San Andreas independent., 1858-09-18
Grape Culture in the Mountains.

Grape Culture In the Mountains.
/ Grapes from the garden of Mr.. Dear
borne, of Sandy Gulch, about thirteer
miles above Mokelumne Hill, were bro
into market at that place, on Tuesday last
which, for superior excellence, far sur
passed anything of the kind we have evel
seen, of outdoor cultivation. Mr.. d
has three varieties of foreign grape-vines
three years old, in full bearing: the Blacl
Hamburg, Muscat de Alexandria-tht
best grape known in the world-and tho
White Hamburg ESQ called), but bearing
very striking resemblance to the White
Syrian. One bunch of the latter on ex.
hibition at the Union House, Mokelumne
Hill, weighed seven pounds. 1t is truly
astonishing to see such punches of the
Muscat de Alerandria-a grape so shy
naturally in setting its fruit-grown to
such perfection in the open air-the first
of this variety, true to the name, which
we have seen and known to have been
grown in our county. The punches Of
the Black Hamburg variety were compact
and we'll formed, and the berries exceed
ingly large. The bloom on the berries,
which professional Horticulturists pay
great regard to, was certainly noticeable
and complete.
We have now substantial evidence of
the adaptability of much of our noun
tain soil for grape growing. As proof
of this, we would direct the attention of
visitors to the above vineyard, and to the
gardens of Judge Thompson, DIR. Hol-
brook, S. W. Brockway, VIM. Highly, A.
P. Dudley and others in Mokelumne Hill,
the garden of DR.. Sober, Big Bar Bridge,
as we'll other nicely arranged gardens and
vineyards in and around almost every
camp in the county. The garden of Mr..
Schrack, of the Golden Gate Ranch, is
certainly entitled to crcditable mention.
This vineyard, which is quite extensive,
is completely burdened with fruit, pre-
senting spectacle of no common inter-
est. A few miles south of Mokelumne
Hill, is the garden of Madame Catac,
where the !" fruit of the vine" gracefully
hang through the lattice-work of taste
fully constructed arbors.
At some future time we may note quite
a number of excellent gardens in our
county, where the cultivation of the
grape has proved highly successful; and
we hope to see spirit of emulation be-
come prevalent in the cultivation of this
excellent fruit.
In few years California will be the
wine depot of the world. The San Fran
cisco Herald, in noting the Horticultural
Society, whose Fair is held in connection
with the Industrial Exhibition, thus
speaks in reference to the cultivation of
the grape:
"Thoughtful obscrvcrs-cspecially those
who claim for California - higher destiny and
a more elevated grade in the scale of useful
ness, considered commercially, than the mere
production of the precious metal, the abund-
IF ;.i,
prominence-havc ever regarded its agricul-
tural productions rs eventually to constitute
its more abiding wealth. A few years since,
it was thought probable that wine suitable
for ordinary purposes might be manufactured
from the native grape. From the pages of the
report, we learn that it is already an article OF
export, and highly priced by the connoiseurs
of the Eastern States, and, in fact, for its pur-
ty and excellence, has occasioned surprise
among the growers of the grape abroad.
However proud We may be OF the rapid
strides our citizens have made in this, as well
as in other branches of industrial enterprise,
we look beyond the ephcmeral praise be-
slowed upon a single specimen of California
production, and the desire to present to our
| readers some reflections upon the advantages
of encouraging branch of industry that has
added so largely to the riches of France and
other wine producing countries.
at must be remembered that the ancient
sources of supply are mcasurably reduced,
and in some places entirely cut off by the in
sdious disease that has attacked the vine in
Madeira and certain districts of France, Spain
and Portugal. This, as yet our native vines
have escaped, and from the fact that our soil
is comparatively virgin, our grape untainted,
and our climate eminently adapted for its cul-
tivation. We have every reason to anticipate
exemption from the ravages OF the disease
1t is well ascertained that the native grape is
capable of yielding sound and wholesome
beverage that will compare favorably with the
productions of foreign countries. 1t is also
conceded by the friends of temperance that
the substitution of harmless beverage for
the fiery, adultcratcd aud intoxicating liquors
that are imported and sold under various
names. is calculated to repress the degrading
vice of intemperance. The success of Mr..
Longworth, in Ohio, in producing an article
that is constantly gaining favor, and COM
mands approval abroad, is evidence of our
ability to compete with European wine manu-
featuring. In our own State the Messrs. San
sevain have succeeded in producing cham
pagne that. by the best judges, is pronounced
equal to the French wines, only lacking age
i r = Al - :.