The morning call., 1890-12-29
ADVICE TO VINE-GROWERS.

The new annual report of President de
Turk of the Viticultural Commission will
attract attention because it is the first docu-
ment of the kind which calls halt in vine
planting Mr. de Turk says that the demand
for our wines is increasing. but it is not in
creasing at rate which juStifies an excess
sive extension in the acreage devoted to
vines.
The Presidents idea probably is that we
had better try TO improve the quality of our
wines rather than swell the quantity. The
State is now producing something less than
100000 gallons of wine in each good year.
There has been no great increase for three
or four years. There is an increase in the
acreage planted in vines, but this is Offset
by the increased rasin vintage al the cost of
the wine crop. The trouble is that of our
TOTAL product Of 10000, 900 gallons only a
very small proportion is frst-class wine.
The great bulk is heavy wine, and deficient
In flavor and delicacy. Such wine is difficult
to place in the East. 1t does not suit palates
accustomed to the light wines of the Ga
lonne or the better grades of Burgundes
1t does not command as much money as the
good ordinary wines which are sold under
the name of st. Julien. We are not now
Speaking of the retail markets in the East
which are supplied with California wine
under French labels. We refer more par.
tleularly to The wholesale trade which is as
sumed TO be honestly conducted, and which
we must conquer if we desire permanent
market Tor our product at remunerative
prices.
Chemists and viticulturists are agreed that
there is nothing wanting in our soil or eli
mate for tile production of high-grade
wiLes. The only reason why we do not
do so is that we do not beStow on the
industry the care. attention and labor which
are required TO attain the best results. A
few weeks ago we drew attention to Consul
RooseYelt's report on wine-making in the
MedOc District, in which he showed that
the average annual expenditure of a vine
grower in that district on his vineyard was
500 per acre. This statement makes our
yine-growerS smile. They think they are
bestowlng liberal care on their vineyard
when they beStew on it so per year per
acre. Indeed. we instantly see statements
in the papers to the effect that So year is
all that well-planted vineyard needs.
One fashion is to plant the vines and TO
leave the rest to Providence. Providence is
kind, no doubt; but people whoneglect their
business are not often successful in life.
Another difference between the viticult-
ure OF the Medoc and California viticulture
is in the size of the vineyards, which in a
measure is dictated by the costly cultivation
An average vineyard in the Medoc covers
something like six acres; whereas n land
owner In this State does not consider him
self vine-grower unless he has 40. 90,
or 100 acres in vines. OF course the larger
the vineyard the less care each acre can re-
celve. The Frenchman with only six acres
to overlook can famliarize himself with
every square yard of his vineyard and note
the variations i'll growth aud productiveness
resulting from changes in soil and exposure;
while the Californian with hundred acres
under his charge can only give cursory at
tention to each group Of plants, and must
deal with his problem as whole on general
rules. But the Frenchman gets his reward.
While his ordinary wine, not much better
than the wines which sell here at 10 cents to
is cents G .llon. bring him in 60 cents to 20
cents on the vineyard, his finer grades often
command 81 gallon, and they establish for
him q reputation which insures a steady
sale for his whole product
By and by the Californian will realize
that quality is as important as quantity
When French vine-grower is told of our
vineyards, which yield five and six tons of
grapes to the acre and where there is no
limit to production except the limited cellar
age, he thinks we are a very young COM
munity and that we shall learn better as we
grow Older There is no natural law which
obliges man to drink wine, as he is
obliged to eat bread. He may do SO or not,
as he chooses, and he will be much more
likely to do so he is offered a light pleasant
beverage which leaves no headache behind
1t. than if he is served with heavy alcoholic
drink which. however cheap it may be, he
will find dear enough il he takes too much
Of III