, 1881-04-17
>VlNICULTURE.
The Position of California Among
the Wine Producing coun- -
tries of. the World.
Cost Of Planting and Maintaining a
Vineyard-A Net Profit Of
$50 Per Acre.
The Story Of the Phylloxera in Califor.
niA aud in Frnnce-1ts Fright
ful Deyastations.

| 1EfNSAAl1VA3A
, Comparative Statement Of the Winc-Produc!ie
Of The WorId-Ex!raordinar Progress
In California.
| sptetas Cor4'suond<nee Of The Chicago Tribune
SAN FRANCISCO, Cal, April 9.-Twenty
five years ago twas costly undertaking
plant vineyard In California. 1t is tru
that land was plenty, and could be had Il
most tor tie asking; but, labor being iig
and capital scarce, men were unwilling to el
| gage III IN enterprise which promised no i'm
mediate wealth. Five years between seed
time and harvest was too long period ftt
the average pioneer; and, with interest at
per cent month and compounded ever
month, and no market when the vines wer
] loaded down, it is not tn be wondered tha
grape-culture was mostly delegated to TIL
| Spanish padres at the missions. and was recog
Alzei only as all inferior industry OF tile State
| l1avtnS an inferior grape to begin with, uilt
| ono containing much sugar and but l.ttlt
acid, Champagne and other wines noted fol
their lincness and delicacy were not at all at
tempted by the holy fathers; while the Sher
| ~. Madeira, Angelica and other cOnltn0E
| brands were rudely made, were without age
/ and had an eartlly favor. But, with the in
crease IN population. and the opening up Of j
market in consequence Of railway con-
! nectlon with the East, coupled with the
| withdrawal OF capital from the mining inter
ests by reason Of the decline in the pro-
ductfon of the precious metals, agricultural
pursuits Of every kind have advanced,
and the returns have been largely COM
mensurate with the labor and capital
employed. The small vineyards of
early days, stocked with the Mission
grape, have expanded into countless acres,
with a dozen varieties/or more; and the
wines are already competing in the markets
with the older products Of Germany, France,
Portugal, and Spain.
SUPERIOR: ADVANTAGES
California Is peculiarly adapted for the
growth Of grapes. No matter from what
country the yintner comes, he finds here
every element which most favored yini-
culture in. his native land, and others have
been added of whose value he has not been
before aware. The soil is Of ilimitahlc ex-
tent, and rich in everything that is required
for the rapid and healthful growtl, Of the
plant, while the warm and eQuable climate
brings the fruit to its highest per-
fiction. 1t has been said by Herr
Nessler, Of Germany, that heavy soi1s, other
things being equal, make wines OF deeper
color. high bouquet, and good Keeping quail
ties; that sandy soils make lighter wines,
less tinted, and with less bouquet; that cal
careous soils make sweet wines with little
bouquet; and that dry, stony, alluyial soils
makes sweet, strong wines will. less bouquet
and good keeping qualities; and, these re-
suits having been established by experience
and careful observation, it Is inferred that
from the various soils Of California every
variety Of light and heavy wines can be OBJ
tanned. 1t is well known that there Is here Il
frostless belt situated q little above the val
ley towfands aud river-b0ttoms, but MT ex-
teut'ing to the submits Of the lower
spurs Of mountains. When tie sun
has set and the valleys feel cold
and damp, the llilisides have war,u, dry |
mir, and yet above the air is cold again. In |
this irostless belt fruits of the rarcst kind /
grow unllarmed in every season of the year, /
ul!d the red volcanic soil produces grapes III |
greater abundance than the best rarmed |
reginns Of the Old World. Nor is the grape
grower cnntined to single belt. Or 1901
ltmre than one-thirtieth Is yet utilized fur
purposes nf agriculture, and from Slskiyou
TO- San Diego the valleys, foothills, and
are well adapted for the
production Of the choicest wines. Land eau
b. purchased ut prices ranging between $3.50
and S100 per acre; and q vineyard in either
case gives higher returns than q ike
AMOUNT Of capital invested in tile production
# wool, wheat, or even guild. The best
and for grapes is the light soil On the
lllsidcs; and, although. the heavy bottom
alus command the highest prices, yet SO
3rr acre Is not above the average for tile
whole. Besides convenience Of situation,
he difference in price is also largely due to |
rrigating facilities; and, with plenty Of !
yater, the production Of grapes eau be made
unlimited.
THE YIELD PER ACRE.
4 vineyard n1ortpd in t.Loica v,r;atioe ~
,s . 10y +, 49,, ~, f,toee sai!etles "
ains -, h.nr h',. omst e t,,a o, m'ea. ~
ian S1S er ncrs ve,' # the 1an1 H.. ho'pi,t