Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-01-17
ORR WE 1EDUsTRIEs.

tIIIe ana Nlut-iluhiuEs iAo 4SS--i-o
ceeded the time when most of those who had
been cultivating vineyards had learned, by
number Of years experience and efforts at
wine-making, that this part of their business
had proved failure. At one time every
vineyardist imagined that to make MONEY
out of his vineyard he must make up his
grapes into wine At the time this opinion
prevailed there was some reason for 1t, from
the fact that there were then bat few wine
making establishments in the country that
were in condition to buy the grapes and
make them into wine and wait for the ripen-
ing of the wine made to realize on the invest
ment The vineyardists had practically %
market for their raw grapes, except for few
G at could be disposed of as table grapes, al d
they could find no market for the wines made
by themselves for the reason that in most in
stances these wines were good for nothing.
AS a consequence many vineyard that had
been planted and cultivated up to good
bearing condition, and that had cost in cul-
tivation and rent, or want OF use OF the land
for other purposes, more than the land itself
was worth, has been dug up within the last
six or eight years, and the land it occupied
devoted to other cultures-as wheat growing,
general orcharding, etc. BY degrees, how
ever, wineries have grown up in almost every
district where the amount of grapes grown
would warrant
These establishments have been by degrees
extending their capacities for wine-making
till now they are prepared to buy and manu-
facture large quantities of grapes into wine'
SO that within reasonable distance of nearly
all vineyards in the State there is now
established winery, making sure market
for all wine grapes These wineries have
been improving their modes OF manipulate
ing and taking care of their wine till
most of them are turning out good mer-
charitable article of each Of the popular
styles of wine They have been able gener-
ally to dispose of sufficient quantities of their
produce to keep up running expenses, and
have been holding on to some Of each vintage
as an experiment to determine the effect that
age would have upon it, and in the mean
time what has been put upon the market and
disposed of has been gradually winning for
itself favor with consumers. During these
years OF trial and waiting and experience
among VI ieyardists and wine-makers in Cali
fornia, the wine-growing countries OF Europe
have been going through a much more trying
and discouraging time. The little vine pest,
hill hos haap steadily and surely
destroying their vineyards, aud year by year
shortening their crops To keep up supply
for demands made upon them, the old cellars
have been drawn upon till their
old wines are now nearly exhausted,
and their resources in every way have about
given out, and the world is now realizing the
fact that it can no longer depend, with any
certainty, upon Europe for its wines and
brandies. Hence it is that California is loom
ing up as a wine growing Countrywide fu-
ture France in this important branch of in
dustry. Hence it is that the value of all Cal
ifornia wines has advanced fifty per cent. and
more within the past year, ard that Califor-
MIA grapes have advanced in proportion.
Hence, also, it is that there is such a revival
in the wine interests generally in this State,
and that old vineyards are being enlarged and
new ones planted more vigorously this year
than at any other time within the past fifteen
years. Hence it is, also, that there is such a
call for grape cuttings OF approved kinds of
grapes this season. For the past ten to fifteen
years vineyardists have been throwing away
their cuttings but now they can scarcely supply
the demand The history of the wine bust
ness has to q certain extent been repeated by
the raisin business. just as we have learned
what kinds of grapes to cultivate for raisins
and how to cure these grapes to make mer-
charitable raisins, the ability of other coun-
tries to supply the demand has been to coz
siderable extent cut off and our products are
in demand. We are pretty well satisfied that
within tea years from date California will be
the principal source of supply of the vine
products Of the United States, and within
ten years more the world will be looking to
her for both wines and raisins.
OUR RESOURCES.
There is q flattering prospect for this in
dusty in our State, and while we would not
wish to see any undue excitement over it, it
becomes US to look about for our sources of
supply While we have broad acres of grain
lands in the valleys that would grow good
vineyards and make good wines and raisins,
we have much larger area of country in the
foothills of our two ranges of mountains that
is much better adapted to these industries
and while the valley lands are worth fifty
to one hundred dollars per acre for grain
raising and cultivation in other products,
and cannot be bought for less than these
Gums, the lands in the foothills are worth
comparatively but little for the uses that the
valley lands are worth the most for, and can
be bought for from one and quarter dollars
to FIVE dollars per acre. Our resources then
are abundant and within the reach of all
In making vineyard in the foothills money
would be great convenience, just as it is in
starring any other enterprise or undertaking,
but money can be dispensed with in making
vineyard to a greater extent than in begin
ming most any other agricultural operation.
The land in the foothills viii cost but little
and the balance of the capital may be in
vested in the shape of labor and perseverance.
Skill viii come by experience and observa-
ton, and success will follow much sooner
than it will be looked for if these factors are
faithfully applied.
STEEP ON THE FAPM