback about 30 years, although the vine was introduced by the Spaniards as early as the XVI century, according The industry has, however, made great strides to some authorities. during the last few years, and has a most promising future. The character of the vines varies greatly, according to location, climate and soil. The grape of the southern belt of Chile is generally small, and grows on the hill-sides, while the grape of the central belt is larger in size, and thrives equally well in the plains and on the hills. It is claimed that the grape in Chile yields more wine than in Europe, having all the Some general characteristics of the Medoc or Burgundy product. vineyards, it is claimed, have averaged 180 pounds sterling per acre for a single year. It requires from four to five years to obtain any profits from grape culture, and the wine grower must have sufficient means Under these circumto work his property and build suitable cellars. stances, many viticulturists make arrangements with the owners of the land for the cultivation of the grape either by planting new vineyards, or by improving those already planted. Chile is peculiarly adapted to grape culture, by reason of its
summer
is
sufficiently
culture, in Chile, dates
topography, and the
fertility of its soil. somewhat inclined cool soil, dry, requires Grape and exposed, the ground being such as to easily absorb moisture. There are two kinds of lands in Chile, that called rulo, or dry lands, scarcely watered by rainfall, and the regadio, or lands irrigated by means of canals, sometimes built at great expense to utilize the waters of the rivers, or mountain streams. As the grape is a product of the
geographical position,
temperate zone,
its
a
culture
it
thrives in Chile
from Coquimbo on the north to latitude, and at a
Angol on the south, the grape region being within 39째 maximum altitude of 700 meters above the sea level.
The grape commences to yield in the dry or rulo lands from six to eight years after planting, attaining its maximum production at the twelfth year, while in the irrigated, or regadio lands, production begins from the third to the fourth year, reaching its maximum from