Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-06-12
A GIANT GRAPEVINE.
One Nine Feet in Circumference Still
Growing in California.

The garden like cove known as the
Carplnteria Valley, half encircled by "a
picturesque ragne of the Santa Inez
Mountains, lies in Tyre shape by the
great sea whose tides smite the strand
into ceaseless symphonies. In this
valley stands the worlds greatest
grapevine, wonder of its kind
acknowledged by everyone fortunate
enough to pay it a visit. Santa Bar
bara is entitled 10 distinction for the
production of three giant vines, among
which ia Nina Grande" at
Carpinteria easily holds the first place
as to size and fruitage.
In the MontecitO Valley, ten miles to
the northwest, two out of this peerless
trio have been grown. One was re-
moved to the Centennial Exposition in
Philadelphia. in which city is remains
on public exhibition. The other died a
few years ago, and its trunk was
placed on exhibition in the Chamber of
Commerce in Santa Barbara. Each of
these two attained only two-thirds the
magnificent proportions of the one now
thrftily growing at Carpinteria.
Sixty-four years ago Spanish
woman named Joaquin Lugodi Avala
planted small twiG of the Mission
grape. She watched and tended it with
jealous care through it's early growth,
and in later years kept it neatly
trellised and trimmed. Unwittingly
she was rearing prodigy that was to
eclipse everything of it's kind in all the
civilized world
Some twenty years ago the vine was
purchased with d plot of ground by
Jacob Wilson, who has since denied it
further compass by keeping it con-
Stantiy pruned. It's present measure
ments, however, are by no means I'M
interesting. AT the ground the giant
trunk now measures 8 feet 8 inches in
circumference. Five feet above the
ground it has d girth of I feet II inches.
At height of 6 feet the trunk branches
into five divisions, which radiate in
different directions. These five
branches have combined circum-
ference Of ii feet II inches. the smallest
measuring ? feet. and the largest A feet
Is inches. Within a radius of IS feet
from the trunk there are twenty-nine
subdivisions or runners, each meaSur-
ing from 10 to % inches in circumfer-
branches. The longest runner at
present reaches the enormous distance
of 76 feet
The trcllis. which is entirely over
spread. is 100 by 10 feet in dimensions.
embracing an area of approximately
onc-fourth of an acre. A company of
eight hundred people is said to have AT
one time found shade beneath it's
outrageous branches.
The vine is still in healthy state of
growth, and if permitted to do so bids
fair to further enlarge itself by many
square rods The largest crop ever yet
actually weighed out was ten tons, in
1895. This did not include mis-
cellaneous contributions to visitors and
friends of the proprietor. A common
estimate of the entire yield was $4,000
pounds. The larger clusters are re-
ported to have weighed from nine to
ten pOundS each. Various exposition
associations have rendered handsome
sums for the possession of this 1ueenly
planting, where its ripeninG clusters
may still be kissed into juicy sweet
ness by the autumn suns of southern
California. and the gentle breczes of
leaves as in the days when Spanish
lovers met to woe and be wooed
beneath the tender boughs of the young
"Vina Grande."-The Los Angeles
Times