Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-08-15
vlTICULTURAL.
OBSERVATIONS BY TIE STATE
BOARD UPON THE SUBJECT.
Various Experiments with Must, and
in aking-Arsenic Rem
edy-The Grape Crop.


The vintage is starting in SO early this
year that i. is hurrying up both the wine
makers and those who, on the part of the
State, are conducting experiments The
making of wine from 3infandel has com
menced this week in one part Of Yolo
county. EARLY varieties, such as the Ries-
ling and the Chasselas, are nearly ripe
enough TO pick in some parts of the coast
counties. At the Buggy vineyard, near
Folsom, the operation of condensing the
must from the ripe grapes for shipment
East has already commenced. In the
laboratory of the Viticultural Commission
in San Francisco experimental fermenta-
tons on q small scale, preparatory to fur
tLer and more complete work later On,
have been commenced, The experiments
already undertaken, and more or less fin
ished, are as follows:
First, fermenting OH q small scale a sara
pie of C&tawbn must, reduced at Toledo.
O., last year, BY the vacuum process. in the
proportion Of seven barrels reduced 70 the
volume Of two.
The object Of the experiment was to de-
termine whether this must would ferment
easily, and under what conditions !. was
found that small part OF the must. first
having water added 70 reduce il TO its orig
inal condition, remained several days with
out fermenting. but finally started in and
completed itself, rs usually happens where
fresh must is used The other sample lots
OF the same material were treated with fer
mentng germs; one with O small addition
and The other with an excessive proportion,
in order rlDtp tho nfFpNf arl tho Y,r,.4,,or
obtained.
THE QUALITY OF THE WINE.
As to the quality of the wine so fermented
nothing can well be told, because the BaIn-
pies are so small and the nature of the
must foreign 10 that which we are &C
quainted with. But as to the effect of the
method OF fermentation the following is
shown That which had the largest amount
OF the fermenting germs added went
through very rapidly, and soon after the
same was completed became clear, that
which had . small part Of the fernent
germs termented not quite 80 rapidly. but
finished promptly, without. however, clear
ing as rapidly that which was farmented
without any assistance remained ia the
usual condition Of white Wine-muldy for
considerable length Of time. Where an
excess OF termenhng germs were used as Il
test, there remained in the wine q veasty
smell, requiring time to determine whether
1t will disappear The quantity Of fer
menting germs added in this latter case
was ohe-third of an ounce of compressed
yeast 10 about half a pint OF must Be
yond the remaining smell Of yeast in this
sample there is no discernible disease Of
any kind caused by the extreme test TO
which 1t was pat. Later on in the season,
Gs samples Of condensed must can be OBJ
tanned from the operations near Folsom,
more satisfactory experiments will be made
EPgHsCrs or ARSENIC REMEDY
In order to test, in case of any accidents
that might occur in the careless use of
arsenic, what would become Of the arsenic
II It was introduced into the grapes used in
fermentation, some early grapes have been
fermented al the Office with known cuanti-
ties of arsenic added. The product OF this
fermentation will be submitted to the State
Analyst to determine what has become Of
the arsenic, and in what shape it now
exiss whether it still remains in solution
II the vine. or has been precjpitated in the
lees.
Professor Rising, of the University and
State Analyst, and T. ~. Morse, also Of
Berkeley. visited last week the VINEYARDS
near Fresno, for the purpose Of thoroughly
Investigating the questions involved III the
use Of arsenic rs an exterminstor Of grass
hCPper5. They visited the important vine
yards in that vicinity, and obtained great
deal OF interesting 'infornation, which viii
be collated and reported upon in d few
days. The Professor has gathered a lot of
grasshoppeTS together with samples Of
fruit, and will be able to contribute inl-
portant information in this connection.
EXPERIMENTAL TEsTs.
a lot ot four hundred pounds Of Early
Black July grapes from Stockton was re-
ceiyed last week, in order to make further
preliminary tests to guide the operations
later on in the season. The lamentations
with this lot are partially completed and
partly in operation Is these notes are being
written, and consist of the following
First, one lot crushed N tho usual manner
and placed IN the vat, to remain without
any assistance; second, another stemmed,
but not crushed, to be treated IS the fore
going; third, one lot 70 which was added
small portion Of compressed yesst, after
exciting activity in the germs by placing
them in q small vessel containing must in
warm room; fourth, au equal quantity
Of grapes crushed as usual with an ex-
ce5siye quantity of yeast germs, treated in
Ike manner; fifth, an equal quantity
crushed IS usual and treated with sulphate
OF lime, according to the practice in the
south OF France. Spain and Portugal
sixth, portion Of the grapes were crushed
and pressed for the production Of white
wine, the intention being to carefully nurse
this product without assisting it in any
way by yeast germs, in order to terminate
and produce true vine yeast, which will
be subsequently used in an attempt to
propagate the same by method intended
10 demonstrate whether it is practicable to
propagate true wine yeas. for service if
required.
MORE EXTENDED ARRANGEMENTS,
The Commission has made arrangements
to conduct experiments this year on prac-
teal scale so rs to be more satisfactory TO
the public. where the facilities for ferment-
atoms and the procurement OF material can
be provided without the necessity of erect
ing a special fermenting cellar. II. w.
Crabb, of Oakviile, Napa county, who has
the largest number of varieties Of bearing
grapes in the State-over three hundred-
with large wine Cellar and all the app2-
ratU5 necessary for work, has agreed 70
permit the Commission 10 place man in
his cellar in charge of experiments, he as
sisting in directing the work the Commits
sion agreeing to pay for any extra prepare
ton other than those required for his own
work, and for any loss that may occur to
the portions Of material treated in case of
bad results coming from doubtful expert
ments, which are necessary, however, to be
made, in order TO determine questions at
issue. In this way the Commission expect,
at comparatively small cost, 10 produce
practical results on a sufficiently large scale
TO command the confidence Of wine
makers; and from the comparative tests
that will be conducted samples of wine in
casks will be procured. to be stored and
cared for in San Francisco, in q small cellar
to be fitted up in connection with the Com
mission, where they can be studied and
eyarli md hZ I'll ir,tarna.ad az N tn,