Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1897-01-28
CALIFORNIA; BIG VINE.
1t Rests on Sixty Posts and Covers Third
t. .. of an Acre.

1t Rests on Sixty Posts and Covers Third
of an Acre.
In the rich valley of Carpenteria, in the
most picturesque part of beautiful Santa
Barbara county, is viticultural curiosity,
almost monstrosity. Its location is COM
paratively secluded, and, with the excep-
tion of the residents of the vicinity, few
know of the location of mammoth grape
vine, the largest in the world.
The massive trunk of the vine is feet
inches in circumference, its size and ap-
pearance suggesting an oak rather than a
grapevine. Its branches rest on stalwart
frame covering space one-third OF an
acre in extent. 1t grows rapidly and would
undoubtedly attain even greater dimen-
sions were it not that the owner, having
reached the limit of the space he has re-
served for his giant vine and being unwill-
ing to concede it mora room, cuts it back
every year.
The frame over which the vine Is spread
is largely built, as it is required to support
the tremendous weight Of grapes annually
yielded by the vine. Sixty stout posts, with
heavy orossbeams, form the foundation for
the grape laden branches. The vine is of
uliO ll1lanlOu anu 10 81 pEOiiIG
in 1898 it bore eight tons Of grapes, and in
1896 the owner took ten tons from the vine,
in addition to as many clusters as the
neighbors cared to carry away.
This Carpenteria vine is much larger
than the celebrated grape bearer of Hamp-
ton court, England, which has been re-
garded as one of the horticultural wonders
of the world and by many claimed to be
the largest in existence. In 1875 grape
vine from Montecito, Santa Barbara coun-
ty, was then admittedly the largest in the
world. 1t was removed in sections and set
up in the Centennial exposition in Phila-
delphia, where it attracted much attention.
The Carpenteria vine is now one-third
larger than was the Monteoito product
when exhibited.
During the Worlds Columbian exposi-
tion the owner of the present champion
grapevine, Jacob Wilson, was offered a
round sum to permit its removal to Chica-
go for exhibition purposes. He was also
urged to send it to the Midwinter fair. Mr..
Wilson declined to part with his elephan-
tine vine, however. He owns small
ranch of eight acres, and, although his big
grape arbor brings him no revenue from
tourists or sightseers, he refuses to despoil
his property of this unique feature.
The vine was planted in 1S42 by Span
ish woman, Joaquina Lugodi Ayala. Un-
der her care the little grape cutting -four
ished and grew to unusual proportions, al
though she repeatedly cut it back. She re-
tained ownership of the bud and the vine
until 1877, when the property was pur-
chased by Jacob Wilson, the present owner,
himself pioneer. Dona Ayala died three
years ago, aged 81, but to the last retained
the greatest interest and pride in the man.
moth vine she had planted and tended.
Beneath the thick leaves of the vine 500
persons could find protection at the same
time from the summer heat The people
of the neighborhood have often assembled
under the spreading branches for public
meetings Thirty years ago the vine FORM
ed roof over SO large space that it was
used as an election booth. The first elec-
tion in Santa Barbara county under Amer
lean rule was held under its branches Of
ripening fruit Colonel Russell Heath, the
pioneer walnut grower Of Santa Barbara
county, a neighbor of Mr. Wilson, was then
sheriff Of Santa Barbara, and the election
was held under the vine by his direction.
The space thus utilized was larger than
any available room in the vicinity.
Beneath his own giant vine Mr.. Wilson
| loves to spend his leisure hours, speculat-
I ing what dimensions the viticultural mon
ster might have attained If it's extraordi-
nary growth had never been checked -
San Francisco Examiner.