334 Transactions of the 



VINICULTURE IN THE FOOTHILLS. 



COLOMA GRAPES — WINE AND RAISIN-MAKING IN EL DORADO COUNTY — 

 WATER PRIVILEGES — MADE LANDS — ESTIMATES OF ACRES, CROPS, ETC. 



\Vc make the following extracts from a long and well written com- 

 munication to the Sacramento Record, dated at Coloma: 



Coloma, the mining camp, is dead; but from its sepulchre has arisen a 

 rare luxuriant wealth of fruit and foliage, of fragrant flowers and heavy- 

 laden vines. Sheltered by the grand old mountains, nestling by the 

 river, overgrown with verdure, Coloma is as pretty as the pictures wo 

 see of the villages in Rhineland. 



A score of vineyards lie in the immediate vicinity, but first among 

 them is the famous property owned by .Robert Chalmers, and kuown 

 throughout the State as — 



THE COLOMA VINEYARD. 



Situated on either side the road that leads down into town, the beau- 

 tifully terraced slopes and the regularly laid out rows of vines attract 

 the attention of every passer. Mr. Chalmers has two hundred acres of 

 land, all of which is remarkably adapted to grape culture. On on^ hun- 

 dred and ten acres of this he has one hundred and ten thousand bear- 

 ing vines, comprising over forty varieties of foreign grapes. 



VINES TWENTY-TWO YEARS OLD. 



The oldest vines were planted twenty-two years ago, and each suc- 

 ceeding year's growth has materially improved both the quality and 

 quantity of the grapes produced. The vineyard has been enlarged year 

 by year. In eighteen hundred and seventy-two he put out ten thousand 

 young vines, and last 3 T ear he set-out thirty thousand cuttings to root 

 for next year's planting. During the first four 3'ears of their existence 

 vines should be irrigated. It gives them healthier, stronger roots, and 

 a more vigorous growth. Mr. Chalmers irrigates now after the fourth 

 year. He says that for table use or market, grapes, perhaps, show to 

 better advantage if the vines have been watered; but that for wine 

 making the flavor, richness, and general quality is equally fine without 

 irrigation. Every foot of land for miles around Coloma can be made to 

 produce excellent grapes. 



THE RAISIN BUSINESS 



Is each year gaining fresh importance. Chalmers has ten thousand vines 

 of the Muscat of Alexandria and Bugbey varieties, and next year's 



