EIGHTH DISTRICT AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION. 449 



in the mere matter of facility of transportation. Again, look at the 

 tirst cost of the land. Naked land in Napa and Sonoma, near a rail- 

 road, cannot be purchased for less than $100, and in some localities, 

 such as St. Helena, at less than $oOO, while land in the foothills can 

 be purchased at from $10 to $30 per acre. 



Most of you know the average product of grapes per acre in the 

 foothills, and most of us are accustomed to think that Los Angeles, 

 Napa, Sonoma, and Santa Clara excel us. It will be a surprise to most 

 of you to know that, according to the Assessor's report, the average 

 production per acre of table grapes, the yield of which is larger than 

 wine grapes, in Sonoma, is three tons; Napa, two tons; Sacramento, 

 two and one half tons; and Santa Clara, four tons. I am sorry that 1 

 cannot give you the yield of Placer, as none of the Assessors reported 

 it. El Dorado rej^orted the yield at three tons. I would like to hear 

 from some of our El Dorado and Placer viticulturists on this question. 



I conclude that the soil, climate, nearness to market, railroad facil- 

 ities, rainfall, pure water, timber, and the superiority of the fruit pro- 

 duced, all combine to make the foothills of the Sierra, and especially 

 the hills of this district, the most desirable section of the State for a 

 home, founded upon absolute security of a comfortable independence. 



As to the kind of grapes to i)lant I am not prei)ared to say. 1 have 

 diligently studied the question, with the light which the work of Mr. 

 Wetmore and Professor Hilgard afforded me, but I fear to offer you 

 my judgment. But this I can recommend. Do not be in too much 

 hurry; plow and Summer fallow your land, and expose it one year 

 to the fertilizing and ameliorating influence of the air, then plant 

 resistant vines, such as the wild grapevines grown from seeds and 

 Riparia seedlings. 



You will then be safe from the fatal attacks of the phylloxera, for it 

 has been proved by experiment in France, and in this State, that these 

 vine roots are truly resistant. The insect may visit the district, and 

 while its progress is slow it is sure. In the district below Auburn, in 

 the sandy soil, the progress will be slow, because the soil is sandy, and 

 in such soil the insect cannot travel, but in the more clayey and com- 

 pact soil he is to be feared. 



In two yeai's from planting, graft in the grape desired. The cost of 

 grafting need not exceed five or six dollars per acre. 



The advantages of planting the resistant vines are obvious. First, 

 the security obtained against the ravages of the insect, and, secondly, 

 in the increased product of the vine, as the root system of the wild 

 vine is more vigorous than that of the Vitis vinifera, and correspond- 

 ingly the air growth will be healthier and more luxuriant. The Vitis 

 Californica, or wild grapevine of this State, has a tendency to throw 

 down a tap root, and thus find moisture below. Hence, it is perfectly 

 safe to plant this vine on the driest hillside. In my judgment, in ten 

 years from now the sale of a vineyard not grown upon resistant stock 

 will be difficult to effect. 



Mr. Haraszthy, the President of the Viticultural Commission, in- 

 formed me that the future white wine of California would be grown 

 somewhere within the snow line of the Sierra, and this is a hint for 

 our Colfax friends. 



The plan I would advise is, for those concerned to write to Mr. 



Wetmore to make an examination of your district, compensate him 



for his pains, and when the time comes he will, better than any one 



in the State, advise you. If you make a mistake all your labor is for 



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