PART FOUR: THE GRAPE 



CHAPTER XXV 



THE GRAPE INDUSTRY IN CALIFORNIA 



The grape grows in all parts of California, from near sea level on 

 the coast to an elevation of 5000 feet or more on the mountains. It is 

 contented, too, with nearly all fertile soils, from the deep galley loams, 

 where the great fat, firm-fleshed grapes are grown for raisin and table 

 grape shipments, to the shallow soils of the high foothills and mountain 

 slopes, where the grapes are less in quantity, but of superior aromatic 

 qualities. This wide adaptation gives an immense area suited for grape 

 culture, but the chief reason for the achievement and the promise of the 

 grape in California is in the fact that the European species, Vitis vini- 

 fera, thrives, and thus the California grower has command of all that 

 Europeans have accomplished in centuries by developing special varie- 

 ties of the species for special purposes. The grapes of the States east 

 of the Rocky Mountains are only grown in California in a small way 

 because the European varieties are the only ones from which raisins 

 can be made ; they also furnish the world's wine and brandy, and they 

 give size, beauty, and shipping quality beyond all comparison with 

 American varieties. Wherever wealthy Eastern connoisseurs choose 

 grapes for their glass houses, they select European varieties ; the Cali- 

 fornian grows his "hot house grapes" in the open air. He also grows 

 most of them without the cost of trellising, because the European 

 varieties generally will bear well in short-pruned, bush form. Cali- 

 fornia has a large acreage of grape vines, and planting has been very 

 active during the last few years, because good prices have prevailed, 

 especially through the increased opportunity for fresh grape shipments. 

 At the same time, new economic and commercial problems are continu- 

 ally arising and the industry has to readjust itself to new conditions, 

 discussion of such problems does not come within the scope of a cul- 

 tural treatise like this. It is the duty of the grower to keep himself up 

 to date on such subjects by faithful reading of California periodicals 

 and by participation in public assemblies in the grape interest. Con- 

 cerning cultural difficulties, the protection of vine from its enemies 

 and problems in vinification, special researches are constantly pursued 

 by the University Experiment Station at Berkeley and publications are 

 furnished on application. 



The culture of the grape is one of the great branches of California 

 horticulture. Its three chief divisions are : Grapes for the table, grapes 

 for wine, and grapes for raisins. In all these branches the product has 

 far exceeded local requirements and has become an important item in 

 the export trade of the State. The attainments of the industry can be 

 roughly measured by the statistics of the shipments of grapes, raisins, 



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