Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-09-15

clusters of grapes ever exhibited in this
State, cultivates his vineyard without the
aid of water.
have introduced my neighbors' names
and nv own into this statement, because
wished to state simply what knew, and L
have dwelt with some prolixity upon the
question of irrigation, because it is the one
question of this district which shall deter
mine our future as fruit-growing section.
1t should be determined, once for all, that
trees and vines will grow in the foothills,
and that they will bear abundantiy enough
to satisfy any but the most greedy. Let not
the newcomer be afraid let him plant with
faith Heavens bounty is enough for HIM
if he but cultivate his land.
SOIL.
Much of the exquisite flavor which char
acterizes the fruit of the foothills is due 10
the nature of the soil. 1t is deficient in the
elements which produce an excess of wood,
but abounds in mineral substances which
enter into the composition of fine fruits.
Nv remembrance is that about Placer
Vile the soil rests on slate, tilted and
scanned. into which the vine and the roots
find ample moisture and food. As yeu 90
north and west you enter the granite belt,
in which is located Coloma, famous now
and for wears past for the peaches grown
there, which for size, juiciness and flavor
are not excelled, if equaled, in the State
The soils Of Green and Garden valleys have
no superior in the State in adaptability tC
fruit culture.
In Placer county there is section OF
granite soil which begins below Rocklln
and extends north to Auburn, and III width
extends from mile west of Rocklln east
ward to the American river, and contains
about four townships of land, say at least
10000 acres of land.
In this section lie the towns of Rocklin
Pine or LoomiS, Penryn and Newcastle, al
developing into extensive fruit cultures
Further to the north, beginning at Auburn
is the slate belt extending to COlfax and x
Bear river, the dividing line between Placer
and Nevada counties The sections named
are divided in Placer county by ridge
composed of powders from the farming
lands proper of Placer county, which con
tain the wealthieSt portion of the popula
ton of Placer.
After crossing Bear river you enter int
Nevada county. The soil from thence L
Grass Valley is volcanic, and the substrat
um trap, slate and syenite. In the south
ern part of the county, lying between Bea
river and Wolf creek, is a section of lane
which, in my judgment, is not excelled il
the State for the production OF wine grapes
/ The soil is red, slaty and mixed viii
quartz pebbles, and easily TILED. The eli
mate is even and mild; no snow falls there
and it is peculiarly exempt from frost
| What have seen of the grapes raised Their
without irrigation strengthens my judg
ment that the future is full of promise 70
that section as q wine-producing country
/ -t,,tf tl,o
| impediment TO its growth, but The railroad
viii go there if the people have faith anC
plant their vineyards and orchards.
Much has been said about the red soil a
! being the best for grape culture. This ma,
mislead many. 1t is true that red soil j
preferable to any other, but only becauS
of the presence of oxide of iron, which i
an essential element in the production of
| deep and permanent red color in wine. II
all the foothills there is sufficient iron 70
the maturity of fruit, and white wine cal
! be made from grapes grown on any coloret
sill. The only question in the production
| of a good and transportable wine is tn
right kind of grape on the right soil.
And this brings me to the question which
| is uppermost in the mind Of every MAJ
/ engaged in tilling the soil of the foothills
/ What shall plant? The time allotted IN
! is not sufficient to state fully all the rea
/ sons which induce me to believe that event
/ uallv the grape must be the principa
product of the foothills, and of the crap
/ such as are commended for wine.
! TRANSPORTATION and nearness to railroad
! must always determine the character of Tia,
( productions of a country.
! Wine will bear longer distance Of car
| riagc to a railroad than any other produc
| of the farm, and is better axle to bear tin
! cost Of transportation to distant markets by
/ rail or sail The three counties of this dis
! trict are especially favored by railroad
| facilities. The Central Pacific railroad runs
/ through the whole length of Placer county
! and at distance of three miles apart arr
( stations and ample side tracks for the con
| yenience Of shippers. Nevada county i
| connected with this road by narrow gauge
! road. and should the northern part Of tn,
county be devoted to vidculture a railroad
from Auburn or Clipper Gap would NJ
doubt be extended to Grass Valley; anC
even if railroad should not be built, thu
distance by wagon to shipping point Il
not more than ten or twelve miles. T.
Dorado has a railroad from Shingle Spring.
to Sacramento and as soon as sutiicien
encouragement is offered doubtless The
road will be extended to Placervile NJ
portion of The State is better supplied witt
the means Transportation than these tire,
counties.
Again, our soil is especially adapted t.
the culture Of the grape. 1t will bear com
pEison with the most noted Of the soils o
France. While it may be very tedious u
listen TO the tables Of comparison, ! an
persuaded that they viii be Of interest to
you when you come to study the capicity
of your soil and determine the variety o
grape To which the soil will bemost kindly
Nj Haraszthy, in his work..on grape cult
urc, gives the following as an analysis o
the soil upon which is grown the claret OF
Margcaux:
oxide of iron $50
Alumiua ............. ....................... tj9
Magnesia Pc
Soluble silcates. So
PhOsphoric acid III