Los Angeles daily herald., 1886-09-02
THE GREAT INDUSTRY.
The Need OF Nero Wineries and
UietffIerfes.

Uistfflerfss.
Beginning with 1880. for half de-
cads the planting Of wine grapes in this
end Of the State. and more particularly
in Los Angeles county, was carried on
with unprecsdented vigor. AZ much as
two years ago the HERALD, always
vatcbful and siways wise as 10
he int rests Of this section,
sounded the notea Of warning. 1t was
evident that the thing was being done
too fast. The trouble did not lie, and
does not now lie, in the fear Of the in
dustry per -. The trouble all along
lay 10 the fact that vines were being
planted and NO provision being made to
work up the crop when these vines
should come in bearing. 1t was evident
TO every one who stopped to think
that trouble must come. The
plant necessary to make wine,
and the oooperage for vintage,
are decidedly costly affairs. The mel
who came here and purchased land to
raiss wine grapes were often greedy and
wont little il debt SO - to control con-
siderable slices Of Is, d. The planting
of the vines and the caring for the vine
yards oost more money and got the
vignerons deeper in debt. The rise in
the price Of land enabled those forced to
do 80 TO sell out part Of their possessions,
get out OF debt aud have little loft.
This was very opportuns.
Now, at the EN- Of Ave years, ihsrs
are millions Of vines bearing for the tirsi
or secund time, or increasing the pro
duct Of last year in th, ir present greater
maturity. There ha- been no adj qnate
correspond development in the Way
Of taking care Of the vintage. Til.
wineries and distilleries, while much
more nums rous and Of much greater ca.
paci,y. fall far behind the demands OF the
hour. e.e
The wine.makers have the grapc-grower-
on ,be hip. Five years ago grapes acere
grapes, and all brought about the same
price. This year thsre are grapes and
erapes. end buyers are very exacting q
u the kind, quality and where grow
when they are approached on the sabject
Of puro bssing viutsg The result is
that good grapes from the best soils are
absolutely low In price, and that the
less desirable varieties grown on damp
and heavy soils are likely TO goa beg
cling for . market Il b very we'll 70
talk Of the growers making their own
wine. Wherelthis Is pos ,ible 1t will Of
course be done without further urging.
II man Is able TO work up his crop he
il sure to do it sooner than TO let L rot.
But whs' 10 the poor man to do who has
no capital to get the necessary plant
The operage tor handling vintage 10
. serious matter In its cost. Nor ia /
the veseels for ; single year thar mus
be provided. The wine nsust be oarrisd
over into ct least the second year, End
ought 70 be carried 1t least two full
YER. to allow It tune to age.
A. he meeting Of the grape-growers
the other day il was stated by men well
posted that some sorts of grapes were
likely 10 sell this ymr below 30 ton.
perhaps = lag ~ n. At such prices
Tor the vintage these experienced men
stated that brandy can be made et ~
ssnts : gallon. That means 8 or . cents
: cailop ior the wine from the crushers.
Such 8 result H. siasIy An absurdity.
The lowsst price that grapes ssouid be
sold for IL go ton Vudsr any proper
system Of economy that . tine price
they would sell for. That puts the wine
Il less than is cents gallon, and the
brandy 81 50 cents. At these Dricee
there l. money In the manufacture OF
sither the wine or the brandy. II IL .
matter passing strange that come young
usn Of brains, energy and capital do not
get on to this proposition and 30 into an
enter rise sura to prove . paying me
for al time. More money perhaps may
be made for little while In specializing
10 corner lo,s, but perhaps the time is
sbout rips for some who have made big
etskes il that line TO Let we'll enough
alone and now to aid in pnblie spirited
nanner BY putting part OF their easily
gotten gaias into IN industry vhich will
Sid in the Development Of the country
and a the sams time hedge" their In
vestn,snts that still lie in unimproved
city lots or country farms. Certainly in
so,rss lines Of property the future IL dis.
counted for while ct least, and such wise
aetion a. that indicated above will 20 =
long way toward sustaining values ell
through the country. Money 20 invested
Gan not miss Of building up q business
which will be mine Of wealth 10 or 30
years from now. when there Will be lsss
uss ef real estate deslers than there l.
now. The man drst In hes the best
chance 70 stay IN and TO develop bis en-
tsrpriss.