Appendices 371 



was likely to become a stupendous factor in the pros- 

 perity of the State, a fresh disaster set its iron heel upon 

 the vineyardists. The merchants, with that short-sighted 

 policy which has always distiugiiished their relations 

 with the producer, sought to monopolise the profits of 

 wine-making, and succeeded for a season. Then co- 

 operation on the part of the wine-makers brought about 

 an armed peace, which terminated in open war. Finally, 

 the claims of buyer and seller have been adjusted, and 

 now — and not till now — wine-making would seem to 

 have passed the experimental stage, and to have settled 

 down into an organised industry which, properly managed, 

 offers more than ordinary inducements to the prospective 

 settler. I repeat if properly managed. Wine-making is 

 an art, — an art, moreover, which would seem to be the 

 peculiar possession of the Latin race. None the less, I 

 am of opinion that the Englishman or American borrow- 

 ing the experience of the Frenchman and Italian, and 

 adding to it the results of his own observation and analy- 

 sis, will beat the Latin in the end. Foreign wine-makers, 

 I have noticed, cling like limpets to old world methods, 

 but if there is one thing certain in regard to viticulture, 

 it is that certain varieties of grapes vary enormously 

 according to soil, climate, and elevation, and it is equally 

 certain that the foreign wine-maker in California does 

 not sufficiently take these variations into account. 



Wine-making, however, requires not only experience, 

 but a large working capital. The prospective viticulturist 

 will do well, therefore, to confine his attention to growing 

 grapes and selling them to the wineries. He can rely 

 upon a price varying according to the season from $9 to 

 $12 per ton. If he raises two and a half tons to the 

 acre, his gross profits will lie between $22.50 and $30 

 per acre. Deducting 50 per cent for working expenses, 

 interest on capital invested, etc., the net profit should 



