The San Francisco call., 1904-09-11
GRAPE GROWING IN UNITED STATES
By George c. Husmann

the near future be the agency through
which the leading grape districts Of
the world could re-establish their vine
yards. Neither was he aware Of the
immense possibility for the future there
is In the improving Of another native
American species. I refer to the Soup
pernong, which, is another case or the
survival Of the fittest-a native grape
abounding on the Atlantic Coast. from
Maryland to Florida, and along the
Gulf to Texas. which resists the phyll-
oxera, is the most immune from dis
eases of any grape species. produces
enormously. needs perhaps less care
and attention than any other. and
thrives on soils almost worthless for
other purposes. 1t resists and adaDts
itself to climatic conditions. which
make the cost of producing other
grapes so costly. Nice Sauternes and
sparkling wines have been produced
from them, and yet, strange TO say.
little or nothing has been done so far
to develop and improve this species.
In ii there certainly appear to be great
possibilities for the South Atlantic and
Gulf States.
According to the census Of 1900.
169,055 gallons of sparkling wine were
produced in the United States. OF this
Missouri reported 2S40, California $3.50.
New York produced more than twice
as much as all the rest of the country
and more than twelve times as much as
California. The same year the Chau-
tauqua belt alone, on Lake Erie,
shipped 5000 cars Of table grapes and
made one and half millions gallons
of dry wine and unfermented grape
juice. This entire output is from Amer
ican varieties.
sistant varieties to California viticul-
ture needs no mention from me, for
upon this so largely depends the fact
of whether or not the real wine dis
tricts of California will or will not ex-
ist in the future. Realizing the gravity
of the situation in California and that
similar conditions were liable to arise
at any time in any of the States and
Territories of the Union where Euro
pean grapes are commercial possibil
ity, the Department of Agriculture has
located in California nine experimental
vineyards for the purpose of making
such Investigations as are deemed nee
essary. These have been located with
special reference to a diversity Of soil
and climatic, hillside, valley or DESERT
conditions, nearness to and distance
from the ocean, bay and other bodies of
water, and so as to take in the raisin
brandy producing districts. At these
experimental vineyards. to begin with,
four cardinal questions are to be inves-
tigated:
First-Make a comprehensive test OF
the resistant varieties Of vines, to de-
termined their adaptability to the diff
ferent vineyard soils and climatic con-
ditions.
Second-To study and determine the
It'll -AT
different resistant varieties.
Third-To ascertain which varieties
are best adapted to the different local
tiles.
Fourth-To afford opportunity for
testing all classes Of grapes, with refer
ence to their resistance to diseases
which have been doing such serious in
jury to the vineyards. and, if found
necessary, to undertake the creation Of
an entirely new class of grapes to re-
sist them.
The first paintings made by the De-
partment Of Agriculture in the expert
mental vineyards located in California
are expected to make sufficient growth
this season so that systematic grating
experiments win begin the coming
spring TO study the congeniality as
well as the relative value Of the leading
commercial varieties Of grapes grown
grated on various resistant stocks.
Some observations will be made on the
relative growth and merits Of resistant
varieties on different soils under diff
ferent climatic and other conditions. The
relative roofing qualities OF sixty-three
resistant varieties are being tried. with
reference to their commercial value for
stock purposes. The paintings made to
date at the experimental vineyards are
as follows:
OakvilIe-About 10 acres: ITO resist
ant varieties and 81 Vinifera varieties
on resistant stock. Cucamcnga-A
"a acres; 400 varieties, nearly all Vfni-
feras. Fresno-About acres; 155 re-
sistant varieties. Concord-About II