White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1935-01-17
Investigate Possibilities For
Profitable Grape Culture Here
Priest Rapids Valley Development League Perfects Or
ganization; Valleys Progress Aim of Group

Local growers who are interested IN
grape culture will have an opportunity
on Sunday to hear a man who IS Wen
acquainted with this subject. j. Gr1er-
son of Richland, whose grapes won
first prize at the Worlds Fair In Chi
cago in 1888, will address meeting
sponsored by the Priest Rapids Valley
Development League at Liberty hall
at 2 o'clock Sunday afternoon.
Mr. Grierson will discuss the var
ieties of grapes and the conditions I'M
der which they are best produced.
The Development League perfected
it's organization last Sunday, electing
Ray Slavens of Hanford, president;
Levi Austin of Allard, vice-president,
and r. S. Reierson of White Bluffs,
secretary. The board of directors con-
sists of three men from each OF the
three communities in the valley. The
purpose of the organization is to pro-
mote the welfare and development OF
the valley.
A representative of Yakima winery
was scheduled to address the meeting
last Sunday, but on account OF the
snowstorm in that locality, was unable
to make the trip over here.
G. F. Wooten, who was appointed
chairman of a committee to investi-
gate the possibilities of grape produc-
ton in this locality, has prepared the
following article in regards to this
matter:
The price of grapes for wine pur-
poses is determined mainly by the SUI
gar content. 1t therefore follows that
a variety showing the highest sugar
content and yield per acre is the log
ical variety to select, providing such
variety is adapted to the locality. The
prices paid in California for the sea-
son 1884 as given us by the Coast
Wineries. Inc, of Yakima, are as fol-
lows:
Thompson seedless ...$15 to $40 per tor
Alicante ............... 15t 20
zinfandel ........,-,.........l... Is to %
Tokay ... 10 to Is
Muscatel ..............-.--...-.-.- IL to 5O
Malaga ..-.................-..-.-. lOt to 10
Our recommendation of varieties TO.
this district, based upon present In
formation is in the order enumerated
; above. Taking the matter up as lat'
as we did it was not possible to Sc
cure tests as to sugar content excep
on few varieties which were as fol
lows:
, Zinfandel (Bruggemann tract)-22'
degrees Balling.
Tokay sample No Crank Taylor
225 degrees Balling.
Tokay sample No. 2 Crank Taylor
24.8 degrees Balling.
Unknown variety-European Gran
Taylor) 225 degrees Balling.
One degree Balling represents on
per cent of sucrose or sugar. We al
: advised that these tests compare yer
, favorably with the sugar content
the same varieties grown in Califo1
f nia-the test on the California zir
r, fandel, for instance, running 81 to
d per cent sugar content. We are ais
: advised that the California grove
: can make a fair profit at $12 per to-
n cost of harvesting running arour
! ST. go per ton In the recommendat1e
y of varieties it will be noted that ii
Muscatel brought the highest price
,e any grape last season. This variety
,e however, placed fifth in the list Il
= the reason that from the standpoint
he productivity it has not proven hea'
"a bearer in this district and our re
If concentrations as given are for tt
J. lighter soils which we believe esp
,e cially adapted to grapes and Will
ID comprise perhaps four-flfths of the t
ne tai area.
We understand that at Cold Gre
this variety produces abundantly al
~ will no doubt produce equally well
-, ~ the heavier soils here as well as acre
~ the river in East Hanford. The Coz
Wineries people are particularly int
~ ested in the Muscatel and would II
~ to see them set out wherever COM
~. ~ lions are favorable.
-, The yield that may be expected
the first three varieties listed, fr'
~. information we are able at this I'll
- to gather should average from
10 ,. 10 tons per acre. The Tokay, WI
20 not particularly in demand as a W
. ..,, grape, should have this to CONNIE
W.. '. - it, When the price Of the table p
o. duct will not justify shipping,
sugar content should be sufficient
bring the highest price when turn
to the winery.
FS We are advised that new vari
of grape, particularly valuable for "
ses making, and one which requires
in covering or heeling in over winter
OIL being advertised by eastern nurse
IAN men. The supply of plants is very l