New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-03-06
ApEGRoWING ~ CALIFORNIA.
From Oar Own Correspondent

and incline to that opinion; but IL can only be es'ao
hshed fully by further experience.
The Crane region of California extends from the
southern boundary at 80 30 to latitude Al, distance
If 5g5 miles from north TO south, with an average
breadth from east TO west Of sbOut lou miles, That
norton Of the Sierra Nevada than 5000 feet above
the sea that part Of the State north OF latitude 4O, the
coast sope north of 39', all the coast north OF ~
within 70 miles of the ocean, and probably the Great
Basn and the Colorado Desert portions Of which are
within the limits of California are nnsnied for tie
rare. This grape region may be divided into mnlti'
u5e of districts which have different coils, topograph-
zeal formations and climates-al Of them points
OF great pJrtsnce for the growth OF the rine The
General features Vi the climate throughout the grape
d4ricts are "a clear sky and bright sun, and warm
DAVIS and evenings during 25 or 800 days in the year,
cool uiVhs and mornings all tie Time, rain, or very
litIe from the time when the vine blossoms in May
until some weeks AFTER The frnit has rpened in Octo-
her M dews no fcys no storms Of electricity and fear
of wind Winters 20 mild that in the greater portion ct
the s. ate il a rarity; seeD, ave on the
pesks OF distant mountains and rains measuring in the
whole year only about 20 inches. In some Of the
Southern districts the amount Of rain does not exceed
10 nches on the Sierra Nevada about 500 feet above
The sea il reaches 30 and Is inches. The Sumner days
OIL the coast slope south Of Santa Barbara are hot and
in tie Sacramento basin very hot, rising near Shasta
and Fort Miller sometimes TO 1902. The proximity Of
the sea and of snow peaks at Los Angeles make the
Summer dsys cooler there in latitude 3o than at Fort
Reading in 40 3V. Indeed all the grape districts are
under the influence of the breeze, Of mountains
covered nearly the year round with snow. South OF
$50, the sea fogs are more rare and warner, and are
a N tla
Is or 20 miles inland along the coast north Of that a'i-
tude. The Los Angeles grape district is in an open
plain about 20 miles long, and reaching back 80 miles
from the ocean, bounded on the east by barren rugged
mountains TIE Sonoma Napa and Santa Clla grape
districts are in flat narrow valleys, shut In by steep
rugged ridges OF the coast mountains, between 80 80
and 39o. The Sacramento grape district IL IN nat
valley, about half way between mountain ranges so
miles apart The grape districts Of the Sierra Nevada
are situated on the western slopes Of those high noun
tsins, usually in very small daes.
The coil Of the vineyards at Los Angeles and Ana
helm il deep, light, warm sand which, TO the mex
perenced eve looks 40 though it too poor to pro-
luoe any valuable vegetable growth. In those places
where water runs through il for few day,, all the
mold il dissolved and carried of leaving white and
almost pure sand. The soil Is dry that cultivation
Sonora and Napa Valleys the whey srds planted in
red grsvsuy clay near the foo, Of the mountains,
in light sandy Ioam in the center of The valley. OF
LAT. the yinegrower Of thee valleys have done with
out irrigation In Santa Clara Valley moe, Of the vines
have been planted in reh black loan but their vine
wards are unhealthy. The Sacramento vineyards arc
planted in sandy loam ibose OF tho Sierra Nevada in
sandy loan OF in gravelly clay
The vine was brought 10 California by the Spanish
missionaries about the year NO 40 far a. j. Known
only one varis,y-,hat now known NJ the "Lo, An
veles prsps"-was brought BY them In the last GEN.
,n-v II ,he vine found in all the old VINEYARDS and
in mo-, q, the ns,v onos s,h al the Bay of San Fran
cisco II Sls three-fgnrtbs Of the VINEYARDS IN the
State The berry Is round reddh.brown while ripen-
| ing, and nearly black when fully ripe, sbOu, tive
egh,bs Of An inch in diameter Of lie larges, sle
cred BY strong skin processing IN abundance Of lck
| and very sweet iuce with little meat, bu, will no
iruiiiness Of flavor Il has been asserted that lis
grape il of the Malaga variety but II No. il has changed
| ~ mueh-periiaps while under cultivation In Meyoo
whence Tie rs, cuttings that came 10 Cslfsnia we've
probably obtanedthat it no longer resembles 10 pa
Ient stock. About 1890 when the missions were es-
abhshed north of the Bay Of San Francisco, new
| variety now called the Sonoma grAie, and sad by
! Gen Vallejo TO be Of the Madeira stock, was nitro
| duced. Its now extensively cultivated in soioma
and Napa Counties and in The Sacramento Valleys and
il aso found in a few vineyards south Of the Bay Of
san Francisco. The berry Is hueshblack in cobr, is
covered when ripe with Hsyish dust, which brushes
"A, leaving glossy, rrnooth skim lie abou, ball IN
inch in diameter u, it, large, sle; has Thin sweet
Juice. with more meat and little fruitine.s OF hvor.
The sonoma grape makes light wine, resembling
clsret the Los Angeles grape makes q ssong vine,