Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1872-03-01
THE BIG GRAPEVINE.
History Of the Mammoth Vine at Sam
ia Barbara, Cal.
From the Santa Barbara Press.

From the Santa Barbara Press.
We arc indebted to a friend for
very interesting account of the
big grapevine. This vine, as will
be seen by reference to our report of
real estate transactions, has passed
into the hands Of an cntcrprising
gentleman from Ohio. lie has been
fortunate enough to secure q tract
of land surrounding this noted
vine.
The account which we give be-
low is not only interesting, but in
the main is strictly accurate. The
product of this wonderful vine is
quite III keeping with it's great size.
We arc very glad tina. the property
has passed into the hands Of an
honorable and intelligent American.
1t is more or less embarrassing for
strangers to find themselves stand
ing by this great prodigy, asking
questions of the owner who cannot
speak a work of English. The vine
also needs little care, and this it
would not receive at the hands of
its former owner. The account to
which we refer, and for which the
writer will accept our thanks, is rs
follows:
This estate has been in the
possession of the Dominguez family
over thrcc-quartcrs of century,
being the most noted place in
Southern California, attracting
tourists from all parts of the globe.
1t was conveyed by the city authori-
ties of Santa Barbara to Dona Mar
celia Felix de Dominguez, who has
now conveyed it to Mr.. Server, of
Canton, o. Soon after having made
her will, she departed this life at
the ripe old age Of los years, leav-
ing 800 lincal descendants. We
quote from Hyatt's handbook of
grape culture: "Santa Barbara
Mammoth Vinc-We call this the
mammoth, not so much Oh account
of the size of its fruit, as of its vine
and of its prodigiously prolific
bearing propcrties." He then pro-
cecds to say: zone of the celebri-
ties of Spanish California is the i'm
mensc and beautiful grapevine now
growing at the Montccito, two or
three miles below Santa Barbara.
The planter of the vine was Dona
MarceIlina Felix Domingucz, of the
earliest expedition to Sonora, before
1880"
This now famous vine, some
seventy years since, was the riding
whip of the Spanish lady, presented
to her by her lover, which, after the
ride, was planted by her, and has
now developed into that grand me-
mcnto OF love, the largest and most
famous vine in the world.
Beside the old vine is an offspring
only twelve years old, fast approach
ing the dimensions Of the parent,
and fully as prolific. Under the
genial branches Of this youthful
vine is Il large dancing floor, where
according to the custom ofthe Span
iards, on Sabbath days and Sabbath
evenings, are performed the love-
dances of 4 new generation ofSpan-
ish lads and lasses in their landau
Cos, enlivcncd by the voluptuous
swclls of music and free drafts of
Camulus. Close by reposes the
ancient riling-whip, spreading her
venerable branches over an area of
more than 5000 square feet of
ground, the tNtelar guardian Of the
rancho, whose branches INTERVENE
with those Of her offspring, and
those of Il nciyhboring fig tree, an
nually laden with blue figs. These
people truly have long had the
privilege (now passed away Of sit
ting, as well as dancing, under their
own vine and fig tree.
According to Hyatt, before the
death Of the aged Dona, the vine
was made to produce more than any