The Placer herald., 1872-02-10


REGARDINavARIETIEs.
It was conceded on all sides, that in the
present state of viniculture in California,
that the variety must be one of heavy pro-
duct. If too heavy bearing qualities, we
can find grape whose fermented juice has
aroma and boquet, such grape is best fit
ted for vineyards with soil and condition
suitable for its cultivation. OF tue light
coored grapes, the Rieslings have prefer
encc for flavor, and would be recommended
for the first place in selecting cuttings for
planting, but for the want OF evidence as
to their productiveness. 1t was not denied
that if trained and pruned as we train and
prune the Mission grape, the yield is not
satisfactory. Dr. Cranes experience has
convinced him that trained high the Resling
is good bearer. Others hold the same
opinion, but there is still wanting the test on
a sufficiently large scale, to answer the full
purpose of exactness.
BEARING QUALITIES.
There are two kinds of white grapes that
have Of late increased much in favor, and
merit attention for their good bearing quail
ties, viz. the Golden Chasselas and Berger.
The Chasselas variety, are, as a rule, good
bearers, but the Golden Chasselas, so called,
is the largest and has the advantage of pos
sessing vigorous stock The Berger is still
more productive. There is much tartness in
its Juice, while the Golden Chasselas abounds
in sugar; thus furnishing different requisites
in making wine.
HIGH FLAVOR.
When musk grapes are wanted for their
peculiar flavor, preference was given to the
Muscatel otherwise called Rhenish Muscat
and Frontignan. Its yield is not so large as
some other Musk grapes, as the Muscat Of
Alexandria (on rich sois) but its flavor is
superior.
QUALITY AND QUANTITY.
OF black grapes experience enough has
been gathero1 to justify the selection of two
kinds to satrsfy the demand Of quality and
quantity, viz: the Black Malvoisc and lin
fndel. The first named is larger bearer
than the Mission, and is believed to be more
certain. 1t makes a good white wine when
rapidly pressed, and as red wine, one of
better color and better taste than the Mis-
sion. The Zinlindel is entitled to all these
encomiums, and much more, for it is a still
larger bearer than the Black Malvoisic and
communicates to its vnous product, pecu-
liar raspberry flavor and an agreeable tart
ness.
VARIETIES FOR WINES.
This gives us two white and two dark
grapes for ordinary white and red wine-one
grape for musk wine or to mix with others
to communicate flavor. For this end, the
Catawba some would be disposed to add.
Many excellent varieties are excluded by
their objections of being shy bearers, but in
planting vineyard for wine, it is safer to
confne the selection to a limited number,
trusting to the plan of grating to make
changes, if by experience it is found that
others would prove more profitable or better
suited to any particular soil.
TABLE GRAPES.
In regard to market grapes, it is manifest
that no grape can lermanently command the
highest price, and hence it is not safe to Sc
lect for the purpose of selling for table use,
that grape which for the time is quoted high
est. 1t happens, however, that in most in
stances, our best market grapes are valuable
for other uses. The Malvoisie, Chasselas
and Hamburg, are all good bearers, and
well suited for wine. The Muscat Of Alex
andria, in many soils very prolific, is good,
but not perhaps the best for musk wine,
and is likely to be largely used for raisins.
RAIsIN GRAPES.
As regards raisin grapes, attention is chief
ly directed TO three varieties: Muscat of
Alexandria, Fahr lagos and White Malaga,
or as sometimes named in California, White
Tokay. Among these the Fahir lagos pos
sesses the recommendation of being most
easily dried, of having thin, delicate skin,
and but few seeds. Both the Muscat and
Malaga are larger, and would be preferred
where size is desired. The Fahr lagos
raisin is better adapted to culinary purposes
the other for table display.
PRuNINa.-1 Calistoga Tribune says:
If you wish the top of a tree to spread
cut off the top side of the limb outward
within an eighth of an inch of the bud, the
latter on the under side Of the limb. If you
wish the limbs to grow perpendicular, cut
from the under side outward, slanting, the
same distance from a bud, which in this case
must be on the upper side of the limb. All
pruning should be done just before the full
of the moon, as the sap is flowing freely at
that time and the limb heals over before it
has time to try up. In cases of crooked
trees, where it is desirable to straghten
them, it can be done by cutting off the last
years growth, in a similar manner to pru-
ming the limbs as above cutting from the
lower side of the tree about quarter of an
inch from bud. leaving the bud on the up
per side Of the limb.
WoErH TRYINa.--A correspondent in
forms the Scientific american that apples
may be kept from decay by covering them
with dry ashes, method easily tried, and
if found satisfactory, capable of extensive
application.
BETTER lniment for bruises on man or
beast was never used than equal parts OF