The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1891-04-23
GRAPE CULTURE.
Some Interesting and Curious Facts From
the Census Reports.

Some Interesting and Curious Facts From
the Census Reports.
A recent bulletin from the census de-
partment gives some interesting facts in
regard to the history of grapegrowing
in the United States. For more than 100
years, says IL. Gardner, special agent in
charge of this branch of the agricultural
division. efforts have been made to grow
the European varieties of grapes in the
open air. always. however, resulting in
failures. except in California, where
viticulture was introduced by the Fran
ciscan farmers many years ago, and
where the foreign grapes grow to per-
lection. Eastern growers finally turned
their attention to the improvement of
native varieties. with great success
In New York state. in what is known
as the Lake keuka district grower of
grapes shipped his first crop. amounting
to fifty pounds. to the New York mar
ket, about ls+5. by way of the New
York & Erie canal. The grapes We're
delivered in good condition, and the
| commission houses handling them wrote
encouragingly to the shipper, advising
|
grower was able to ship some 200 or 800
pounds. lie overdid the matter. how
evet, and the New York market on
grapes broke under the pressure. 1t is
estimated that during last season us90)
there have been shipped from this same
district and carried by the different
railroad and express companies to
New York, Boston and Philadel-
phia. and other distributing markets
about 10000 tons or lo.OOO.OOO pounds
of grapes. and probably one-quarter Of
this amount was in addition sold to
wine manufacturers The Hudson river
district in the same state is estimated
to have shipped to the New York and
other markets during the same time be-
tween $4,000 and $1,000 tons or Is. 900, 900
pounds of grapes, while the Chautauqua
district of New York. where the indus
try has been growing and prospecting
only through the last decade. furnished
as its 1890 crop for the different mar
kets of the country probably about
1000 ear loads or 10000. 900 pounds OF
table grapes, making grand total Of
9s. 900, 900 pounds as the product of w!ia,
is know as the New York state district.
This does not include the large amount
of grapes used in the district for wine
. Tehama county, California. has the
, largest vineyard in the worlds, Sol
= acres There were in the distillery or
this vineyard in April. 1890, 300. Oot
, gallons of brandy and 100000 gallon.
of wine. California has also the small
l est vineyard in the wor.M. 1t is vine
/ yard consisting of single vine, il
I Santa Barbara county. 1t was planted
! by Mexican woman about sixty-eigh
y years ago. and has diameter one foo
n from the ground of twelve inches, it
4 branches covering an area of 1900 feet
r and produces annually from 10000 t.
@ L.. 200 pounds of grapes of the Mission
variety tmany punches weighing si
J. and seven pounds), the crop being gen
! orally made into wine The old lad
|. who planted the one-vine vineyard die,
. in 1865 at the age of l0'.
\ One of the largest wine casks in tn
a world is at winery in Ohio. 1t has
. capacity of $4,000 gallons - Chicag
r. Times.