New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-06-19


france is estimated at over 1909 900 Of gallons that Of
Hungary at over 300 100000 and that Of Spain al about
200 100000 Calculating this value at only - cents gal
lon il would give us for the wne-cIOp France evc
year over $3.50 900; for that OF Hungary oyCi
SIS 600 600 and for that Of Spain nearly $4,000 900
the very large SUN derived nom the sale Of the grapes IN
fresh and dry state and from the manufacture and sale Of
brandy were TO be included in this estimate, il would
swell the aggregate value of the vineyards OF these
tries TO much larger figure Such simple calculation as
this will serve 10 convince the most incrcduOus Of the
enormous and almost mc3cuable importance Of indus
ty which, instead of being checked in ts career IN oui
own country by unwe and instructed legislation, ought
10 be left free to follow out the laws which govern ITS
growth and expansion in other countries.
But there is another highly important consideration. In
all these countries wine Is considered necessity as well
luxury, meat as well drink; and II enters so largely
into the daily consumption of the people that whenever
sudden stoppage Of the supply takes place IL parzcs all
their energies and IL sure precursor Of famine. Such an
event as the general failure of the vintages iOr single
year. Is felt a calamity through tie Length and breadth
Of the land, and every house, ~ the rural districts cs-
peciay, is converted into house OF mourning. Now, al
though II Is possible for people UnaccustOmed To tins ar
cie of food to subsis without it, just commu-
mites unaccusomed to any other article of food prosper
ing and multiplying without IT, and IN spite OF 1t, yet
when the conditions favorable fl II the cultivation OF
the vine becomes an imperative duty the neglect OF which
is ceusuable and attended with the evil cOnsc-
quences as to neglect the growth and production OF any
other commodity that ministers O. the daily necessities OF
the people This view Of the case is supported by the tes-
mOny Of the best writer dietecs and kindred subjects
who furnish abundant statistics 20 show the value and ad-
every day and consumption
But TO return from this dgressIon-the question pre-
sents itself lave we equal facilities, in this country for
producing superior quality OF VINE, on gfanu scale.
with the celebrated wlne-grOwing districts of Europe
This question already practically decided IN the affirm
ative Experience shows that In at least Of the United
States there boundless field for this enterprise equal
IN extent Othe most favored Of these districts ana far sur
passing them IN natural advantages IL has been sasfac-
tOnly determined that the vine will flourish IN the high
est state Of luxuTanoe, in California from near the sea
coast Up to and beyond the foothills OF the Sierra Nevada
MOuniains-an area which, II IS safe 20 calculate, - al
least equal 10 the territory covered by vineyards IN
France This in France estimated az about Je0JOOO
acres, nearly twenty fh Of the surface of the whole
French Empire. Many of these vineyards, Ike those OF
the famous C6tc d or grown OF sandy soil and, IN
many places on rocky ridges or terraces III oher words
on lands wholly OF partially unsui'ed 70 raising otGer
crops. While the vines do not absolutely dsdan the best
soil they undoubtedly flourish better on what IS considered
the poorest Some OF them are growing land so
chOked with single and stones that it is with the greatest
difficulty the holes can be made for the cuttings others
climbing up the seepest activities and clothing
with beauty and plenty the most barren spots. Moreover
the average yield of the vineyards of California IS twice
Try IN Europe and more than three times as great A. IN
France In Europe the yield Is subject 20 great ulcua
tons years being greater and others lcss and the
character OF the wine % dcriu about the
portion for dfcrent years inferior quality however be-
Ing produced the most frequently No sucn disparity cx
lists California 10 anything like the same extent No
failure Of the grape crop has ever been known On the
contrary there has been STEADY increase ever year lntne
VINEYARDS. la Europe theY obliged t. protect
their VlncFaTOS oralnSi the OF FeiI ana
diseases not few. Sometimes y j. the vine thai j. al
fccied at Others the grapes But California il singlry
exempt from all such pests In no other part Of the world
is the vine healthy ia ,re no bugs mdeR, 10
rot guard against ard Only such ordinary required
OF it as required Tor the cultivation Of any Other plant
To get adequate idea Of the wincsrowing capacity
OF California ought TO visit the yinel AIDS OF Sonoma
Valley, the Fall, during the time OF vintage. MOI that
several other paris OF the state are not equally interesting
and instructive this but because the grape grows
here IN the highest eXubcancs ana IS entirely free nom
superlbundauce OF watsry PARTICLES which, m the lower
counties OF the state where meih0Is of irrigation arc
necessary 20 bring il 90 maturity somewhat affect its
character q wineprodueeT, and from the further fact
that here the vineyards t3e most extensive Of any IN
the northern part Of the state. SouCma may be taken az
iar example OF inc apiD{ o. OaI 1-lA 10 I0W "ihee
that al no distant day Will rase 4 90 ga eau. fahk ad
enable 10 compete successfully with thc hrst vine
ing regions Of the globe.
Ihis lovely valley which as y0u approach il ON The
hills either side offers the most enchanting vision Of
rural Quiet and felicity lies ia about the same latitude
with the southern part Of tie Peninsula OF spain and
Portugal but with climate resembling, % d remarkable
manner that Of the southern part Of France IL IS seated
considerable distance inland aud guarded on the West
By q high range Of morntlns, which present barrier
against te fOgs and WINDS Om the ocean, On The south,
II is connected with the beautiful Bay Of San Francisco
bv the Sonoua Greek stream considerable enough to
aqt al high tide AL tho commerce that Is carried be
tween the interior AID Che sea5oard. IAc hills on the
other sides of the valley scarcely lofty enough 10 DO dsni
fed with the Of mountains fade away impcrcepibly
in the di1onoe dcd will tle redwood and the sii
redder 0dyO8n and uqr-gHff4 while the center Of the
valley is crowded with lge oaks, whose ever green int
form 80 feature IN tie landscape and which, thanks
the GOOD taste OF The inhabitants are spared 10 throw
their shade ana cheerful influence over the whole scene
Much Of the soil glong the bottoms is composed o. the
richest 0Nyr;bA imaginable, which qwckens into ihe
highest vegetable life every seed and plant put into II.
on account doubtless OF this marvellous fertility, tho
first settlers wCIe seduced into tbs belief thai these uch
bottom lands the best suited i0 ir6 ards and hence
We zee he Oldest ones too often antcd N the most unsua
be places This mistaken policy has prevailed IN oiLel
portions OF the Stale though ~ lo1i oil ci II is con
rdy to one Of the simplest caaons Of Nnceutue, WIch
10 avoid the richest lands much as possible, OF rather
those which collect the mos, moisture underneath ihe sui
face For a8 the vlne-drss.r5 express rs The vine clu
not endure wet feet AS you approach the hills now,
ever the character Of the soil changes into mixture "
and gravel and fuf coored in many places by the 0xyd
u IRON and exhibiting unmisakabe evidence OF volcanic
origin Much OF this soil rests on rocky sub,tratum
aud Oh the higher elevations the rocks u out IN many
d into parallel CHAINS or reefs, iomlg natural Ter
aoe where the vine loves % cur s tendrs and spread
ONT its tender leaves 10 tie warmth Of the sun. On these
hills are 10 be seen the GyOrIte haurt5 Of Bacchus
Just here that IN coming years, the traveller will
behold the most fruitful vineyards ~ the world spread out
before his asiOnighcd eyes bending under the weight OF
their purple clusters, ard gWng token Of ihe high,s'
prosperity that can reward Tie labor o me lnsbanumah
lie Kill see them reaching from the base 10 tbc summit OF
the hills and extending i1r miles and males along the
most pcpfOus passes. Nor have all the growers OF
location Several OF those who had p.acced Tie
most success l methods Of culture IN the Old World
have annieI the principles Of their tmehonored ar IN
fsctnp AID arranging The vineyards they lave acquired
Il, their new homes; and Of he most 1ounshlhg anu
OF them Is now 10 DO seen on tne Top Oh one W
be Nils have described most successfully cultivated ~
n inelieent counlryman and comrade OF hossuil VINO
has named il Tokay from some resemblance, e'heI ~
Inc character Of the wine site, 70 that iaTdnicu noun
Ia n ia his native land
The whole process Of planting and taxing care OF one OF
ese vineyards until II natures into perfect STATE iS one
a. the simplest things II the world Nor need Tue c3 OF
bor defer any one from undertaking the asA. The labor
80 tho very la rest yard 10 SOnoma carried on en-
,i~v bv Chinese who be hired al cheaper rates lha
any OF the aborers of the East. And have visited
snother one OF The best in Sonoma County, where the
,rorretor employs nothing but Indians. BY KIND treat
l AID teaching them habits of industry he has so far
,,j them nom their savage state that they seem TO
have conquered all their preuaiccs against labor and one
r5 al male and female set about their daily task wlh as
b alac,ify and servceabeness ordinary white Labor