The record-union., 1899-09-24

I'LL the prOQucL Oh ISJi amounted TO
over 1000 carloads Of ten tons each, at
a price of Ia cents per pound. This
was a losing price for the producer,
and even at this low figure, ZOO car
loads were left unsold. The raisin
growers saw that something must be
done, and an association was formed,
with Theodore Kearney as its Presi-
dent. The necessary steps being taken
about so per cent of the growers were
secured, who obligated themselves to
sell only through the association and at
the price fixed by it. The price was
fixed at cents per pound, with the
prospect of raising 1t as the market
justified, but with guaranty to each
buyer that the price would not be low
cred. The price was afterwards raised
to 3115 cents, and the result was that
not only the 1000 carloads from the
crop Of 1897 were disposed of, but that
the entire crop of 1898, amounting to
about 5000 carloads. was sold, except
ing perhaps 700 carloads, which would
not last over a month. All of these
sales were made for cash, and the re-
suit was that over So 100000 was dis
tributed among the members of the as
SOtlcLlOIl, Will d pro Idld snare SJlil
due them at the final settlement. 1t is
now the aim of the association to draw
all the raisin producing counties into
league with it. and thus make a. pool
of the whole industry In a paper, read
before the State Board of Horticulture
at it's annual session, Mr.. Kearney
proclaimed the belief that there was
no oyerproduction possible if the mar
kets were managed in the right way,
and the last seasons experience en-
courages his conclusion. He advises
strongly that the prune growers of the
State organize on the same plan The
best varieties of grapes for raisins are
Muscatel Gordo Blanco Muscat of
Alexandria, Sultana and Lady de Cow
erly, better known as Thompson Seed
less. The Sultana will also make ex-
cellent white wine
BRANDY PRODUCTION.
Brandy production has increased very
much and could be increased still more
If all inferior vines, instead of being
fixed up SO as to pass for so-called
Standard were distilled 1t is also
the best way to dispose of the second
crop Muscats, the yield of which is very
iiCdfJs dlio Will l1Ol lIldhC 1lISl-CldSS
raisins. The shipment from the State
amounted in 1896 to 42,504 gallons, val
ued at $40,S61. The Vina vineyard, es-
tablished by the late Senator Stanford,
is the largest in the State, comprising
in all 3,054 acres. This vineyard was
started with the benevolent intention
Of the owner to furnish a cheap, pure
wine to every laborer, but the grapes
being found untitled for light, dry
wines, the crop is now almost entirely
devoted to the production of brandy
and sweet wines, and the brandieS
made therefrom have won a high rep
utation. Some of the choicest brandies
are made at FL Pinal vineyards, the
property of George West at Stockton,
which is also one of the largest sweet
wineries in the State, with a branch
in Fresno County. 1t is considered
that it takes about ten gallons of dry
wine of about 10 per cent. to II per
cent. alcoholic strength to make a gall
lon of good brandy, and during the
low prices Of wine great deal was
distilled and thus utilized. Large ship
ments were made to Hamburg and Bre-
men, where they were favorably re-
ceived
INFLUENCE OF LOCALITY.
The influence of locality upon the
quality of the grape is very marked,
even in the same counties and districts
No one who has not lived in the State
a number of years can estimate fully
this influence. The effects may be
summed up by noting a few general
characteristics. The deep lands of the
river bottoms will produce the greatest
quantity Of grapes, while the hillsides
will yield the best quality at the sac
rifice of quantity and the higher the
elevation the more marked this differ
ence will appear. Then, again, there
are certain districts which will furnish
the best grapes for light, dry wines,
while others will produce only fruit
for fine sweet wines, raisins and
brandy. Thus the counties clustering
around the bays of San Francisco and
San Pablo, Napa, Sonoma, Solano, Ala
media, Contra Costa and Santa Clara
are considered to make the finest light,
dry wines. To these the writer thinks
the counties of Lake, Mendocino and
Humboldt may be added, though WITH
culture is not in an advanced condition
because of the lack of railroad facili-
ties. Santa Cruz also furnishes some
fine wines. The central and southern
counties are better adapted to grapes
for sweet wines, raisins and brandy,
though there are undoubtedly locations
in all Of these, in the mountainous dis
tricts, where grapes for fine dry wines
can be grown.
The foregoing is but sketch of the
development Of the grape industry in
California. The field is too large and
varied to be fully covered in the limits
of a single paper, even if any one in
dividual could be found who is fully
competent to handle the subject. The
writer can truthfully say that the ques-
ton has received his best thought and
study, and it is his earnest conviction
that grape culture has found a true
home in California; that it will ex-
pand and grow, as it only can in con-
genial soil, and that the time will come
when it will triumph over all obstacles
and become a useful and profitable in
dustry-when California wines and
raisins will be known and appreciated
throughout the world. California. has
all the material to accomplish this. The
day may be far distant, and the pres
ent generation may not live to see it,,
but that it will come eventually there
is not doubt.