Los Angeles herald., 1891-01-17
A SILLY BUGABOO.

-
Whether a foolish suggestion comes
from a viticultural commissioner or a
hod carrier the HERALD will treat it on
its merits. Viticultural Commissioner
West has lately been talking like an ass
on raisin and wine grape culture and the
danger Of overproduction OF both. We
do not insinuate tnat this gentleman is
an ass, but only that, in this instance,
he talks like one. His note of alarm
about ralsin culture is itself highly alb
surd. Because the United States con-
sumes only 100000 boxes OF raisins
and enough ground has already been
planted in the raisin grape to assure,
when at maturity OF production,
100000 boxes, ergo the production OF
raisins is to be overdone. We think it
very likely that the raisin industry, like
any other, may be overdone for brief
space. 1t will have its ups and downs,
like any other horticultural staple. A
Californian seems to be fairly appalled,
at the mere idea that he may not be
able to make a fortune in year or two.
Suppose there should, some time in the
near future, arise temporary glut of
raisins? What would be the result? Sim
ply this, and nothing more. The price of
raisins would drop to point at
which five times as many Americans
would use them as do now, and which
would enable us to undersell Spain and
the other raisin-producing countries of
Europe in the London, market, and in
the markets OF Paris, Berlin and Vienna,
and in a hundred other markets, for
that matter. 1t is not absolutely neces-
sary that the California shorticulturist
should make $500 an acre off of his raisin
vineyard, or off of any acre planted in
any other speciality. Half of that sum
will make life seem worth living to the
viticulturst, yea, and even one-fifth of
it would not be bad thing.
Over-production in raisins will take
care of itself. A temporary over-pro-
duction means lowered, and, conse-
quently, widened markets.
If Mr.. West has gone off half-cocked
on the raisin industry, he has made an ap-
palling ninny of himself when he comes
to talking about overriding wine produc-
ton. Ii our memory serves us Alright,
the total wine production of the Califor
MIA vineyards last year was sixteen mill
lion gallons. This is, in fact, mere
bagatelle. An average vintage OF France
is about a thousand million gal
Ions, or say, in round numbers. seventy.
fold that OF California. Wine and
brandy making are comparatively new
industries in this state, yet we have
already made tremendous strides in the
quality of our wines. 1t is no eXaggera-
ton to say that, if we make as much
progress in the next fifteen years as we
have in the last fifteen, we can meet
France in every market of the world in
all lines except the very most superfine
clarets, burgundies and sauternes. Our
common wine is confessedly very much
better than the sour and thin rim or
dinaire which is drank by the poorer
classes of the French people. ii placed
in France today it would sell for more
money than it brings in this state,
where it is made. Any man OF sense
knows that this is most auspicious be-
ginning of an industry that will attain
worldwide proportions.
AS matter of fact, the wine industry
of California can never be overdone. 1t
is quite true that we are tyros in
handling our products. as yet, and that
the requisite amount OF capital has not
been interested in the work OF grading,
maturing and marketing them. But this
is even now correcting ITSELF The day
is not far distant when the wine trade OF
California will assimilate in its methods
to those of France and the other wine
growing countries of Europe. Such a
rich mine of wealth will surely be ex-
plotted. Our brandies are making equal
headway with our wines, and all that is
needed to produce Hennessys and Mar
tells are few tricks of the French trade.
Mr.. West Will shake his CORY locks in
vain in the face OF the genius of produc-
tion which has taken such firm hold
ofSouthern California, and indeed OF all
California. The day is not distant when
the workingman of the United States
shall not only have his plum pudding,
of which raisins are an important con-
stituent, but shall be able to drink his
glass OF wine at his meals, instead of the
Notwithstanding tea and coffee with
which he now washes them down. 1t is
well-known fact that France consumes
as much wine as she makes. BY the
time California has made half the
strides she is destined to make in wine
making in the next twenty years we
shall, as people, be drinking half
billion gallons of wine yearly and sell
ing another half billion to Europe and
the rest of mankind.
IT MIGHT pprhaDS he nOt aniss to rp-