EIGHTH DISTRICT AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION. 445 



excelled, if equaled, in the State. The soils of Green and Garden 

 Vallej'S have no superior in the State in adaptability to fruit culture. 



In Placer County there is a section of granite soil which begins 

 below Rocklin and extends north to Auburn, and in width extends 

 from a mile west of Rocklin eastward to the American River, and 

 contains about four townships of land, say at least 70,000 acres of 

 land. 



In this section lie the Towns of Rocklin, Pino or Loomis, Penryn, 

 and Newcastle, all developing into extensive fruit cultures. 



Further to the north, beginning at Auburn, is the slate belt, extend- 

 ing to Colfax and to Bear River, the dividing line between Placer 

 and Nevada Counties. The sections named are divided in Placer 

 County by a ridge composed of bowlders, from the farming lands 

 proper of Placer County, which contain the wealthiest portion of the 

 population of Placer. 



After crossing Bear River you enter into Nevada County. The 

 soil from there on to Grass Valley is volcanic, and the substratum, 

 trap, slate, and syenite. In the southern part of the county, lying 

 between Bear River and Wolf Creek, is a section of land which, in 

 my judgment, is not excelled in the State for the production of wine 

 grapes. The soil is red, slaty, and mixed with quartz pebbles, and 

 easily tilled. The climate is even and mild ; no snow falls there, and 

 it is peculiarly exempt from frost. What I have seen of the grapes 

 raised there without irrigation strengthens my judgment that the 

 future is full of promise for that section as a wine-producing country. 

 Lack of transportation facilities is the only impediment to its growth, 

 but the railroad will go there if the people have faith and plant their 

 vineyards and orchards. 



Much has been said about the red soil as being the best for grape 

 culture. This may mislead many. It is true that red soil is prefer- 

 able to any other, but only because of the presence of oxide of iron, 

 which is an essential element in the production of a deep and per- 

 manent red color in wine. In all the foothills there is sufficient iron 

 for the maturity of fruit, and white wine can be made from grapes 

 grown on any colored soil. The only question in the production of 

 a good and transportable wine is the right kind of grape on the right 

 soil. 



And this brings me to the question which is uppermost in the 

 mind of every man engaged in tilling the soil of the foothills: What 

 shall I plant? The time allotted me is not sufficient to state fully all 

 the reasons which induce me to believe that eventually the grape 

 must be the principal product of the foothills, and of the grape such 

 as are commended for wine. 



Transportation and nearness to railroads must always determine 

 the character of the productions of a country. 



Wine will bear a longer distance of carriage to a railroad than any 

 other product of the farm, and is better able to bear the cost of trans- 

 portation to distant markets by rail or sail. The three counties of 

 this district are especially favored by railroad facilities. The Central 

 Pacitic Railroad runs through the whole length of Placer County, and 

 at a distance of three miles apart are stations and ample side tracks 

 for the convenience of shippers. Nevada County is connected with 

 this road by a narrow gauge road; and if the southern part of the 

 county sliould be devoted to viticulture, a railroad from Auburn or 

 Clipper Gap would no doubt be extended to Grass Valley; and even 



