The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1885-05-15

yL 49, H
TO the production Of grapes suitable
for the manufacture of wine is larger
than that in all the wine-producing
countries in Europe. 1t includes a
large portion of the state of California,
much of the territory east of the
Allegheny mountains, q considerable
portion of Missouri, Kansas, and Ar
kansas, and large districts in all the
states lying directly north of the Ohio
river. That q large part of the land
in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and
Indian Territory is adapted to the
growth of the vine is obvious to the
traveller. Native vines of large size,
many of them producing excellent
grapes, are found in great abundance.
The climate is specially favorable 10
the production of grapes.
The vines require no protection.
Cultivated varieties do we'll wherever
they are planted. They are more pro-
ductive than in almost any part of the
world. They are exempt from the
diseases that have become common in
the old wine-producing countries in
Europe. Land for vineyards can be
obtained at a nominal price, and re-
liable laborers can be secured at low
wages. The atmospheric conditions
are very favorable to preserving the
grapes on tie vines for q long time
after they have become ripe, thus
making the harvesting comparatively
easy.
There are many reasons WHY the
people of the Un ted States have not
improved their opportunities to raise
grapes and make vino. Most of them
are pRacquainted with the business.
There have been few opportunities for
learning the art. A large proportion
of those who have been engaged in
any department of husbandry have no,
had sufficient means to enable them
to plant large vineyards and to cult.
vate them till a crop would be secur.
ed. They have been obliged to de.
vote their land to crops that would
give immediate returns. They had
not sufficient capital to purchase vines,
to cultivate them for several years,
and during the same time to support
their families. Perhaps many of them
would have planted small vineyards
had they been sur of a market for
their grapes. But there have been nc
parties ready to purchase the grapes
for the purpose of making wine. As
it takes some time to bring young
vines into a bearing condition, so il
takes considerable time for new wine
to become fitted tor the market. Our
people have not had the capital to al.
low them to wait for slow returns.
They desired to produce crops thai
would mature IN a few weeks, and be
ready tor the market as soon as har.
vested. As a consequence they haze
neglected an industry that has been q
great source of wealth to countries
having poorer natural advantages thar
this.
The time has now come when the
raising of grapes and the manufacture
OF wine can be undertaken with prom.
Use of success. A large proportion Of
Il farmers have the means to pur.
chase vines and to cultivate them till
they are of a size to produce crops
They can combine grape growing with
general farming. Concert of actor
will be required to provide means fol
making wine and storing it till it be,
comes ready for the market. The
grape:growers in a neighborhood car
organize Il company to erect suitable
buildings, prepare cellars, and engage
in the manufacture of wine. They
"a adopt tho same course that dairy.
men did a few years ago in relation tc
butter and cheese factories. They car
make arrangements with capitalists tc
furnish the "a to make and store
the wine. They car find parties hav.
ing capital and possessed of skill,
in wine-making who will enter into
contract to purchase the grapes at a
stipulated price per ton. With little
doubt, the time will come when there
will be vast vineyards in this country
as there are in France aud Germany,
owned and managed by individuals
who manufacture the wine and dis
pose of it. Until the industry of wine.
making is well established, however,
small grape-growers will find it tt
their advantage to form associations OF
to sell their grapes to persons who un,
derstand the making of wine and who
have the mean to enable them to holc
it till such times as it is in a condition
to SELL icago Times.