Daily Los Angeles herald., 1879-12-13

ant one, ana, IL Woulu seem, IN
some otherwise.
Now, in making sweet wine,
there is very little and often no fer
mentation at all. Fermentation Is
stopped, and then we have no
earthly taste, and this is why the
Mission sweet wine is good. The
degree of fermentation can be told
with certainty by the presence Of
more or less of this peculiar smell.
All this goes to show that the Mis-
sion grape is not adapted to the
making of fine light dry wines.
That we can make fine light
dry wine, the equal of that OF So
noma or any other place, is to me
a certainty, for L have sold 1t side
by side with their products, l have
had critical comparisons with
theirs among themselves, and
came of, by their own admission,
with honOrs even.
1t is with much hesitation that l
write this letter. In fact, the often
er put it off, the less positive l be-
come of my facts. 1t will always
be we'll for the reader to remember
that what I have said, and what
follows, is true and proven only In
this locality and grapes that
would be of the best quality for
wine- making and henlthfulness on
the dry uplands, like those of my
locality, may be entirely different,
rot and mildew, in low and wet 10.
calities. With the present demand
and short supply, finer qualities
will not be appreciated nor paid for,
and the Mission grape is we'll
known and tried in all kinds of To-
cations. For me, 1t has less value
than other kinds, and 1 will not
plant any more. Yet 1 do not wish
to influence others, who have differ
ent lands. l give yon my expert
ence of nineteen years. These years
should teach something for the gen.
eral good; and, could begin these
years again, with my present
knowledge, it would be. worth sew
eral hundred thousand dollars to
me. The present outlook for the
wine and grape interest is very
bright-brighter than at any
other period OF Cslifornia's history.
Our wines are being recognized as
equal to the favored pure produc.
tions of any country, and we have
a county where much of the land is
better adapted to grapes than any
other purpose, with a new and vir-
gin soil to begin with, whereas
France and Spain, and even Ger
n
duction, through the greatest of all
pests, the phylloxsra, which!threat-
ems to exterminate the whole in
dustry, while we are getting ready
to take their places. Right here l
would most urgently caution all
parties from importing grape cut
tings from Sonoma or Napa, for the
disease is there; and, if introduced
here, it would be the greatest Ca
lamlty that could befall this indus
try. There is belief by many
that the phylloxera can only exist
where the soil has been exhausted
OF some necessary element of fertil-
ity to the grape. They find that all
reliefs so far have been some sub
stance which Is fertilizer to the
vine. The special manure of the
grape vine is potash, and this is
abundant in all of our lands in Los
Angeles county. We have only
got to look at many of our low
lands, where it has been washed
from the uplands, to see that there
Is a superabundanoe of alkali.
will now give you description
Of some few varieties OF grapes
which l have grown for some year,
and which have special adaptibili
ties for special kinds of wine, al
being heavy producers. They will
too, bear younger than the Mission
and, ripening early, they lengther
out the season for wine making
which is an item Of much import
ance in itself.
BLAUE ELBA.
Bunche5 medium length anC
size, shouldered and about as com
pact as the Mission. Berries round
inclined in some specimens to oval
Skin thin, dark purple, with heavy
bloom. Juice sub-acid and pleas
ant, and pleasant, piquant favor.
I'D table grape.
1t Is q vigorous grower, and the
young wood has q very clean,
pleasing, red look, which distin-
guishes it even at q distance. 1t is
regular and heavy bearer, free
from all diseases, and standing
drouth remarkably well. 1t makes
white wine Of some body, perhaps
in that respect similar to the Refs
ling, but carries too much tartar,
and is much like the celebrated
Hook "Liebfrauenmilch' of the
Germans. 1t is white wine of the
highest bouquet and quality, and is
admired and is favorite with
every white wine drinker. 1t is
pronounced the equal, by all Ger
man connoisseurs,o of the better quail
tiles of Rhine wine; and, it is be-
lieved by many Of these, that, ii
shipped to Germany, it would COM
mand o sufficient price to pay for
producing and shipping. 1t will,
too, make brandy of the highest
bouquet.
This grape was introduced by
Jacob Keller (now dead), of Ana
helm, who brought it from Ger
many. He gave me small lot OF
cuttings which, from year to year,
L increased, until now it is the lead
ing variety in my vineyard. 1t has,
too, been tried for some years in
my neighborhood, and ali who
have planted it join in its praise
for thrift and productiveness.
1t makes red press wine which
however, is inferior, yet which il
better than the Mission red wine.
Since Mr.. Keller's death this grape
has been lost sight OF and is scarce
ly known there.
ZINFANDEL.
Bunches generally nearly equal