Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-06-08
The Mammoth Grapevine of Monte
citO, Cal.

give description of the great horticul-
tural wonder, perhaps better known as the
hammoth Grapevine of Montecito, in
santa Barbara County, California. A
great deal has been said and written about
thls vine during the last quarter of a GEN.
Jury, so that to-day it is the most ce!e-
DRAFTED natural curiosity in the world. 1t
Is called the celebrity of Spanish Cali.
1ornla by Hyatt, in his popular book on
grape culture. Nearly every history of
California describes it as the largest and
most prolific vine the world ever produced.
IN ancient or modern times. And it must
De remembered that history furnishes in
stances OF very large vines For instance:
The doors of the Cathedral of Raverna
were made out of the planks, said to have
been twelve feet long and fifteen inches
VIDE. The columns of Juno's temple,
Metapont, and statue of Jupiter for the
city OF Appollonium, were made of the
wood of the vine; and yet from what we
Call learn, none of these vines were equal
IN gigantic proportions to this great tree.
In the Old World, there is the noted vine
OF Hampton Court, about 200 years old,
and grown under glass; yet the diameter
OF the body or trunk of this celebrated
English vine is only the same as the
diameter of one of the main branches of
the MOntecito monster. The annual Weld
OF the English vine is only from 1 400
to 1000 pounds Of grapes, while this
California tree, according to the best au-
thorities, produced yearly from 1000 to
10000 clusters, equal to over six tons or
$4,000 pounds OF excellent Mission
grapes. Many may think that this is
California story, but this account has
been confirmed by the citizens of Santa
Barbara, at public meeting held in Teb-
bets Hall, Sept. 8, 1875. At this meeting
a statement o. the history of the vine, and
resolutions expressive of deep regret at
its death, were adopted and published in
the Santa Barbara Press of Sept 10, 1875.
1t is from sixty to 100 years old, and COW
cred over $4,000 square feet of ground.
The branches spread around the trunk in
all directions like the radius of a circle,
forming most beautiful tree. A large
dancing floor was erected by the Spanish
under one side of it; and it is said that
$4,000 people could be seated under its
wide-spreading branches. Its trunk is
immense, the largest circumference eight
feet from the ground being five and a
half feet, so that it well merits the title of
the Grape-tree of 10, 900 clusters. 1t has,
for many years, attracted tourists from
all parts Of the world, who were charmed
by its vast proportions and its unequaed
productiveness; and I have frequently
noticed that he who observes it
Ere he passed on,
Gazes his fill, and comes and comes again,
That he may call it up when far away
And so far as my observation is con-
cerned, this is true. There is even now,
after its depart ure to the East, a charm
still lingering about the place where it so
long flourished that attracts citizen and
stranger to the very spot where it stood,
which is now marked by stake. Num-
bers visit here daily, and the frstquestion
from strangers is, is the old vine really
going to the Centennial? The answer be-
ing in the afirmatlve-tnen | shall see it
there. But is not the stump Of roots left
and to be seen, is the next eager inquiry,
and if a remnant Of root OF branch is found
it is carried off as a charm, and sprig or
leaf must be sent to distant friends, with
photographs of the old and daughter
vines. The daughter vine is the one that
stands near where the parent vine stood,
and it is almost as large, and altogether
as prolific as the parent was There is
very entertaining story related concern
ing the origin of the old vine. The sub
stance of 1t is, that a grape-cutting was
presented to young Spanish lady a CEN
fury ago, by her lover, as riding whip,
which was planted by his request, and
that this memento Of love developed into
this great vine. The story is too long for
the compass of the letter-it is called the
" Legend Of the Montecito Grape Vine"
From what I can learn of the roman
tic history of the vine, this is its real
origin. 1t must have been planted under
extraordinary circumstances, or we might
CApCCl " oCC JULIUS vi equal SlZe. mere
is some secret mystery connected with its
prodigious developments which no one
seems able to explain. 1t was irri-
gated by the water from hot
springs, which contain sulphate OF
iron and other mineral substances, and to
the influence of these agents some attri-
butte its great size. But be this IS 1t may,
it is regarded by all as a most extraordi-
nary freak OF nature, and familiarity with
it on the part of residents seems to make
it the more highly priced. A near neigh
Dor, in conversation, the other day, said,
in reference 10 this vine, that when he |
saw it pass by his house on wagons he |
felt as if his best friend had departed He |
had no interest in it aside from an attach |
ment to it as great public attraction.
The vine stood in the beautiful elevated |
valley of the Montecito, equidistant from
the Pacific on the south and the Santa |
lnez mountains on the north The an
nual crop of the old vine in its palmy |
days was equal to the crop of an acre of
Lhe most productive California vineyard, |
and equal to the crop of two acres of vine
yard of France, Spain or Garmany.-Re-