The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-06-11
u,,r oRoyryG IN CALIFORNIA.
,rh. Experience and Conclusions OF n Prac'
tIcal Man.

vneyarls by the phylloNcra and the estaD-
iishod fact that all the fine varieties OF the
European grape bear abundantly and rlpcn
{horDughly here In respect OF the ilrst oil these
p,ints. the French Goycrnm"ntihas' published
.,ons and statistics showing the spread OF the
disea.c in that country from year to year since
A., Or,t recognition. an examination Of which
will prepare anyone. II not to credit, at least
moi to reject tho assertion frequently made Ny
,,rson- who ought to know. tina, should We do
our utmost in the way Of rapid planting it will
ya1uirc nfty years to replace the lost vineyards
~ Franco. As to the second point while its
c,neral truth IL undcniablc, II Is not true as to
every locality in the State. So large proper
ton Of our area Is occupied by.mountains and
tho foot hills leading up TO them that every
variety VI climate within certain limits Is to be
{ ,und here, and two or more climates quite
distinct from one another occur within very
short distances. This muyFperhaps be host
illustrated lby examples. l am writing nj
Ncnlo Park about thirty miles from San Fran
cisco. and on about the same level ms the lower
part Of Kcarncy street. But the peninsula is
uurh broader here than there. and mountain
range some fifteen hundred feet high is inter-
poscd between us and the ocean. Hence our
climate is very much warmer in summer and
colder in winter than that Of the city. and we
arc free from the chilling fogs and sea winds
;, prevalent there In summer and fall.
above Tue sea level; Gov. Stanfords famous
stock farm. Pao Alto, about two miles from
in tRe zop ss air n oG his S %E'nS
needs no protection. Here. unless we'll smell
tered from the morning sun. 1t is almost sure
extends all along the TANKS OF the mountains
on either ,,r side Of us. beginning ct height of
i don't know how high. commonly called the
warm belt. because on it frosts Injurious to
vegetation are unknown. The almond and
here in the valley are liable to be cut off by an
April frost are there perfectly safe and yield
IN rare seasons mature there perfectly
Tho San Joaquin and SACRAMENTO va leys
present other peculiarities. In certain places
ripcning perfectly. deyelopes. under the influ-
once Of excessive heat and sunshine too large
TO- Alcoholic, and is used largely. o perhaps
mainly. for distillation. This same peculiarly
however. is favorable to the cultivation OF raj;
with them. Taking that valley as your base
HI you ascend the Hanks of the Sierra on the
ono hand or tho coast range on the other YOU
encounter every variety of local climate. de-
pendent on elevation, or exposure, until You
the LINE ON the sorE9 and
ties OF climate occur in all the other valleys Of
the State, and California is q country wholly
inquiry have often heard from travellers. why
they cannot make the tour Of the State without
frosh start. The valleys practically converge at
that point, where their waters are discharged
into the sea.
The number of species Of the grape is very
great, how great is perhaps unknown, for the
sorts go 10y different names i'll different places.
and identity of name does not prove identity Of
sort. nor vice versa. One of the services of our
titicultural Commission will be an authorita-
tive naming of the forty or fifty sorts cultivated
III THIS state. Each grape lmpresses its own
pecuarities on the wine made from IT, each
has its favorite soil and climate. and cultivated
elsewhere gives different results. Hence il ap-
pears To me that for some years to come our
grape culture and wine making will be largely
experimental. and that only the next genera
ton Will be able to say with certainty what par
ticular grape should be planted in any particu-
lar locality to obtain the most profitable results
Fortunately. most persons who plant are setting
ont variety Of sorts. and as the whole indus
Try i, watched by "A very Intelligent commission
OF practical men. organized by authority of the
state. the prospect OF compiling and useltlly di-
Eestlng the results OF individual experience for
general benefit is good: But until this is done.
consideration in selecting the sorts Of grape To
b9 planted. no wines of peculiar or recognizable
accident. NE must in the mean time I've con,
tent rs general thing. to produce such as are
I9und gHd iairy RAJ HHa55Se f9rtanaey th!s
have II sure and increasing market for all We
can Produce. and at grad all y advancing prices.
All who have so far embarked in the business
have done SO ON the conviction that with the
fifty millions Of population in the United States,
ana the increasing demand for our wines III
Europe as well as at home there is more TO be
supplied than We can furnish in several gem
erdtlons Either there is ample demand for ali
tho wine We can raise in this State or else We
aro all under one of the most remarkable de-
lu'i9ns thar ever possessed population of
intelligent people.
Cor1 OF LAND.-Land suitable for the pur-
pose varies In price from three or four dol lars
~ acre up 70 fifty or sixty. dependent OH situ-
ption, facilities OF transportation. neighbor-
hood. or disturbances in other respects In
THIS Yllcy, which think one of the most de-
,rabIc inr residence in the State. from thirty 10
he
san Jonquin country much lower prices obtain:
Il T. impossible to give any general price,
The expense OF planting Will be made up of
cost pi cuttings OF transportation. of cultivat-
ing. and setting out and of subsequent cultiNa-
these may be set down at, $40 per thousand
on an average. The second will vary with To-
sand. The third will depend on the character
OF the soil and the amount of tiiage bestowed
on i, 1t i agreed that Tor the best results Ac
puiNeiiaed. furnished plough. and contracted
for rI"ughing twelve inches deep for Sl2 per
rnt, soil. Many will finch from this expense.
sn ais De Sor CONTENT a. YIN shallow p,oHGhn% tw"
@ @ r sspsra,y% By byN' ro "% Sr'"HfsH
subject, i think eight feet apart each way
T. tho distance now most general adopted,
The cuttings ARE frequently, perhaps most
usually, set in u hole made with il crowbar ana
We carih sOIldly pressed round them: but il j.
much better husbandry and Of c0ufs. mo'r
expansive. to plant with the spade. The blocks
or subdivisions Of the vineyard are usually
made about 100 by 400 feet. SO that after plant
hig ~ vines one way and % the other t5D rows
d &o ~ Il row. you drop row. and then Ep oh
~ "inr". This leaves roads of Ii feet Wild he
tween the blocks for the passage of the carts in
about go vines to the acre. Dy the time yu'
nave got through planting, weeds will max
KNIT d aHpen W su fYa thT5S must
Ni"" "" season is peculiarly unfaVorU'H".