Los Angeles daily herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1884-1890, 1886-08-21

Ene MISSION thme AT same
Mr.. B. H. Twombly Of Santa Ana. in
. communication to the San Francisco
Merchant, ventilates the trouble with
the Mission grape as follows:
Our vineyards early In the season
gave promise Of large and fine crop.
We have had no blight. mildew or insect
pests. Most varieties are still healthy
and will give o fair yield. Muscats
around Santa Ana, Tustin and Orange
are specially fine. Of wine grapes all
are doing well except the Mission. but
Mission forms 90 large part OF our
vineyards that this exception is matter
Of importance. Mataro, Grenache and
Carianon, grated on old stocks in 1859,
are bearing heavily. Mslvasias are
healthy and well set with fruit which is
already ripsning, But its tendency to
rot and its poor quality make 1t grape
not 10 be desired.
The Mission Is commencing TO die out.
Many vines that started we'll this spring
and set an abundant crop have dried up.
The leaves have a sickly look, the canes
have ceased to grow, and the grapes al
the size Of bird shot or peas have with.
cred. The vines thus affected are not n
any particular locality Of the vineyard
but scattered all through, here and thert
one or perhaps two in place. Distanc.
Of planting, age Of the vines, soil, cult,
walton or pruning seem to make no al
ference. Vines planted ct six or eign
feet, three years old or fifteen years Old
those we'll or badly cultivated OF
sand, gravel, loan or clay are all TN
same. The average Of Mission vine
thus affected Is probably 8 per cent. 4
few went the same road last year bu
not enough to create alarm. The con
clusiop Of yineyardists is that this Crap
il SLOWLY but surely dying out. Tn
writer ~ within lew days examined
great number Of vineyards in this vicin
ity and found the same state OF thing
in all. MALAYSIA, Burger, Muscat, Sui
tana and Franken all right, perfeotl.
healthy, but the Mission invariably Is .
above described. No one can explain tn
cause OF this decadence. The roots hav
bssn examined and are apparently al
right. Besidea, at the LIST Of May 0
this year, went over five acres o
n Mission vines and found . great numbe
that had not started. These / cut Of
four inches below the surface an
grated them to Grenache, These hav
made q 6ne growth and are among m,
most thrifty CRAFTS. SO, Mr.. Editor, !
L good or bad viticulture to use th
Mission stock for grating, KNOWN
THAT we do of its diseased conditions
In January last l procured fror
hummond, Of Glen Ellen, cuttings
kos Mancin, St. Macaire and Tenna
hese grated on fve-year-old Malyt
I and nearly every one lived and be
Ode a. enormous growth. MY neigi
Ill, Mr.. McClay, who is an exceller
"A teysrd;s' d wine-maker, procure
fl h c, abb, q Oroville, cuttings OF H,
OF Clairstts Blanche, Tannat and Cal
erS II sau. lpt.on, which he planted
cuA Ing. 20 The number OF about on
nsslIy every one Of which ha. grow, ,
making Z perfectly even and tnrii'
stand Of plants.
80. Mr.. Editor. you see that We ava
down here In this dark corner, intend
have some Of the choice wine stocks
Napa and Sonoma; and when Providen'
In lis inscrutable ways shall see ut TO
move from our midst the last vestige
the old Mission vine, we will have De
ter wine wherewith to treat our friens
tnd ourseIyes