Daily Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1876-1884, 1879-10-11
Wpy Los Angeles viii Become
Rich.

The revival of our grape growing
and wine and brandy making In
terest is the first aud most marked
sign of change which is taking
place in this section. We are be-
coming more prosperous every day.
The man who has had the provi-
dence and good sense to keep his
grapes till now can sell them for
$l.l0 a hundred, or $22 ton. It is
very unlikely, indeed, that grapes
In this section will ever again fall
below S15 ton. They are dirt
cheap at that figure, and the de-
mand for California wines and
brandies at the East is too great
not to leave the vipeyardist mas
ter of the grape market. Within
certain limits of good sense, he will
be able to dictate the price him.
self.
We have been ut some pains to
make inquiries as to the profits of
grape growing on the presumption
that . man puts his wn labor into
his operations. This year the grape
crop was small, two and BALI tons
to the acre being the average in
the sections where the yield was
largest. But fair and even low
average Is three tons to the acre,
taking one year with another. Five
tons, and in some rare instances
seven tons, to the acre, have been
harvested in Los Angeles county.
This is not surprising when it is
borne in mind that single punches
OF grapes here frequently weigh
from tivs and half pounds to fab
ulous figures, and single vines lave
been known to go from forty to
sixty pounds. But, taking the
average yield at three tons, and the
average price at SIS ton, and the
reliable gross return of an acre Of
grapes, year in and year out, would
be $45. From the closest inquiry
we learn that the cost of keeping
up . vineyard would not, at the
maximum, where man does his
own work, exceed Sis an acre,
leaving net profit to the vine
yardist of $50.
or course thus far we have had
regard to the simple operation of
raising and harvesting grapes. We
are inclined to think that $50 a ton
will hereafter be the minimum
price for grapes, and the profit at
tending their cultivation will now
lead to care and minuteness upon
the part of our vineyardists which
will bring the average yield up to
four tons. Attending to ones
grapes in slipshod way, depressed
by bad market, is very different
thing indeed from the labor put on
an article which brings profit to
the producer. This would advance
the gross money yield from an acre
planted in vines to $50, and the
net return to the producer to $65.
We would beg to ask what other
crop in the United States holds out
90 fair promise of REIN bursting
toll as grapes ? A net yield of SIS
to the acre planted in wheat ought
to be highly satisfactory to the pro-
Queer. 1t is far more than the
farmer of Ohio, New York or the
Mississippi valley, can rely upon.
Here we have a net return from
six to thirteen times that of the
Eastern husbandman, when vine-
yard has been fairly started.
Those who start out with vine.
yards now have an advantage
which should not be overlooked
They can plant varieties of foreign
grapes, adapted to making value
BILE classes of wines, which will
command much higher prices than
the ordinary grape.
But we have only considered one
aspect of the matter in the forego-
ing. Take the case of the man who
not only grows grapes but makes
wines and brandies. The profits in
his case are very much larger
doubled or trebled; and, where
there is capital enough to hold and
grade the wines. there is no reason
able limit to the profit. Let us
take an Instance in point. About
four years ago some seven thousand
gallons of wine made at Work
mans ranch were offered for sale
aud purchased at twenty cents a
gallon, the Messrs. Lips, Craigue q
Co. buying portion of it. This
wine, bottled, has turned out a
really wonderful article. There
would positively be no difficulty in
getting, in bottles, at the rate of
$3.50 a gallon for it in
the East. 1t is peculiar
and distinclively California wine,
but it has some marked resem-
blances to high grade of Sauterne.
We have heard quite a number Of
connolsseurs pronounce it a re-
markable wine. The man who
has capital enough not only to
grow his own grapes, make his
own wines and brandies, and hold
them till age has given them
market value, really has a fortune
In q forty-acre vineyard.