WHERE CALIFORNIA GRAPES GROW 289 



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 attain- 

 ments of the industry can be roughly measured by the statistics of 

 the shipments of grapes and raisins, and the valuation of them 

 which are given in Chapter VI. 



THE GRAPE AREA OF CALIFORNIA 



The grape has a very wide range in California. If the im- 

 mediate seacoast and the higher altitudes on the mountains be 

 excepted, the grape may be planted with a good chance of success 

 anywhere if soil and local topography be suitable. As has been 

 shown in Chapter I, the vine can approach quite close to the ocean 

 if some shelter from prevailing cool winds be afforded, and quite 

 high on the mountains if one keeps out of depressions where late 

 frosts are frequent. In planting the grape in doubtful situations 

 much depends upon choice of proper varieties. For example, in 

 the cool air of the coast region and the short summer of the higher 

 altitudes, early maturing varieties must be the main reliance, for 

 late sorts will not receive heat enough to bring them to full 

 maturity. 



Away from immediate coast influences, and up to perhaps three 

 thousand feet or more on the sides of the Sierra, the grape is suc- 

 cessfully grown both upon the floors of the valleys and upon the 

 hillsides. But there is still need of choice both of special locations 

 and of varieties according to the purposes which the grower has in 

 view. The coast valleys of the upper part of the State produce good 

 table grapes, but they are unfavorable for the raisin industry be- 

 cause of the deficient sunshine and excessive atmospheric humidity 

 of the autumn months. The best raisins are made in the dry, heated 

 valleys of the interior, and the conditions which there develop the 

 fullest quality of the raisin grape also develop the sugar in some 

 kinds of wine grapes beyond a desirable percentage. Here again 

 the choice of suitable varieties intrudes itself, for the varieties which 

 yield light table wines in the coast valleys may yield heavy "heady" 

 wines in the interior. Valleys, too, as a rule, although they yield 

 larger crops of grapes and greater measure of wine than similar 

 area on the hillsides, must yield the palm for quality to the warm 

 soils of the slopes. And here enters the business proposition whether 

 large amount and less quality is better than less amount and higher 

 quality. To this there can be no general answer. It depends upon 

 the disposition which is to be made of the crop, and the demand 

 for it. 



The coloring of certain varieties is a matter underlying their 

 profitable production for fresh shipments and this is determined by 

 local conditions concerning which the best information is actual 

 observation of their effects. These few facts out of many which 

 could be stated will serve to enforce the fact that wide as is the 

 range of the grape, both localities and varieties for certain purposes 

 must be intelligently chosen. 



