Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-12-20

6ltbG the summer Q6ab Is prolonged Will
autarnn-the mean temperature of Sacra-
mento in September being rs deg So. So
noma is probably q little cooler, and there
fore better adapted for Northern vine-grow
erS.
While California and Ohio are compare
lively we'll known to the public for their
wines, it may not however be so well known
that In our own State the business Of wine
manufacture has grown from the most in
significant beginning to q magnitude which
warrants us in placing it among one OF the
most important industrial pursuits of the
Empire State. Chautauqua county pro
duced in 1868 nearly q half million pounds
OF grapes, the cash value of which was $34,
900. Monroe county raised in the same
year 49, 900 pounds Rockland county
Ill, 900 Steuben 184, 900. Steuben county
at the present time would seem 30 be in
fair way 20 rival even the SOnoma Valley.
An Intelligent correspondent Of the Troy
Daily Times, writing from Pleasant Valley,
speaks thus OF the locality:
The "NalIey" proper is some three
mics long and one mile wide. 1t is about
100 feet above Underwater. The slopes rise
at an angle Of about thirty degrees to the
length Of 1 200 feet. On the hill sides are
the vineyards ; and when / say that in this
valley and Oh the banks Of Crooked Lake
culture, j state i TACT which of itself indi-
Gates better than anything else can the ex-
tent Of the industry. Grapes have been
raised IN this region for the past 35 years
with d success, out with Il view only TO
home consumption and for the local mar
kets. The Idea Of raising the grape for
wine occurred within the last few years.
Three or four farmers had several large lots
apiece, and it was a question with them
how they should dispose Of their product
There was more then than the local markets
would buy, and the markets abroad were
not remunelUtiVe, frelghts and risks con-
sidered. At this time the Valley product
was about one hundred and fifty tons A
Wine Company was then formed on small
and different scale, and this company
proved the nucleus Of what is now known
rs the Pleasant Valley Wine Company"
! The first year the company manufactured
OF wine 4, 600 gallons, and brandy 400 gal
Ions. This found o market in Western
New York. The next year the company
made 5000 gallons of still wine and 500
gallons OF brandy. The next, i, 900 gal
Ions Of wine and ) 900 gallons OF brandy.
Ii 1865, on all experiment, the company
commenced the manufacture of sparkling
wine, from a fine CataWba variety of grape,
and that year made %, 900 bottles OF spark
ling, q, 600 gallons still wine, and 1000
gallons OF brandy. This year the company
will pat up 100, 900 bottles Of sparkling,
and probably 100, 600 bottles Of still wine.
The ''Pleasant Valley, us the original COM
p&ny, has been very successful, and seems
to be under very efficient management.
Its President is u. c.. Howell, Cashier of
the Steuhen County Bank at Bath Secre-
tary and Treasurer, G. ID. Champlin, Esq,
Hammondsport. The company will sell
this year $50, 900 worth of wine and brandy.
There are two other companies in that
locality, the ''Urbana" and THE Crooked
Lake Companies" The latter company
will fill 5000 bottles this year. To the
commencement Of 1867, they had produced
S37, 900 worth OF still wines and brandy.
The Urbana Company will put up this year
80, 600 bottles Of their brands, and will
continue at full work until they have 100, 900
bottles in the cellar. The capital stock of
this company is $3.50 600, and it owns one
hundred and fifty acres OF vineyards. The
four thousand acres on Crooked Lake and
Pleasant Valley devoted to grape raising,
VIII this year yield 100, 600 tons of grapes
Including all sold in the Eastern markets,
at high prices, and the bulk sold to the
winters at from two to eight cents per
pound, the product this year will yield he
growers not less than 5000, coo.
L
separated latitudcs Of the Rio Grande and
the lake shore of New York Oh the Pacific
slope and III the Ohio valley the cnltiva-
ticn Of the grape becomes a decided sue
cess when undertaken with scientific skill.
The matter Of climate does not seem to be
SO much an obstacle as an incentive.
Within the past few years our Canadian
neighbors have given considerable atten-
ton to yine-growing. At Port Credit Sta
ton an association owns 40 acres, of which
30 are bearing vines now, 30 more to be
planted this season, and all to be under
vines IN about two years or more. Only
ten acres were ia full bearing in 1866, ten
being young. The wine obtained was 30
600 gallons, with q proportion of brandy
distilled from the refuse Of grapes. This
year they expect 1000 gallons of wine,
possibly more. The locality is within the
influence of the deep Ontario Lake, three
miles distant The comparative 34igh tenn
perature OF tine water, which is too deep to
freeze, moditieS the atmosphere all winter,
and III the spring produces fOg8 in the
sharp frosty nights which benefciaIly pro-
tect the vines by retarding vitality until the
! brilliant sun, becoming too powerful to be
restrained, bursts through and dispels the
mists, vivifying the buds and impelling the
plants to hasten forth with blossoms.
IL tiS NttiI ISiLttt, NIlc Is VIC NILC-}5fOW-
ing genius Of Canada, is very sanguine of
the future Canadian wine. He claims that
the heat OF Canada during the season of
vine vegetation, amounting to 135 days, is
far superior 10 that OF Burgundy with it's
III days Notwithstanding that the contrast
between day and night is SO much greater.
Purity OF atmosphere, he says, is the next
greatest advantage for a Vine climate, and
belongs to Canada in q much greater de-
gree than TO Burgundy or to any part of
France. The variations in Canadian tenn
perature demonstrate this purity, as varia-
ton is produced by radiation of heat, which
IS the consequence Of purity. In Canada
the long winters have been praised, while
apologies are made for short and burning
summers ; whereas the truest value Of the
climate is the heat and brevity of those
summers, which can, 10y the wonderful
riches they produce Tor may, when properly
appreciated and managed,) compensate for
the Improbable though not socially I'M
pleasant length Of the winters.
If we turn now to New Jersey, We shall
find that an entarprislng American at Pas
sale, is producing about 10000 gallons Of