Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-01-10
WORK FOR THE COLLEGE OF AGRI-
CULTURE.

CULTUhE.
A resolution was introduced in the As
sembly yesterday by Mr.. Adams, to the
effect that the Committee on Cultivation of
the Vine be instructed to ascertain what
facilities the College of Agriculture of the
State University possesses for establishing
and working experimental vineyards. 1t
was further required that the committee be
instructed to report bill, should it find
SUCH action necessary, to cover the points
indicated. This resolution appears to aim
at the preparation of some practical and
valuable work for the College of Agricul-
ture, and it is evident that if the PROPOSE
ton is intelligently carried out the results
ought to be of considerable value For
experimental viniculture is precisely what
very few agriculturists can find either time
or means for, yet it is obviously the most
prolific OF useful discoveries 1t is
in fact the only method by which the
capabilities of any given region, climate,
VI vino, Cdh DC dSCCI LII NiulCult-
ure theory can never educate alone, for ex-
perience proves that every country, locality,
and difference of climatic conditions, has
its own peculiar influence upon the growth
and product of the vine. Methods which
succeed in one place fail utterly in an
other, and these differences of influence
necessitate change of treatment, not only
in the character of the selections for cult
walton, but in the modes of manufacturing
wines. If, therefore, the Agricultural Col
lege should establish experimental vine
yards, it would be certain to produce re-
suits calculated to be of great benefit to
intending viniculturists, and these results
would be independent of any theories
the Professor of Agriculture might
espouse. 1t would then be possible
for farmers who contemplated the
setting out of vineyards, but who did not
know what vines to plant or graft, or how
to treat them, to ascertain by visit to one
of the experimental vineyards, exactly what
they most wanted. This is line in which
the College of Agriculture can be made to
redeem its now somewhat dubious reputa-
ton. Hitherto it has done nothing, or
next to nothing for the State. 1t is GER
tainly time that it was turned to some
practical use, and it ought not to require
much argument to demonstrate the benefits
which it can be made to confer upon the
public in this way. One of the most i'm
portant needs of the time is information
the best methods of escaping
the attacks of the phylosera. The most |
speedy and certain mode of acquiring this
information is by experiment. Farmers,
however, are seldom in position to test
the matter practically by planting large
number of different vines, and observing
their growth. This kind of work can be
done by the Agricultural College, and it is
unlikely to be accomplished by any other
agency. OF course very important con-
of such experimental work would |
be the practical education in viniculture
and visiculture gained by the students of
the college. In a few years this |
enterprise would create class of
experienced and thoroughly informed
who could 90 out |
into the State and instruct the
farmers, or who could themselves take
charge of vineyards, and gives an enor-
nous impetus to this growing and important
industry. In France and Germany, and |
other countries where the culture of the
vine has been long established, such ex-
periments are constantly conducted by the
agricultural colleges and other institutions,
and the results are found to be extremely
There would he no difficulty in
procuring the land required to make the
experimental vineyards, for very few
acres in any one locality would be
and no doubt all that was
needed would be willingly given for |
such purpose. The proposition is
the first thoroughly practical one which
has been made in this direction, and we
think it ought to secure the approval of
the Legislature. 1t is in the line of what
the Agricultural College was originally in.
tended to do, aud we are of opinion that
one result of fair trial of it would be to |
popularize that branch of the University,
at the same time that it would suggest |
other methods of utilizing the expensive
agricultural machinery which the State has
and which has unfortunately. |
from various causes, been somewhat barren |
Of satisfactory results up to the present
time.
WARDEN OF THE STATE PRISON. |
We recently gave some reasons why it
would be judicious to seek trained pen
,logist for the important office of Warden
II the State Prison. We have since been
permitted to see letter written by gem