The Placer herald., 1874-08-22
HOUSE AND FARM.

will long be notable in the anr,als Of our no
tive wine-trade. After two disastrous fill
ures, owing to late and severe frosts with
total yield Of only two and halt million of
gallons for 1878, and four millions for 1870
we have in 1874 most propitious season
and promised yield of 10, 900 600 oallons
There is no reason to doubt that the oualitv
of the vintage will be as good as the nuan,;-
ty is large, for accepting the recent anneor-
ance of mdew In Sonoma and Napa conn
ties land the winegrowers have adopted
prompt aud effectual means to counteract ia
the grape crop promises unusual excellence
in very respect. To SO handle this LARGO
vintage as to make it remunerative to grow
ers, and to place the trade on sound basis
is problem which should command the
earnest thought of producers and merchants
If the 10, 900, 600 gallons of 1874 are prom
erly marketed, not only California. bnt All
the world will know that 100, 600 900 can
just as readily find remuneratve sale. and in
five years 300, 600 acres of barren hills
worthless for other purposes, will be green
with the vines that love these sunny stones
20 well. W Nnile, on the other hand. failure
to nuke this vintage remunerative will not
only check for years the further planting of
vines, but cause neglect of the VINEYARDS
already established.
TO make the crop fairly remunerative.
present prices must be sustained, EXCEPT So
far as cost of handling may be reduced bv
lower rates Of freight and labor. and more
economical cooperagc The general use of
uniform casks, most suitable for the trade
when our coopers are prepared to furnish
such casks, will effect "a saving of from 6 TO
8 per cent on the total value of wine and
gLn Nptt
for an increase Of demand arising from lower
rates. there Is no foreign market TO which
any considerable quantity of our wine can be
profitably shipped until the annual produc-
ton reaches fully 30 900 900 of gallons: and
there is no probability of advance in tbe
value of foreign wines, which compete with
us in the Eastern market, unless it arise from
the possible action of Congress in modifying
the tariff Nor can anything more than .
temporary benefit be derived from a hipher
tariff, for the importation of foreign wine.
amounts only to nine or ten millions annually
A broader market is required than would re-
suit from driving foreign wines away. and
that market must be made in our own conn
try, the population of which would be inlin-
lily benefited, borh morally, physically. bv
the consumption annually of 800 900 600
gallons of pure dry wines. The problem
then is, how to teach Americans to drink
wine; and ON 1t hinges not only the future Of
a vast interest in California, but the welfare
of a nation.
Since the LIST of July the export demand
has fallen off, as is usual at this season
There are many orders in hand, however, to
90 forward about September lst, and a fair
demand during the balance of the year is
anticipated. The local trade was somewhat
dull during the quarter under review, but
has rapidly increased during the past month
and for the year will probably equal in vol
ume the trade of 1878.
Dry wines, both white and red continue
in ample supply, the reds being principally
o. last years growth; while there is greater
abundance of whites of the growth Of 1872
and earlier vintages. Last years sweet
wines come freely to hand, and are. for the
most part, in good shipping order. Prices
for all kinds have ruled steadily and firm
throughout the year. Br, ndy is in licbt
supply; the demand small and unsettled
Cooperage is lower than might be expected
iu the face of a large vintage and hght sun-
ply of slaves. New casks (thin staves) are
worth 8 cents per gallon; full slaves, 10 cents
for Clear Lake, and 104 to IL cents for
Eastern oak. Large numbers cf old casks
(mostly rc-shpped from New York; have
been placed at to cents per gallon -E.c-
an,uler.
WET-BooTs. = The AgricuHuria gives
the following advice to farmers who, next to
fishermen, are apt to get their boots wet
through: When the boots are taken off
fill them quite full with dry oats. This
grain has great fondness for damp. and will
rapidly absorb the last vestige of it from the
wet leather. AS it takes up the moisture il
swes and fills the boot with tightly fttne
last, keeping its form good, and drying the
leather without hardening it. In the morn
ing shake out the oats and hang them in
a bag near the fire to dry, ready for the next
wet night, draw on the boots, and go happily
about thy days work.
BUTrERNIILK AND ScuRvY The Colorado
Agricuhurist says: A correspondent informs
us that he finds buttermill< to be an almost
unfailing cure for scurvy in hogs. To prove
the fact, among other cases which have come
under his notice, he says he owned several
pigs which were suffering terribly with the
disease, and that speedy cure was effected
by mere pouring over them buttermilk a few
times in the pen. Readers will do well 70
remember this simple remedy.
How TO MAKE SUPERIOR COFFEE. E.-Div;de !
the quantity generally used into two eouol
portions; put one into the coffee-pot ON tho
stove, pouring cold water upon il. Let i