Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-04-14

versitied crops would materially aid all
classes IN that county and improve the con-
dition of the labor market. Olives. and
mulberrieS for silk culture. would no doubt
add much to the general prosperity. Figs,
believe. viii be very profitable in Capay
valley.
CHOICE LOCALITIES FOR VINES.
Reporters there any special district in
the Sacramento valley that YOU consider
OF special prominence for its advantages in
.viticulture if you are familiar enough with
it 10 know?
Mr.. Wetmore-I know the valley prob
ably better than any other great section of
the State. have walked over all the lands
ON the west side. from Knights Landing 10
Red Bluff, and from the river to the Coast
Range, and l have ridden horseback
through every county from FL Dorado 10
Iehama, on the east side. There are many
peculiar situations at the openings of the
mountain valleys rs their soils spread upon
the plain; some of these openings are very
promising for viticuIuuc as it Is in the
debris OF mountain torrents piled up into
bench lands ami slopes toward the plain that
the finest results of viticulture are generally
looked for. The soils in many cases along
our foothills at such openings are extremely
well adapted To one industry. and such
work * the Natoma Company is doing
will soon determine what types of wines
can best be produced Ii Is, however. in
the vicinity OF Rcd Bluff, from Red Bank
creek 20 the Iron canyon. that | eN-
pect 10 see one OF the most remarkable
viticulure colonies of the State developed
Experiments should be made there at an
early day 10 determine what vines will best
succeed Above Red Bluff toward Shasta.
~ l,-
tionS In my first annual report. three
years ago, ! called attention To these ueu-
lectcd districts which promised good results.
VIZ; Lake county, the Shasta and Red
Bluff region and San Diego county Since
then Lake and san Diego counties nave
proved these suggestions To have been well
made. and some intelligent effort is now
being made to demonstrate what can be
accomplished near Red Bluf, Not enough
has yet been done in the last direction I
believe that iigs and mulberrics should
accompany the vine up this valley. and
that olives should be experimental with
further north than at present cultivated.
THE PREDICTION of WINE.
Reportcr-W defect is chiefly notice
able in the wines of this district
Mr.. Wemorc-Bad fermentation is very
common. and resulting from this Is milk
sour condition of the wine, quite frequently
met with along the foothills. In fermcnting
for dry wines, especially ciarctS the grapes
are generally picked when they have at
tanned too high a degree of sugar. Our red
wine grapes for dry wines should be picked
when they have from - to y per cent. of
sugar. In cases OF necessity varieties which
have less sugar and are easily fermutcd
should be mixed in the VAT with those hay
g.. . Il &
don. Water i sometime, used iu reduce
To degree of the must, bu; this is u practice
dangerous IN the industry liable to abuse.
and one that can never be 50 good lS pick
ing the grapes at the right degree of ma
mrity, or blending with muSts of lighter
degree. The Burger and Folle Blanche
among the white grapes the Mataro among
the black, ought to be in every vineyard in
this district. While valuable intrinsically.
they may be used also 10 assist frrmcnta-
ton of other varieties.