178 TK.ANSACTIONS OF THE 



changed when such ground is growing weeds, or is planted in some 

 crop. The reason for this is very simple — moisture and sunshine, or 

 warmth, are a necessity for tlie growth of all plants. 



It would be an interesting study to look into the processes of plant 

 life, observe how they grow, and the different roles that water plays 

 in the growth of plants; but a paper of this kind will not permit of 

 this, and for our purpose it is sufficient to state that water is taken 

 from the soil by the roots of plants, and is carried to every part of the 

 plant where it is exposed to the sun, and most actively evaporated 

 by the leaves; and this movement continues as in the lamp until the 

 soil is exhausted of its water, when growth ceases. 



This teaches us that we should keep our grounds clean from weeds, 

 for to allow them to grow robs the soil of the water necessary for 

 their crop. As I said before, all growth is at the expense of water 

 from the soil grown in, and the adage holds here as in everything else: 

 "You can't eat your cake and still have it." It follows, therefore, 

 that the larger the plants, trees, or vines are, the more leaves there 

 will be, and consequently more evaporating surface for the sun to 

 act on, and the more water will be required and evaporated. You 

 will readily see that if you raise weeds you will only have additional 

 wicks to draw from your soil, and rob the crop which you wish to 

 raise. Therefore, plowing and cultivating the soil accomplishes both 

 purposes, by keeping your soil loose and in a favorable condition to 

 prevent capillary action on the surface where the sun can get at it, 

 and by destroying the not wanted vegetation with their connecting 

 wicks of stems and roots in the soil to pump it up. 



Cultivation should be as often as a hard surface or crust forms. 

 This may be sooner or later, for different kinds of soils differ in this 

 respect. Rain and irrigation will form it as soon as the surface dries, 

 and for this reason light cultivation should follow every rain or irri- 

 gation, when possible, as soon as the soil will work kindly; and it 

 will be found that such rain or irrigation, when followed by stirring 

 the top soil, will do twice the good, and the ground will remain moist 

 twice as long than when it is neglected. Even when there has been 

 no rain or irrigation and the top soil is so dry that weeds do not 

 sprout any more, yet if there is a crust on the ground it should be 

 broken up to form a thin coat of loose soil, and your vines or crops 

 will show the benefit in no doubtful manner by renewed growth 

 and vigor. 



What to plant becomes a very serious question, and I regret that 

 there is so little information which are known to be facts. Most 

 vineyardists and wine makers are agreed about a few varieties not to 

 plant — as the Mission, Black Malvoisie, and the Muscat of Alexan- 

 dria, for wine. I would say that for the present we have enough 

 Zinfandel. The reason for my saying so is because we are finding 

 among the new varieties that are now being introduced, grapes that 

 make a much better red wine. And to find a grape that is uniformly 

 productive, that will make a good red wine, of dark color and good 

 keeping qualities— a wine which will be called good by the English- 

 man and the Frenchman — will solve the viti cultural problem in 

 California; for then we can all raise grapes and be happy, for we will 

 not be able to overdo the planting of vines. The Zinfandel wine of 

 some of the best localities is fair, but the bulk of that wine made in 

 this State has too much acidity. 



Much of it may be used with other wines for "blending;" but that 



