Daily national Democrat., 1861-03-01
Grape Growing in California.

] W iiHhV 1HS lphlpM lAE tAtldNb lIbll iit
late Report of the Assembly Select Commit
tee on the Wine Growing interests of Cali
fornia:
! In estimating the amount Of land IN Cali
fornia admirably adapted to the culture of
every variety OF the native and foreign grape.
/ which now lies idle and unbroken, extending
/ 500 miles the whole length of our State, and
taking the average breadth at but ten miles,
| IT gives us an area of 5000 square miles or
$500, 600 acres-about two-thirds rs many
acres as France has under actual cultivation.
But this estimate may be greatly increased.
1t requires no argument to convince any
intelligent mind that California with all
these ineomparably great advantages of eli
mate, soil and temperature for the growth of
the grape of every variety, with energetic,
industrious and intelligent people, ever ready
and quick TO appreciate and profit by ad-
vaHtages and to overcome obstacles, will soon
come into competition with France, the great
vine grower of the world. What has tax en-
the French people centuries to attain will be
accomplished in n few lustres by our own
people. Nearly all these inviting hill-slopes
lying upon the west side of the Sierra Nevada
are, it must be remembered, vacant public
land, which any man may 90 upon occupy
and improve. and which then becomes his
own upon the payment Of 81 % per acre.
And even this price he may not have to pay
for several years; but this is not all While
the gran-growers and everybody else pay
taxes for their lands, the wine.grower alone
is exempt from taxation. An act was passed
in 1858, exemptng vineyards from taxation
for five years. This was wise policy in the
Legislature, an a similar policy will continue
the exemption by another Legislature.
With all these facts before us, we do not
doubt that in a quarter, or half century at
farthest California will be one of the great
est wine-producing countries in the world ;
that she will turn the tide of commerce. back
upon Europe, and send her wines and liquors,
as the old Atlantic States have turned the
tide in many of her manufactures; that the
amount of taxable and tax-paying prol city
will be increased ten fold, that the annual
crop of gold will he second in value to wine
crop, and that the prosperity peace and hap
piness of our people will be vastly increased.
All the transatlantic Governments have
given aid to their people in various ways
assistance and information in all matters con-
cerning their industrial welfare Especially
has agriculture received the attention Of their
wise and intelligent rulers.
"The more profoundly we examine the
situation in which man is placed by the pos.
session and cultivation of the soil the more
do we discover how rich it is in snlutary les
sons to his reason and benign influence ON
his character. Men do not analyse these
facts; bat they have an instructive sentiment
of them, which powerfully contributes to the
peculiar respect in which they hold property
in land, and to the preponderance which that
kind of property enjoys over every other
This preponderance is Il natural Legitimate,
and salutary fact, which, especially in a
great country, society at large has a strong
interest in recognizing and respecting"
So saysa great continental statesman in n
recent work. Upon the resident intelligent.
and prosperous owners and cultvators of the
soil, must depend the strength, security and
permanence of our Government, and its best
institutions.
Another writer the gifted Downing, has
well said that 1--WE are on the eve of great
change in the future position and influence of
the agricultural class in this country. The
giant that tiIls the soil is gradually awaken
ing into conscious activity: he perceives his
own resources he begins to feel that upon his
shoulders rest the State: that from his labor
come the material forces that feed the ma
tional power; that from his loins are largely
drawn the strong men that give force ano
stability to great impulses and sound nsitu-
tors in Republican America"
The vit0l considerations of health, wealth
and happiness of the people Of California
press upon us the necessity of taking som,
steps towards the great end and, as the frs
your Committee present the accompanying
hil s-one providing for the appointment 10y
the Governorof three commissioners to collect
together all the useful and valuable grape
vines, cuttings and seed, for distribution
amongst our people; and a joint resolution
providing for the appointment by the Gov
ernor for three Commissioners, to report at
the next session Of the Legislature upon the
means best adapted TO promote the improve
ment and growth of the vine in California.
WEALTH AND Poverty RELATIVE THEMes -