Year: 1866

The Culture OF THE GRAPE.-The Nevada
Transcript of January 3oth says -" From this
period until the first or even the middle of March
new vineyards may be started, and without much
expense or trouble be grown with success. 1t is
now clearly established and pretty generally un-
derstood, says the Bulletin, that the rich valley
lands are not so well adapted to the culture of
the grape as the lighter soil upon the hills
the submits of the mountains. The red and san
dy or gravely loans of the uplands are much bet
ter suited to the purpose ofthe vniculturist than
the deep aluyial soils, producing not only amore
healthfni, though, perhaps, less vigorous vine,
and yielding better favored fruit and superior
wine. All that is required for the successful
growth Of the grape in California is care in the
planting and irrigation for the first year two.
until the vine has taken deep root, after which
It thrives with little further attention almost ev-
erywhere. Numerous experiments show that here
rs in all the more successful producing coun-
tries of Europe, soil measurably unified for
raising grain, and often even grass, will gro
the grape most abundant in the saccharine pro-
perties essential to celebrating the finest wines
1t was exactly in this particular that our vine
dressers fell into mistake when first emoarkinG
in the business in this country. Hence the vlne-
yards so frequently seen in the fertile valleys
and which would have pre- ven more = useful and
ornamental " had they been planted on the side
or summit OF some nelGhDOfln3 Hlll. We hHO"
OF several of considerable extent that have been
thus misplaced and of not few Others that
having been planted on the comparatively barren
uplands where it was predicted by many at the
time that nothing could grow, are vigorous and
productive. There are thousands of square miles
in this State, generally considered worthless
that if set ont in vines would no doubt well re-
ward the labor of planting. and in few year:
pay, perhaps, better than the prolific grain land:
purchased at such prices and cultivated at such
cost.


The Stockton Independent, speaking of the in
ducement for extending the culture ofth grape
says:


1t is really matter Of astonishment that
field Of wealth so expansive and inviting for thu
production of the grape as California embraces
has remained so long in measure unoccupicd
There is everything to encourage and nothing
to deter the wne-grower. View the subject as
he may, correct reasoning will bring him to nc
other conclusion than that it is an occupation
which cannot fail TO reward ordinary industry
and intelligence in very liberal manner. The
labor is light, healthy and cheerful, and the re-
ward matter Of certainty. Thousands of men
industriously inclined, but who are physically
unable to follow the hardest kind of manual
labor, could find profitable employment in the
vineyard. The success ofthe persuit is no longer
an experiment, but one from which annual re-
venue, exceeding that of the gold mines, will un
questonably be forthcoming, if the attention i:
paid to the subject which its great importance
Justly claims. No farmer who possibly can plant
grape-vines on a large scale should neglect to dc
so and do it, too, at as early day as possible
for he will find that in the end, nothing he car
do with his land will prove more remunerativt
or more satisfactorily requite him for his toll.