The Placer herald., 1870-02-26
HOUSE AND FARM.

di tilleries for the purpose Of making bran
dies. Those OF the southern parts Of
France contain one.third Of brandy; those
in the centre only ons.sixth, and those in
the northern part not over one tenth. Ii is
generally known that the peach brandies
are characterized by spicy mildness and
purity Of flavor; 10 this they vary, however,
as TO variety OF grapes aud their places OF
production. Ia Germany French brandies
are mostly known by the name of"Cognac."
As to the California grapes, they are said
to contain still more spirits than those OF
the southern part OF France.
The grape region of California extends
about six hundred miles from north to south,
with an average breadth from east to west
OF about one hundred miles The Los An
geles district is an open plain about seventy
miles long and reavbing back thirty miles
from the ocean. The Sonoma, Nspa aud
Santa Clara grape districts are in fiat, mar
row valleys, shut in by steep, rugged
ridges Of the Coast mountains. The Sacra-
mento grape district is in fiat valley about
half way between the mountain ranges fifty
miles apart.
The vine was first brought to California
BY the Spanish missionaries about the year
1770, only one variety-that now called
Los Angeles grapes.
The Souoma grape is said to make light
wine, resembling clare'; the Los Angeles
grape makes strong wine, resembling
more port and sherry The two grapes are
olassed as the mission native" or "UalIfor-
mia" grapes, and were the only varieties
cultivated here previous to 1858.
Flavor aud fruitiness are not less needed
in fruit for wine than 10 fruit to be be eaten
fresh at the table. The lack Of iruitiness
is the great misfortune of the wine made
from California grapes, and the evil was
only to be remedied by the use of foreign
grapes, Of which there are about 200 yarie-
ties now cultivated.
need not speak Of the great many ad-
vantages which California has over other
countries for the cultivation Of the grape;
they are generally known. | will however
mention few: 1st, 10 Europe 200 gallons
of wine per acre is considered good yield,
whilst for California 500 gallons is claimed;
2nd, The grape crop never fails and grape
sickness is scarcely thought Of 3rd, Vine
yards in other countries require far more
labor. Here the stalk stands alone, whilst
in Europe the vine is trained with stalk
four feet high, and supported by polo
which has to be set every year. 4th, The
great difference in the price Of land fit for
vineyards, etc.
This disadvantage Of California, however,
consists in the high price Of labor, the ig-
norance Of the people Of the arts Of vine
growing and wine making, the dearness Of
casks, etc.
In Europe the wines from the fat lands
are generally of an inferior quality. We
cannot yet tell, however, which are our best
grape soils, or how they differ from one
another in their influence on the wine. |
feel, however, much inclined to think that
the preference one day will be given to our
foothills. The great similarity Of their soil
(sandy or graveIy and rather poor,) with
that n Europe, where their best table wines
are grown, as y ohanuisberger," in Ger
many, and "Chateau Laffitte," in France,
make me come to this conclusion; and the
flavor Of the grapes now grown in our own
foothills. far superior 10 all others, leaves
but little doubt in this respect in my mind.
In Europe also hills are preferred, ard in
Germany the name for vineyard is "Wen-
berg,"-a vine bill. So much then for
vine growing and wine making. Let US now
examine why. With all these advantages, so
little is done in this respect in our own foot
bills. The answer is near at hand. 1t is because
there is no market, no sale whatever, neither
for grapes nor wines, spirits nor brandies, in
their vicinity nor bere in Marysyie, aud
therefore no real profit attached to it, nor
kind There should be in Marysvile an es-
tablshment for wine making, united with
dislllery for the purpose of making spirits
Of wine, brandes, etc.. etc. Such an es-
tabIishmeut as there are already several in
San Francisco whose business in this coun.
try snd in the East is said to amount 10 the
aggregate already 10 millions of dollars an
nually, and their profits known to be ex-
oeedingly large. Through them the wine
growers in their vicinity have ready sale
for all their grapes, wines and spirits of
wine, etc; for these establishments have the
necessary means and requisite knowledge
and experience to prepare and fix all things
in such shape aud iu so many different
forms so as to suit all customers and con-
bumers here and at The East.
Provided only tb at good man, posses
sing the necessary requirements or knowI-
edge and experience, could be procured, |
the requisite pecuniary means might perhaps
more easily be raised; for the people can
not fail to feel convinced Of the practicable.
ty OF such an enterprise and its undoubted
immediate success Cor MarySViUe 1p-
peal.
RASPBERRY TREE the salmon berry, a
species Of the raspberry. which aourshes 10
Northern California apI Oregon, possesses
a peculiar characteristic, which, according
TO the Hearth and Home, has hitherto been
overlooked by botanist, viz: that the stems
are perennial, instead of biennial, as all
other known species of this plant are. A
gentleman has sent several Of these plants
10 the editor of the above named Journal,
with view Of having them propogated at
The East. A statement accompanied the