Page:A Treatise on the Culture of the Vine and, and the Art of Making Wine.pdf/27

 in Sainte Croix, of 10½ acres in extent or 12,000 francs. He acknowledged that a lifetime might elapse before another such vintage would occur; but said that instances were not wanting of a still greater produce; mentioning one near Lafitte, in the district of Medoc, where the best claret wines are made, for which 100,000 francs (£4166 sterling) had been refused, and of which, one year's produce had been known to bring 30,000 francs, and yet this vineyard did not exceed six English acres in extent. Its excessive value was owing to its possessing, in a very uncommon degree, the rare property of producing in large quantities without deteriorating the quality of the produce.

According to Young, the whole district which produces the famous Champagne wines is included in five leagues' length. As an average of the value of vineyards in this district, the price of an acre is stated at 3,000 francs, and the nett annual profit, including rent (for throughout France every proprietor cultivates his own vines), at £14 18s. 4d. sterling, being 10 per cent. on that sum.

In his first work on the vine, published in 1801, not very long after Young's tour, the Count de Chaptal states, that when vines are cultivated extensively, and with an abundant capital, they pay from 9to 12 per cent, on the money expended.