406 Transactions of the 



on the east until within a few miles of the Pacific Ocean. The planting 

 of vines goes on steadily, and every year the farmer knows better how 

 and when and where and what sorts to plant. Most all the foreign, 

 varieties do well in this county, and a connoisseur could not help being 

 satisfied with his choice of the many kinds he could find. The Na- 

 tive or Mission is, of course, the most common, and does well on any 

 land that is not too rich. Of foreign varieties there arc the Muscat, 

 Black Hamburg, Zinfindel, Eeisling, Black Malvoissic, Chasselas, Berger, 

 White Malaga, Flame Tokay, and others. All of these grow well in 

 Sonoma County. A field of vines upon the low bills adds much to the 

 beauty of the landscape. They are of a rich green color, which they 

 retain all the Summer, after most of the green things have faded. 

 Then, in Autumn, when the rich clusters have changed from green to 

 white, or purple or red or black, and the leaves are turning yellow, there 

 is still a beauty in the vine. The time will probably come when our 

 higher hills, too, will be covered with vines, when labor becomes cheap 

 and all its products higher. Then there will be stone walls and terraces 

 and cisterns, and all the land will be utilized. Many of the residences 

 about Sonoma seem to be the abodes of pleasure and comfort. The 

 vines support the family, and the "heathen Chinee" does most of the 

 work in and out of the house. The profits admit of hiring the labor. 

 The dwellings are smothered with vines, shrubs, and flowering trees, a 

 fountain sparkles in the yard, gaudy flowers enliven the scene and per- 

 fume the air, long and wide avenues lined with fruit trees separate the 

 vineyards from one another, the whole presenting a picture of elegant 

 comfort, the owner of which is to be envied. 



THE WINE PRODUCT OF SONOMA COUNTY FOR EIGHTEEN HUNDRED AND 



SEVENTY-FOUR. 



We give below a carefully prepared and, we believe, very accurate 

 estimate of the vintage of Sonoma County for this year. Our estimates 

 were obtained, some by the number of acres and wine product in gal- 

 lons, others by the number of vines and wine product in gallons. To 

 give the reader a clear idea of the estimates we have classified them in 

 exhibits. Exhibit A shows the number of acres of the parties named 

 and product of wine in gallons, by the acre. Exhibit B shows the num- 

 ber of gallons made by the parties named, without giving either the 

 number of acres or gallons. Exhibit C shows the number of vines of 

 the parties named and the number of gallons of wine made by them. 

 Exhibit D shows the amount of wine made in the vicinity of Santa llosa. 

 Exhibit E shows the amount of wine made by wine manufacturers who 

 purchased grapes mostly of the parties named in exhibits F and G. The 

 recapitulation shows the total product of wine in the county as made by 

 the exhibits given, amounting to one million eight hundred and thirty- 

 six thousand gallons. Exhibit F shows the number of vines of the par- 

 ties named and the yield of grapes is given in tons. Exhibit G shows 

 the number of acres and product in tons. No general average per acre 

 i.s made or by the vine, for the reason that in many ot the statements of 

 the number of vines and acres, vines notj^et bearing are included. The 

 reader will please remember this fact. The proiuct in tons per acre is 

 from two and a half to five; the product in wine per acre is from five 

 hundred to one thousand gallons, varying with character of land, loca- 

 tion, and the season. The past season was one of the most remarkable 



