496 THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 



tion, but unjustly so. It may be years before the same thing will happen 

 again. 



In the mean time we shall hope that the United States Department of 

 Agriculture will try to find some method of controlling this fungus in 

 the vineyard. If an economical method of prevention can be worked 

 out, it will be of immense value in improving the keeping qualities of 

 our table grapes in seasons when early fall rains prevail. 



In spite of the general softening of grapes, however, standardization 

 barred out a great amount of manifestly poor stuff. Growers are better 

 educated for next year. It was an important epoch in California's 

 horticultural history when the thesis of standardization was nail'ed 

 to the door of the packing-house by our far-sighted and courageous 

 reformer and friend, the man who is helping solve some of our difficult 

 economic problems — J. W. Jeffrey. 



Spanish Table Grapes. 



In the heavy importations of Almeria grapes from Spain there is both 

 a menace and a hint for the future. Would it not be wise for the mem- 

 bers of this convention to take action toward the continuance of the 

 present tariff on Spanish grapes. They come into competition mth our 

 late season shipments of Tokays, Cornichon and Emperor. With the 

 advent of a new tariff regime, should we not defend ourselves as best 

 we can against the competition of the increased shipments which would 

 result if the present tariff is lowered ? 



The Almeria grape is a type by itself, very different from any of our 

 common varieties. It is as hard as an apple and of wonderful keeping 

 qualities. In the warmer parts of this State it should do well. There 

 is the possibility of a considerable industry in the growing of these for 

 late markets, packed in crates, or for marketing in March and April, 

 packed in sawdust or corkdust. In some localities it is a shy bearer ; in 

 other places, when properly pruned, it bears well. Experiments should 

 be carried on to determine its adaptability to the different parts of 

 California. 



Freight Rates. 



I shall not take up time with the discussion of this important matter, 

 a.s I presume it will be handled by our able committee on transporta- 

 tion, the members of which deserve our heartfelt thanks for their unre- 

 mitting efforts to secure fair treatment from the railroads. 



Wine Grape Industry of the Interior. 



The wine grape industry of the interior valleys differs greatly from 

 that of the coast counties, where dry wines of high grade are produced 

 from varieties of grapes planted for that specitic purpose. Owing to" 

 the busy work of phylloxera for the past twenty years a large portion of 

 the original plantings have been destroyed and partly replaced by 

 plantings on resistant roots. Most of the recent plantings have been of 

 desirable varieties suited to the making of fine grades of wine. The 

 grade of dry wine made in the coast counties is so superior to the dry 



