The San Francisco call., 1904-09-11

REvIoUs to the Introduction OF
8 1.-THE catawOa into general cult
gation. the more important at
L tempts at grape growing in the
States east of the Rocky Mountains
had been with Vinifera varieties and
were not a commercial success. The
introduction of this grape really
marked a new era in viticultural his
tory, for with it began the improving
of our native grapes and the raising
of varietie7 from them for commercial
purposes. 1t gave such an impetus to
crane culture that ten years later
nearly 100 varieties were enumerated;
forty years later all the States and
Territories, except four. were growing
grapes. and now there are over 100,O0C
we'll described varieties of American
grapes.
While this was occurring in the
States east of the Rockies. the pioneer
crane growers of California, who had
previously been growing the Mission
variety, turned their attention to the
introduction of choice European Varl-
cites. and grape growing in California
as an industry began to assert itself
How rapid for time the progress was
are matters of comparatively recent
history.
The viticultural industry in this
country as such is, therefore, little over
half a century old and is as yet in It's
infancy. It has led upsto the manufac-
ture of choice wines from American
grapes. The manufacture Of sparkling
wine and unfermented grape juice has
been developed in the Eastern States
while the Pacific Coast has entered into
direc. competition with the choicest
European wines and has captured the
raisin market of this country. The
industry in this country has already
up to date divided itself into two en-
tirely distinct districts. In California
where the Viniferas have ever founc
a congenial home, these are being ex-
clusively grown, and east OF the
Rocky Mountains, where previous at
tampts seemed TO indicate that Vini-
feras were failure, the culture anc
Improvement of American varieties ha:
been as tenaciously followed. What
wonderful effect surroundings have
and what diversity of tastes they de-
velop into individuals! For instance
in Oregon. where quite a number O.
people have settled from States cas-
of the Rockies, the fresh grapes ant
unfermented juices sold are principally
from the States whence these peopl'
came. In making my rounds o.
the experimental vineyards conducted
by the Government on. the Atlanti
Coast, where the culture of Vtnifera!
on resistant stock has been made al
important study, I have often invited
people to try the fruit and express thei
opinion regarding the Vinifera vari
cites grown there, and the answe
usually is: They are nice, but not a.
good as Concord, Niagara or Dela
ware"
Considering the youth of our indus
try, the results so far achieved ar
remarkable, and we have reason t
feel proud Of them. Nevertheless. w
have only made beginning and mucl
remains TO be done.
Major John Adlum, writing to Nicho
las Longworth of Cincinnati about tn
Catawba, says. In introducing thi
grape into general cultivation I hav
done the country a greater good thai
if 1 had paid the national debt" N
doubt he had become convinced tha
for the territory he and Longwortl
were familiar with and in which the,
had been trying to grow grapes th
improving of the native species wa
the road to success, when really 1
means far more than this, for the i'm
proving of our native species Is tn
problem which. when solved. viii
make it possible to grow grapes Il
practically all parts Of the Union N
doubt he never thought that resistan
stock Cor American varieties) would Il