Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-02-22
THE PROTECTION OF v1T1ouLTURE.

ravages of the Phylloxera, at one time
supposed to be confined to the vineyards
of France, have been traced far and wide.
There are few American vines which have
withstood the pest save those hardy
species which are of comparatively little
value for wine making In this State it
has been ascertained that six counties are
already infected, and that some six
thousand acres Of vineyard are either
destroyed or tainted. Mr.. Arpad Harasz-
thy, President of the Viticulture Commits
sion, has written pamphlet explaining
the purposes of Mr.. Crank bill, and from
this we gather that "the infection has
been spread probably upon cuttings and
roots imported from Missouri, Ohio and
90 Europe, upon those transported within
I" the State from deceased vineyards, and
"by the careless sale of dead and diseased
stumps from destroyed vineyards for
:" frewood." The danger of the further
spread of the infection is very great; SO
great, in fact, that unless statutory rene
dies are promptly applied, the obstinacy
and stupidity of few persons will quite
possibly destroy the labors of hundreds for
years past, and ruin the viticultural in.
terest just when it is beginning to assume
Importance. and to repay some of the work
put upon it.
"Vine- growers west of Santa Rosa,
says Mr.. Haraszthy, "whose vineyards are
g free from disease, are now alarmed be.
60 cause they hear that one party intending
to plant in their vicinity next year is
roofing his cuttings in the infected Sono-
"ma district, to be transplanted next win
''ter. Planters near the Mission San Jose
have been alarmed because one of their
''neighbors, refusing all advice, and even
cuttings free of cost from healthy vines,
"insists upon procuring his cuttings from
ga diseased vineyard in Napa county.
These are some of the difficulties which
have to be commended with There are men
so ignorant, and at the same time so per-
verse and stubborn, that they will deliber-
ately ruin their own and their neighbors'
vineyards rather than take advice from
their more intelligent neighbors. 1t is
necessary to prevent such men IS these
from spreading infection all over the State
through their folly, and as ordinary meas
ures are unavailing, the law must be ap-
pealed to for protection.
Mr.. Crank's bill, therefore, provides for
the appointment of Viticultural Health
Officer whose duty it shall be to traverse
the State and to find out and condemn and
isolate all infected vineyards, taking the
necessary measures and precautions to
destroy the insect pest and to prevent its
propagation. A regular quarantine system
is to be adopted, in fact, and this is the
only way in which the danger can be met
1t will be observed that the peril and the
remedy are in this case identical with those
which concern the fruit crops Of the State.
1t is as necessary to guard against the
Phylloxera as against the Cooling Moth
and the Scale Insect, and as necessary to
prevent the spread of contagion through
the perversity and selfishness of individ-
uals. Both these important interests are
almost entirely dependent for their pre-
servation upon the measures proposed for
their protection, and the Legislature would
be amenable to very sharp censure should
it adjourn without affording the reasonable
relief asked for in the premises.
1t is necessary not only to check the
spread of the disease, however, but to
eradicate it where it exists, and for
this purpose both State and National
aid is required. The ViticulturaT Com
mission proposes to ask Congress to appro-
pirate part of the tax upon brandy lag
gregating $500, coo from this State) for this
purpose The General Government can
well afford to concede what is required,
and if this is done it is hoped that the
work of extermination may be completed
in two years. The sum of $4,000 per an
nun for the next two years is asked from
the State. Part of this is to provide for
| the Health Officer whose functions we
have above described, and part is to be en-
ployed in a compilation of ga full series
"of text books upon all subjects pertain.
ling to viticulture-soils, varieties of
wines, different methods of pruning and
-" culture, irrigation and submersion, fer
mentation, distillation, cooperage, cellars
" and their management, care and preser-
walton OF vine. products, raisin. making,
marketing grapes, foreign and domestic
markets, prevention of authorization, ETC.,
{. etc" These reports, when made, are to
be at the disposal of the State, for sale or
free distribution. As there is very eager
demand for works bearing upon all the va
rious branches of Vlticulture, and as this
demand is constantly growing, it is be-
lieved, with reason, that the State can re-
imburse itself for the entire outlay, and
even add something new to its revenue,
by the sale of these works.
Another portion of the appropriation is
to be used in practical field experiments
and demonstration of the value of RENE
dies, and this is calculated to save large
amounts to the viticulturists generally.
! The purposes of the bill altogether are in
fact good, and its provisions clear and ju-
dicious. And the Importance of the matter
of establishing viticultural police system
is SO manifestly urgent that the Legislature
would be entirely justified in bringing such
measure to the head of the file at once,
and making sure of its passage. When
the material interests of a large class of
the people are SO closely involved there
can be no excuse for procrastination or in
dolence.
SPEAKER PARKS AND THE CHRONICLE"