Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-01-01

doubted that any system of tenantry or
colonization can be more than temporarily
successful in connection with these large
enterprises. They are likely, moreover, to
suffer from another cause. 1t has been
often said that the profits per acre in the
wholesale planting of wheat are very small
as compared with those obtained under
similar natural conditions on smaller hold
ings, on account of the expensive plant,
and the waste from numerous leaks that
cannot be stopped when operations are con-
Quoted on 80 large a scale. If this is true
of so simple an industry as wheat
plsnting, how will it be in the case
of one involving so much judg-
ment and technical knowledge as grape
growing and wine. making, and one so en-
tirely dependent upon the quality of the
product for its pecuniary success? Where
are the experts to supervise infinitely, as
must be done, the details of the vintage
from several thousand acres, every part CT
which must be watched lest little leaven
should damage the whole of so delicate
merchandise as wine ? By dint of it's very
vastness, the undertaking falls into the
same risks as in the case of the attempted
making of wine by each small grower, OF
whom not one in ten possesses the neces-
sary knowledge of the process, There is
measure below as well as above which an
industry like this involves great risks of
financial failure.
THE SMALL GROWERS.
For small growers, whose families can
contribute largely to the labors of the vlnt-
L. LII e. L.,
and, generally speaking, the grape indus.
try will suffer less than that of orchard
fruits, whose bulky products require much
more handling before getting into mar
ketable and preservable shape. With the
former, the pressure ceases with the pick
ing. Must once in the casks or watts is not
very exacting in the amount of labor re-
quired, however much it stands in need OF
the closest and most intelligent attention
and wine once made almost takes care of
itself, and can wait for market as long as
the owners financial condition will permit.
Yet the grower of grapes exclusively will
find himself under the difficulty of being
unable to give employment throughout the
year to those whose help he needs during
the vintage disadvantage inseparable
from all undiversified farming, except per-
perhaps sugar cane.
DIVERSITY OF PRODUCTS.
For this reason alone, even the small
vineyardist should to a certain extent
diversity his products; apart from the
general maxim that it is unsafe to rely
and stake al upon the outcome of
single crop, however rarely that
crop may tail in our amiable
climate. In the case of wine. making it is
doubIy desirable that the producer should be
financially able to hold his product until it
shall have distinctly shown it's best quality,
and unless he be a capitalist he can do this
only by having something else to fall back
upon for immediate pecuniary needs.
While, then, we may not share the ap-
prehensions of those who fear that grape
planting will necessarily be overdone in
the immediate future, if the present rate
of increase BIS maintained for some years
to come, it may reasonably be expected
that the high profits realized within
the last few years will not much longer be
generally maintained, unless the increase in
the quantity Of the product should be
accompanied by such parallel improve
ment IN the quality as shall materially and
rapidly enlarge both the home and
foreign market for California wines.
THOSE GROWING A HIGH. GRADE PRODUCT
Have no reason to fear unremunerative
prices but it may be that the valley
lands, yielding from ten to seventeen tons
per acre, will, for wine making purposes,
before long fall behind those of less exu-
berant yield in the net returns. When
labor is scarce and high, high quality and
value OF necessity gain precedence over
large quantity and inferior grade, which in
the Old World, at least, is held to be in
separable from such high production. In
France the average product per acre is
about one and tWo.thirds tons, and much
less in the vineyards yielding the celebrated
wines, while more than twice that amount
is the least average sssignable to California.
Although contrary to the cherished convic-
tiors of not few of her enthusiastic sons,
it ia hardly reasonable to suppose that the
same laws that govern wine production
and the taste Of wine consumers elsewhere
Will not hold good here, and will not vim
dictate themselves whenever normal state
of equilibrium is reached, as with the in
creased facilities of communication must
soon be the case.
As result of this increased communi-
cation, also, the
LABOR QUESTION WILL ADJUST ITSELF
Through the influx of immigration and it
is pleasant for those whose home interests
are permanently established in this sunny
climate to consider that a commonwealth
of fruit-growers and winners is, almost of
necessity, one of more than average intel
ligence, not only because of the special
need of the use of brains and knowledge
involved, but also because the pursuit is
SO attractive as to bring within its ranks,
especially in later life, good many edu-
Gated men from 1.-THE professions. No
where, probably, is the desire for country
home SO universal as in California, for no.
where does nature render it so easy to
combine it with rational enjoyment Of
life. 1t may not be irrelevant to add, that
nowhere will a good professional training
of those devoting themselves to agricultu.
raj pursuits be more richly repaid.