Los Angeles herald., 1890-12-20
DOWLEN'S REPORT.
He Finds Encouraging Prospects in
Los Angeles District.


In Expert Dowlen's report for Novem-
ber, he reviews the condition of the
vines in all the counties of the Los An
geles district, and. finds sthe outlook
quite encouraging. So much so that
many of the vineyardsts in the worst
infected sections are proposing to replant
their devastated vineyards. Following is
the full text of the report.
Since the last report number of Jour
neys have been made to the vineyards
in the neighboring counties of San Luis
Obispo, Santa Barbara, Ventura and
Orange, all of which are included in the
Los Angeles district.
In San Luis Obispo county viticulture
can only be reckoned as one of the
smaller industries, though it is very
probable that this proportion will be
altered considerably in the course of the
next two or three years. The greater
number of vineyards are small, and vine
yardists have hitherto been discour-
aged by the low prices obtainable for
both fruit and wine. In addition to this
the means OF transit by rail are limited,
but it is probable that this will be rene
died in the near future. The varieties
generally grown are the Mission Zinfan-
del and Muscat. Everywhere the vines
seemed to be particularly healthy, there
being an abundance of wood and fol-
iage, and where the fruit had not been
picked, a full crop OF grapes of good
quality. The vines were almost entirely
tree from disease of any kind. Mildew
was reported as not giving much trouble
| With respect to the Anaheim disease, a
few vines were noticed which showed
some signs of the peculiarly marked
foliage. Except for this, the vines were
apparently in perfect health; but own
ers reported that similar features had
always been noticed upon the vines, in
some years hardly showing at all, in
others appearing to agreater extent, but
never doing any damage. In this county
/ the vines had not suffered from heat
as they had further south. In view of
the approaching increased facilities for
transport, many people were preparing
| to set out vines in the coming year; and
in all probability there will be within
the next two years great increase in
the acreage devoted to viticulture, for
the practice of which large areas are
apparently well adapted.
In Santa Barbara county, compare
lively small amount of attention appears
to be given to viticulture. Here also, I
low prices and limited means of trans
port have operated to check the in
dustry; moreover, where the vineyards
are within reach of the sea air, as is the
case with many of the older vineyards,
the fruit produced cannot compete in
quality with that raised in more inland
districts. The vines, even where they
have been quite neglected. had made a
vigorous growth, and had borne good
crop. No signs of the Anaheim disease
were seen; mildew was reported, and in
the vineyards near the coast, The foliage
was much spotted with the ordinary
grape leaf blight. Further inland the
grapes were in better condition, both
foliage and canes being much cleaner
and brighter.
In Ventura county viticulture takes a
more prominent position, though it has
by no means received the same amount
of attention as other industries. In the
Ojai valley the larger and older vine
yards are found in the upper valley.
The vines were in excellent health, and
had borne large crop OF
fruit. The varieties mostly planted
are the Mission, Zinfandel, Black Prince,
with smaller lots of Mataro and Trous-
seau. In one vineyard a number OF
other varieties of wine grapes are being
experimental with. There are also a
number of smaller lots of table grapes,
Black Morocco, Black Prince and Te-
lame Tokay. In the lower part of the
Ojai valley the vines are mostly young,
the Muscat being the variety chiefly
planted.
At Sespe and the neighborhood the
vines are chiefly of the Muscat variety,
the fruit being OF very fine quality. At
present it is sold both for table use and
as raisins. The vines throughout the
county were in excellent condition, and
in all places good crop was produced.
Mildew was the only disease reported
no signs of the Anaheim disease were
found.
In each of the above three counties
the intention was generally expressed
OF making considerable paintings of
vines during the coming year, raisin
grapes receiving more attention than
wine grapes.
In Orange county the districts around
Santa Ana, Anaheim and Orange have
been visited. Here too, there is an i'm
provement in the condition of the vines.
Here and there may be found vines
which have lived through all the attacks
of the Anaheim disease. In one vine
yard some seventy acres OF vines have
been saved. These do not show so
much disease as they did last year, and
in addition, they yield this year large
crop OF fruit OF good quality, both of
raisin and wine grapes. Another in
stance of survival is where a number of
vines of eastern varieties had been
trained to form an arbor. These vines
became diseased and by the end of the
summer of last year they seemed to be
almost dead, having produced but a
small amount of growth and no fruit.
The owner, however, did not like to cut
them down, and was rewarded this year
by seeing his vines again putting out
good growth and producing fruit; the
vines now showing little if any disease.
In some places new vineyards have
been set out. Most of these are OF small
araa thonuh ON one rAronarfu fiftv-si Y