Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-01-26
ALMRRIA GRAPES.
THEIR CULTIVATION INTRODUCED
INTO CALIFORNIA.
What a Leading vineyardist and
Fruit-Grower Has Learned
About il.

VIM. B. West, of Stockton, in an article
on this grape says: This is the grape that
is seen in the Eastern markets in the fall
and winter, packed in cork dust 1t is
grown near little seaport on the south
eastern coast of Spain, about eleven hours
by steamer from Malaga As this grape
appears to be grown most successfully in this
particular locality to the exclusion of other
famous vineyard districts (for it has been
tried at Malaga and found to be unprofita-
BILE, the grapes not being so large nor hav-
ing such good keeping qualities), it would
be well to note the characteristics of this
locality.
Almeria is situated at the mouth of
river, or what was once navigable river
in the time of tie Roman occupation, say
two thousand years ago, but now filled
with debris, with only a rush of water in
the winter it flows through very hilly
country, having only narrow banks and
choice warm spots where this grape thrives
wonderfully. 1t is trained on trellises ten
or twelve feet high and is said to bear
heavy crops.
These, then, are requisites for the pro-
duction of this grape: warm climate,
moist, sandy soil and long pruning.
| was in Almeria on the 18th of Sep
TENDER, 1873; the floors of the warehouses
were full of grapes piled two to four feet
deep; gangs OF women and boys were pre-
pairing them for shipment, which consists
in cutting out every unsound grape, and
packing them in casks of twenty-five and
| fifty pounds with cork dust In size they
were on an average much larger than our
Emperors or Ferraras; in frmness and
keeping qualities no grape can equal them,
as we have often seen them in market as
late as March; but as to flavor they abso-
lutely have none. | was surprised, as /
had imagined that they might have been
eatable when fresh, and that the contact
with cork dust injured their flavor; but /
believe that they actually improve by
keeping. Notwithstanding the inferiority
of this grape the value Of their export
some years ago was three-quarters of a
million dollars, large amount going to
the United States.
| This grape has been introduced into
this State and widely distributed, but
see no mention of it in the papers and |
suppose it has not generally proved sue
cess. | will give my experience and the
experience of party whose land is so
different from mine, the contrast is inter-
| esting.
Ny soil is strong clayey loan with a
dry subsoil, producing excellent table
grapes. My Almerias are only medium in
size, being about as large as Ferrara
they are firm and keep well, and are a
sweet, good eating grape. l have some of
them now, in good condition, that were
picked the LIST of November, no extra
pains were taken with them-they were
| packed away in box. The other party
has sandy loan with wet subsoil "a
river bank. His grapes are larger than
mine, not so good in flavor and later in
ripening--so late that the frost usually de-
stroys them; they are more productive
| than mine, and when ripe the keeping quail
tiles are about the same. From this Judge
that his soil is more suitable than mine,
but being in frosty locality his grapes
are not profitable We have, then, to
select a sandy loan, and locality free
| from early fall frosts, as the grape will
ripen about the lst of November
As to profit in growing them. except in
the right place, there is none; but with the
proper conditions | think crop can be
secured. Ny vines have borne an average
Of ten pounds each. The grapes are worth
at least $50 per ton. not very profitable
investment, but better than wine grapes.