156 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



ESSAY ON THE CULTURE OF THE VINE. 



BY WILLIAM DANIELS. 



FOR WHICH WAS AWARDED THE FIRST PREMIUM. 



THE CULTIVATION OF THE GRAPE VINE IN CALIFORNIA. 



I had rather cultivate a vineyard than write an essay, but at the solici- 

 tation of my friends, some of whom are largely engaged in the business, 

 I will (as far as a moderate sized essay will admit) state the results of 

 my fifteen years practical experience and actual observation in California. 



The first point of consequence is choosing a suitable site for the vine- 

 yard. The aspect should be southwest; that is, the ground should slope 

 in that direction ; but any slope, either southwest, west, or northwest, is 

 better than a slope in the opposite direction. Never choose an eastern 

 aspect if you can possibly avoid it. A great portion of California is 

 subject to late spring frosts, long after the vine has put forth its young 

 tender shoots. The coldest part of the night is just before sunrise, and 

 the frosts in California will, on an average, be twice as severe on an east- 

 ern slope as they are on a western. The western slope will receive the 

 warm sunshine all the after part of the day, and long before it receives 

 the last parting rays of the setting sun, the eastern slope will be left in 

 the shade; and if the ground is well cultivated it will imbibe warmth 

 from the sun as long as it shines. This will often preserve it from frost, 

 when the eastern slope is quite white. The first bright rays of the 

 morning sun, striking the tender frosted foliage on the eastern slope, 

 will scorch it like an oven ; whereas, on the western slope, ^suppose a 

 light frost has dropped down, the atmosphere above the vines will be- 

 come warm before the sun strikes the foliage, creating a warm, incipient 

 fog, often sufficient to draw out a light frost before the bright rays of 

 the sun strikes directly on the foliage, so that the frost has left no sign. 

 Many a florist has taken his tender, frosted, pet plant and hurried it 

 away to some dark, shaded place before the morning sun strikes it, giv- 

 ing it a shower bath of cold water, and kept it there till the frost was 

 all drawn out, and thereby saved his plant. 



