Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-04-14
VITICULTURAL.
GENERAL OUTLOOK OF GRAPE
GROWING IN CALIFORNIA.
Protection from FrostS-Use of Sui.
phur-Developingo OF Yine-Grow-
ing-Method. Localities. Etc.

The executive officer of the State VIII
cultural Commission, Charles \. Wetmore,
visited Sacramento this week, and while in
the city was interviewed by a representative
of the REcoRD-UNIoN concerning the prog
ress of yiticultural development through
out the State. The crop of grapes for the next
season. he states, promises 10 be very large !;
late spring frostS and mildew are the two
great evils to be dreaded Mr. Wetmore
urges the vine-growerS To exercise great
vigilance to ward OFF the visitationS of frost
by means well known at the present time.
During conversation he said \ crop that
is worth harvesting is worth guarding
There is danger, however, that many may
persist in the notion that smoking after the
thermometer indicates frost j. a sufficient
remedy Thi, notion i based ON Il false
theory for smoking should be praCticed
Ia prercR rather than 10 cure frost On Il
clear cold night, especially starlight. indi-
cations of frost are generally perceived by
the farmer. Towards mOrning-abuut 5
to + A. M.--if the thermometer shows Il fall
ing temperature and registers aS 30 Fab
renheiT, li.e danger signal should be given;
if the temperature continues To fall. the
fires should be Immediately lighted and
the vineyard should be
ENvELoPED BY \ CLOUD or SMOKE.
This operates as blanket to prevent fur
ther radiation of heat, and so checks the
frost. In some situations aS it happened
two years ago in the coast valleys, 50 much
cold air may be created during q heavy
,1+ Il.
dGwntlow of the cold Current would sweep
under the smoke covering and 50 defeat
the object of the work Such contingencies
cannot be guarded against except by froS,
breaks, such aS dense rows uI trees. or
other Instructions to the flow Of cold air
Mr.. Wcmore thinks that in many eases
much advantage would be gained by plant
ing cypress hedge on the upper or highest
boundary of the vineyard. When the flow
of cold air i not too severe. such projcc-
ton would do much good. On true frosty
night the apparent current OF wind Is
simply the downward current of cold air
formed on higher ground by the radiation
OF heat from the earth'S surface. In lSS2
this flow became a strong wind in the lower
parts of Napa and Sonoma valleys while
III the upper parts no wind was observed.
BENEFICIAL USE or SULPHUR.
Mr.. Wetmore has also observed that late
spring froStS are often, if not always. fol-
lowed i'll about one week by Il rain. These
late spring rains are almost rs much To be
dreaded by the vine-growcr as the iroStS
although the danger resulting from them
has been thus far very little appreciated
Moisture with the heat prevailing about
the first of June are certain promoters of
fungoid diseases, and it is not uncommon
aS in 1852, to witness the ravagcS of mildew
after the vine-grOwcr has sulphured his
vines and considered himself safe The
late spring or early summer warm rain has
washed and destroyed the sulphur, Stimu-
lated anew the development of germs, and
there is nothing To destroy them. After
such rain, aS soon aS the leaves and
ground are dry, the sulphuring should be
repeated carefully \ mistake is often
made in applying sulphur when the foliage
Is damp with dew. Ii is not the contact of
the sulphur that performs the cure, but the
generation of the sulphur fumes under the
action of the sun. For this reason the sui
phur Is best when ground finest, and any
wetting destroys its usefulness The sui
phur that falls ON the trunk and the dry
ground is equally ctfiCacious Is that which
falls on the leaves; it Is best. however, To
scatter the powder as thoroughly aS puSSi-
BILE. 1t is not in all places that these pre-
cautions are needed, but there are many
whose experience in the past teach when
they must be taken. In reply 10 a question
IS to the
Development OF NINE-G8oW!NG