STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 245 



edo'e of grape growing and wine manufacture, to make the produce of 

 our fields rival those of tlie most favoi-ed regions of any other portion of 

 the globe. 



Grai)e culture is becoming a most essential object in all our gardens 

 and ranches, and choice selections and varieties are being made with 

 care and attention to the richer and more productive varieties. To give 

 some idea of the varieties and choice selections of the grape in this dis- 

 trict, 1 furnish you with a portion of the best, cultivated in a considera- 

 ble number of the ranches in this district : 



Parsons & Brothers, of Columbia, have a ranch of twelve acres, and 

 their vines, a larger portion of them, are of the Mission, or Los Angeles 

 variety, which has a reputation of uniformly being a good and regular 

 bearer in all the vineyards I have visited. Several other varieties are 

 also cultivated on this ranch. 



The Black Hamburg — a grape number one, of large size and of most 

 luscious flavor; universally esteemed; a good bearer, uniformly. 



Reine de Nice — a very superior grape for the table, and a good and 

 regular bearer. 



Black Prince — very highly esteemed, more hardy than the Black 

 Hamburg, bearing profusely with the easiest culture; uniformly a good 

 bearer. 



Black Morocco — pulpy and delicious, sweet and rich; a first rate 

 bearer. 



Black Ferrara — a late grape, very pulpy, fine and hard; good for 

 brandy. 



Catawba — an excellent native, is one of the hardiest and most excel- 

 lent of the native grapes, either for wine or table use. 



Isabella — hi^ghly esteemed, juicy, sweet, and rich, with slight musky 

 aroma; flesh tender, with some pulp; a good bearer, uniformly. 



White Nice — large, showy fruit; bunches large, flesh crisp, sweet and 

 very pulpy, and of good flavor, and one of the finest and largest of 

 grapes; some of the bunches weigh from eight to nine pounds. 



Muscat of Alexandria — a very large, delicious grape, flesh firm and 

 crisp, with a peculiarly rich, musky, perfumed flavor. It is a strong 

 grower, and the grapes will hang a long time on the vines. 



White Chasselas — a sweet, juicy grape, flesh tender, excellent for table 

 use. 



Red Chasselas — a very delicious grape; much resembles the white. 



Grizzly Froutignan — a rich, delicious grape, hardy, and uniformly 

 productive. 



Syrian — supposed to be the grape of Eschol, mentioned in the scrip- 

 tures ; bunches are large ; a superb looking fruit. 



White Sweetwater — an early grape, flesh cris^^and watery; sweet, and 

 excellent for table use. 



Musk Chasselas — a very delicious grape; flesh tender, with abundant 

 juice, having a rich musky flavor; skin thin, and of a yellowish white. 



Rose Chasselas — a reddish musk grape, tender and sweet, and very 

 good for table use. 



Parsons & Brothers have also a great variety of peaches — Early Tillot- 

 ston. Early York, Honest John, Early CraAvford, Late Ci'awford,'Tleorge 

 IV, White Herefordshire, Oldmixon Free, Oldmixon Cling, Blood Free- 

 stone, Chinese Peach, Heath's Cling, and Burgon's Yellow — thirteen 

 varieties. 



Pears — Bloodgood, English Gargonelle, Early Madeleine, Early Cath- 

 erine, Beurre Bosc, Beurre Diel, Beurre Easter, Early Bergamot, Seckel, 



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