The Shasta courier., 1862-03-01
Haraszthy's Report.

twill be recollected that Col. Haraszthy,
of this State, was dispatched to Europe, at
the lsst session of the Legislature, to col
lect M s,tiop in regard to the culture Of
the vine. He has performed the service,
and has communicated the result of his Ia
bors to the Legislature now in session, in
one of the most interesting reports we ever
perused. We regret that we are unable to
publish it all, and can only give the more
interesting portions of it. He says:
On my way stopped at Washington, and
was supplied by the Hon William II. Sew
ard, Secretary of State of ths United States,
with a circular letter, directing the diplo.
matte agents Of the United States in Europe,
to afford me such assistance as lay in their
power, in this important mission.
On my arrival in France opened CORES
pondence with the different Imperial Agri-
cultural and horticultural Societies, reques-
| ting them to furnish such information and
letters of introduction as would facilitate m
object. They responded with cheerfulness,
and was received with distinction, and af
forded every opportunity for obtaining the
|
general courtesy wherever | went.
l visited various parts of France, the
Netherlands, Holland, Rhenish Prussia, Ba-
ravia, Nassau, Baden, Switzerland, Spain,
Italy and England
| Various examinations confirmed my pre-
vious conviction, that California is superior
in all the conditions of soil, climate and 9TH
er natural advantages to the most favored
wine producing districts of Europe, and that
it actually has yielded considerably more per
acre. All this State wants to produce a
generous and noble wine is the varieties of
| grapes from which the most celebrated
are made, and the same care and science in
its manufacture. This conclusion is the re
suit of thorough investigation, and frequent
consultation with many eminent men in Eu-
rope, who assured me that the quality of the
| grapes grown was in great measure the
| quality of the wine-a fact proved by many
scientific experiments showing that even in
| the least favored localities where common
wines were ordiarily made, the most costly
wines had been produced by planting the
best varieties of grapes,
| Having provided myself with analyses of
| the soil of California from various localities,
it was not difficult to obtain correct esti-
mate of its average capacity as a wine pro-
ducing State. From all information that
have been able to get, our climate and soil
are greatly in our favor, In view of these
| facts and file purpose ofmy mission | deter
mined to make arrangements to purchase
quantity of vines, and also examine every
celebrated wine making establishment with
in my tour, SO as to learn end describe the
newest and best methods Of making wine.-
did not limit my observation and study to
fbo ,,,fo oil huf rod tbo
reports of Scientific Committees appointed
by different Governments to investigate the
subject, by means of different practical ex-
periments, continued through a series of
years. | also obtained the proceedings of
the Congress assembled by tbs order of the
Government of France, for the purpose of
comparison and consultation, and which was
composed of the most scientific chemists and
practical wine makers. | availed myself of
the reports of similar assemblies, held annu-
ally in Germany, and of the newest and best
works In various languages, written by able
men, who had spent their lives in the busi-
ness of vine culture and wine making, 1t is
proper to remark here that countries through
which Travelled possessed lucrative trade
by making raisins, drying figs and prunes.
raising almonds. cultivating mulberry trees
for the sustenance of silk worms, and, above
all, producing sugar at enormous profit
from the sorgho. imphee and sugar beet. l
therefore thought it advisable to add to the
more strict duties ofmy mission an investi
CATION into these branches of industry, and
to procure the best and newest works con-
cerning them.
Twas gratifed to find that of all the coun-
tries through which | passed, not one pos
sessed the same advantages that are to be
found in California. and | am satisfied that
even if the separate advantages of these
countries could be combined in one, it would
still be surpassed by this State when its now
dormant resources shall be developed Cal
ifornia can produce as noble and generous a
wine as any in Europe; more in quantity to
the acre. and without repeated failures
through frosts Summer rains, hail stones or
other causes. The quantity of raisins, cur
rants, figs, almonds, olives and prunes which
we could raise would surprise the most san
guine of our people. The mulberry and
the silk worm would occupy and give sup
port to many industrious femalss who have
now no Fcmunerative employment in the ru-
al districts, would aid the small farmer to
educate a growing family. and would add
largely to the wealth and revenue OF the
State
In my opinion, no country can surpass
this in raising the sugar beet, sorgho, ana
imphee. There is no part of the world, ex-
cept, perhaps, Africa. which car produce
the same quantity of these commodities to
the acre The present mode Of making su.
gar from these products Is SO simpie p lna'
every farmer, at an expense of $50 for ma
chinery, can manufacture enough for his
own use, and have considerable overplus
each year for the market. The capita,is.,
too, may safely invest his money IN this lue,
rative business, and enrich himself as wei
as our State.
have purchased in different parts OF Europe
100, 900 vines, embracing about l.. ~" varie-
ties. small lots of choice almonds. olives, oran-
ges, lemons, figs, pomeagranates, Italian
chesnuts-nough to propagate fromt py
gratis. The majority of the grape vines !
have engaged have seen bearing. From
those countries which l was unable to visit,
ordered through our Consuls Ito whom
remittcd the necessary funds such products
as thought necessary. and have no DOUBT