Los Angeles herald., 1890-06-08
The NAL Nero No More in
This Part of the State.
The Vines Look Well All Over
the Southern Section.
A Vineyard Where the Disease Never
Manifested Itself in the Least.
The Ranch of the Messrs. Dillon, Ken
ealy & Mcclure, in the San Fer
nando Valley Is the One.

The HERALD has made frequent refer
ence to the vineyards of this section
during the past month. A member OF
the staff has been pretty generally over
the section with an eye wide open to al
the interests of the section, and particu
larly so to the vineyards. There is nc
interest of more moment at this time
than the vines. For several years they
have been suffering from mysterious
disease which has baffled the skill OF
the savants to merely classify it, and
utterly baffled scientific and practical
knowledge to deal with it. 1t appeared
suddenly about four years ago, and has
been destroying the vines by the thous-
and ever since until now large part of
the vineyards are dead. This year there
seems to be a very important
change in the aspect OF affairs
in the vineyards, inasmuch as
the disease seems to be disappearing
as suddenly as it came on. From all
parts of the section the news reaches
this Office that the vines are looking
better than they have appeared for four
or five years, and as we'll as any vines
ever looked in this or any other section.
The observations of the reporter de-
tailed to study the matter up fully con-
firm these reports. He has seen vines
abandoned as dead that have come out
in most vigorous growth this year.
He sees no vines that show any signs of
disease excepting here and there those
that were almost destroyed last year.
Everywhere he has found vineyards that
have made magnificent growth of new
wood and thaC have on very heavy
crop of grapes.
But all these facts have been placed
before the readers of the HERALD from
day to day during the past few weeks.
1t is not necessary to reiterate state
ments SO recently published The pur-
pose at this time is to write in detail of
a particular vineyard. 1t is that of the
Messrs. Dillon, Kenealy q Mcclure in
the San Fernando valley. The way the
reporter came to know of it was bv
meeting the gentlemen who own the
ranch on the street, who had read the
articles about the vines. They proposed
visit to their ranch to show the re-
porter vineyard that never had the
disease and that was now in state of
health that would be claimed perfect at
any time in any country. The invita-
ton was accepted with much alacrity,
and few days ago trip to the vine
yard was made in company with half
dozen genial spirits to insure pleasant
as we'll as profitable day.
Taking the train at the Arcade depot
at 7:25, a ride of an hour landed the
party at Roscoe station in the San Fer
nando valley north of Burbank. A short
walk through the brush and the tall
white flowers of the Spanish bayonet
brought the visitors to the gate of the
ranch. After rest and refreshment
the vineyard was inspected with the
most satisfactory results.
The vineyard contains 200 acres of
vines of the following varieties: Gren-
oche, 80 acres; Mataro, 20; Carignan,
20: Mission, 10; Zinfandel As; Trus-
seau, 10; Berger, 80; Reisling, 5; Golden
Chasselos, 5, and the rest of small lots
of various sorts, including five acres OF
Muscats. These grapes are all red, and
are used for making red wine, excepting
the Berger, the Reisling, Chasselos and
Muscats.
1t will be observed by those at all well
informed about vines that here is a
most judicious selection of varieties.
They furnish the very best grapes for
all the most popular sorts of wines, dry
or sweet. They afford an opportunity to
make claret of very light quality yet
of a rich color. They will yield the
richest port, noble and high colored
Or the lightest and most delicious vari-
eties of dry white wine, or rich heavy
bodied angelica can be made from them.
But of this more anon.
The main point is that these vines
are all in perfect health. To be sure
this is not so remarkable, as the disease
never made the least appearance in the
vineyard. The vines always have been
perfectly healthy. Yet it is remarkable
when one realizes that this insid-
ious disease laid waste so many
vineyards in this section within
the past few years. 1t is the
more remarkable inasmuch as it is a
fact that some of the varieties named
above are those that here suffered the
most severely from the ravages of the mys-
terious disease. Take the Mission vine
as the best sample for illustration. 1t
has been in the country for century.
1t has always been regarded as very
hardy vtne, and has proved a most pro-
life bearer here. Yet it was the one
vine that the disease seemed to have
singled out for its most ruinous attack.
Everywhere it fell a victim to the dis
ease. The older the vines here the
surer they were to be destroyed. Yet
here in this vineyard are ten acres of
this variety of vines. They are the old
est in the place, nearly all of them seven
years old. But they show no more sign
OF any ailment that if no such thing
as any disease had ever been known
in this section. The leaves are
of the most vivid green. The growth of
new wood is very heavy, and the crop
of grapes has set on the vines as heavy
as ever was seen. The fruit is develop
ing in a thoroughly satisfactory manner,
giving promise of a very abundant yield
next fall.
The same is true of all the vines on
the place. The Muscat is another vari-
ETY. apparently singled out by the dis
ease for its fellest attack, but those on
this ranch are as perfectly healthy as
any ever seen.
The crop Of grapes generally on this
ranch is very heavy. From a cursory
glance one would say the yield will be
certainly three to five tons to the acre,