The weekly Butte record. [volume] (Oroville [Calif.]) 1866-1887, 1867-02-16

N. Keller. of Los Angeles, sends rs the following
highly interesting communication upon the progress
ard importance of the Grape culture in California:
In former communication showed that the
wine crop of Los Angeles county for the year 1866.
was 100 900 gallons and upwards. was surprised
to read. therefore. in synopsis of the industrial
resources of California, published in the Alta OF
the 10th of January, that the whole wine product
Of the State was but 100000 gallons, and that
only 400 600 gallons were manufactured in the
county of Los Angeles. | was 50 astonished that
went over nv account again. and found it always
correct The conclusion here Is that the county OF
Los Angeles alone made as much wine as the -iHd
gives as the production OF the whole State, and if
the estimate in other details as 1t is
in this the aggregate crop of the entire State can
not fall short of 1000 900 gallons. The County
Assessors, from whom the 4Aftd pretends to have
taken its statements. were not employed during the
wine making season of 1866. and their books were
in the hands of the Sheriffs, who were engaged IN
collecting taxes from the people. Assessors are
seldom reliable statistcians but i'll this case they
had no opportunity whatever of giving any esti-
mates.
There are 500 900 grape vines of all ages in cul-
tivation in Los Angeles county. on a little more than
. 500, acres, of which 500 are in full bearing.
worth at the rate of s400 per acre. $500, 900. The
vats presses pipes and implements in use are worth
800 600. There produced in the year 1866,
$50 900 gallons of all wines, worth at the place of
manufacture 80 cents per gallon or IN the aggregate
$50 0u0 or aDouI 0U per cent On Tue tdpitdl
ted. And this is exclusive of the profits of the
legitimate wine merchants, which no doubt reach
an equal amount. There are 600 acres planted in
vineyards, worth about $500 per acre, or In the
aggregate, 500 900. The total amount OF capital
invested in the wine interests of Los Angeles county
is 81 900 900. One good laborer cultivate ten
acres of vineyard adequately, aud it takes another
to make and take care of the wine produced from
the same.
1t is ascertained that an acre of grain requires
,t.1ra of RING lf n n
vineyard produces eight times as much as an acre
of grain 1t takes one-sixth of the grain crop for
seed except maize. which would make reasonable
Offset against the time it takes to raise vineyard
to bearing condition. A vineyard, well treated,
will last in this climate wo centuries, and the older
the vines the better the wine. When vines are
planted six feet apart each way there are 2l0 TO
the acre. They will yield an average of ten pounds
of grapes to the vine. or 100 pounds to the acre
The grapes at II cents per pound are worth Slsl 90
while grain in the field does not average 81 90.
This Is purely calculation founded on grape rails
ing for consider wine making another trade, which
requires another capital to carry II on.
In Europe, wherever the climate and the nature
of the soil admit of the culture of the grape, we
find the land covered with vineyards and more dense
ly populated than the most fertile regions which are
uusuited to viniculture. Wine making requires at
least as many operatives needed to raise the
grape from which it is made. hence the density of
population in wine growing districts. Considering
that much of our uplands are too dry for agricul-
tura. and only fit for grazing purposes, which at
best only support sparse population. and con
sderng that a certain density of population Is
necessary TO call into existence and maintain the
agencies of civilization, such schools. libraries,
newspapers, theatres, the lecture -room and the
various arts and sciences which refine and improve
human society, it is duty, therefore. to direct
the attention of our people, at home and abroad to
the advantages of our soil and climate and the low
value of lands. in order to encourage the cnltiva-
tion of valuable products which can be so easily
aud abundantly cultivated in our State, and which
be produced in few other places on the globe.
viz: grapes, oranges lemons, lines, citrons, shad
dock, almonds, walnuts, figs olives, caperS, hops.
raisnS, castor oil beans, cotton, and variety OF
other semitropcal fruits Our strea ms ought to be
brought into more moisture to irrlgate the lands
which demand irrigation. and the cultivation of
these products should be extended to the foothills,
particularly in the southern counties. When we
have railroads the continent, we will have
market for more than can raise in the western
and eastern States. which would render our country
independent of foreign importations.
The policy of the General Government should be
to give these new and valuable products ample pro-
lection against foreign competition until they get
proper foothod for after that they will be able to
take care of themselves. The recent telegraphic
announcement that Congress intends to raise the
duty imported wines. is already felt in this COM
munity and the result will be the planting of another
half million of vines this season. The loss sustain
ed by the large rancheros their stump tail stock
in the years of drouth is doing public good, and
will lay open their large domains to the tillers of
the soil at fair rates and viii introduce better class
of animals. Some large land owners still hold on
to their immense domains with deadly grasp, but
taxation and California interests will soon rank
them among the played out institutions Of the nine
teenth century.-S Sacramento Union.