Information as to the weights of crops and the cost of growing is very difficult to get. The labour of keeping the necessary accounts is very great, and is very rarely undertaken by any grower. The largest of our growers may know just what their crops cost them, but prefer to keep the figures to themselves. One large grower in Worthing gives the average weight of crop for Black Hambro, Gros Maroc, Muscat of Alexandria and Canon Hall, as 1 lb. of grapes per foot of rod, and for Alicante and Gros Colmar about 1 1/4 lb. per foot. Another grower gives the cost of well-grown grapes as about 6d. per lb. The accompanying table shows the averages of prices obtained for grapes during the last two years, The great difference in the prices of early grapes for the two years given is largely due to the death of our late King; but the price of grapes has been steadily declining every year. At the present time Muscats hold their own fairly well, while Hambros and Gros Maroc scarcely pay to grow. The average weights given above are probably low. My own average crop over a period of rive years works out at over 1 1/4 lb. per foot of rod for Hambros, and my soil is a very poor one for grapes. As to the cost of growing, my records bear out the estimate of 6d. per pound almost exactly.

Fig. 389. - Eye-cutting when Rooted.