California Agriculturist and Live Stock Journal. 



RAISIN VS. WINE GEAPES. 



The followiug advice, from the Sacra- 

 mento Tkcod, is just such as we have been 

 giving for the last three years. When we 

 stated, two years ago, tliat raising gi-apes for 

 wine was not profitable, and that certain par- 

 ties were rooting up their vines and convert- 

 ing the land into grain fields, a howl was 

 raised against us by the press. We were 

 charged with trying to injure '-the great and 

 growing industry of the Pacific Coast— wine- 

 making." We then advised, as we do now— 

 and as sensible writers generally do now— the 

 converting of the wine vineyards into raisin 

 vineyards. 



It has been proved that the Mission vine 

 makes the very best root to graft other varie- 

 ties onto. The White Muscat of Alexander, 

 the best raisin grape, does better grafted on 

 the Mission than it does on its own root. 



Planting wine vineyards has kept many 

 men poor, and made many drunkards, in 

 California, but whoever has cultivated fine 

 raisin and table grapes has made money. 



But hear what the Mecord has to say about 

 the matter: 



Don't Desteot the Grape Vines. — We 

 learn that many persons in different portions 

 of the State who have small vineyards, and 

 who do not wish to make their grapes into 

 wine or brandy, for the reason that wine and 

 brandy cannot be made to pay on a small 

 scale, are talking of digging up their vines. 

 Such persons generally have the Mission or 

 Native California grape, and perhaps no other 

 in cultivation, and we are fully aware that the 

 past experience of such is anything but en- 

 couraging for the future, without same change 

 that will prsmise and bring better remunera- 

 tion for the use of their laud, and the labor 

 necessary to cultivrte the vineyard, pick and 

 market the grapes. We also know that at 

 this time a very little adthtioual outlay will 

 bring this desired change. Let these native 

 vines be grafted with the White Muscat of 

 Alexandria or White Malaga grapes, and the 

 second year after gi-afting the crop will very 

 nearly equal in amount the present crop of 

 native grapes. Instead of having on hand 

 then a grape valueless to you for wine-making 

 purposes, on account of your situation, and 

 good for no other paying purpose, you will 

 have a crop of grapes valuable for raisins. 



Then the objection that you have but a 

 limited quantity will not apply, for you can 

 make a small quantity of raisins just as 

 cheaply, and with just as much certainty that 

 they will be of good quality, as though you 

 had the largest vineyard in the State; you can 

 make them, too, when you would be doing 

 little else, when your labor and time cannot 

 ba bettor or mora profitably employed. No 

 farmer should bo so short-siguted at this time 

 when we all know the great curse and draw- 

 back to California agriculture is want of vari- 

 ety in production. 



Again, raisins have been made in many lo- 

 calities by the Alden process, and we believe 

 in every instance those making them are well 

 satisfied with the results, both financially and 

 otherwise, and many of them are preparing to 

 increase their vineyards instead of decreasing 

 them. Alden machines will be erected in 

 nearly every locality in the State within a few 

 years', and it would' be a pity, just as circum- 

 stances are so promising to render your vines 

 valuable, to root them out, and thus throw 

 •away all the labor and expense of cultivating 

 them up to the present time and the good 

 prosi^ects for profits in the futrire. 



"See," said a sorrowing wife, "how peace- 

 ful the cat and. dog are." "Yes," said the 

 elulant husband, "but just tie them to- 

 gether and then see how the fur will fly," 



MERINO AND COTSWOLD. 



We believe that a good cross between the 

 Merino and Cotswold can he produced that will 

 greatly imiirove tbe Meiiuo for uoclul wool and 

 mutton.— California Agkicultcuist. 



We think that the writer of this paragraph 

 does not fully understand the subject he is 

 tiding to handle. We do not believe that 

 a cross between the Merino and Cotswold 

 would give a superior article of wool. It 

 would certainly produce wool of a coarser 

 texture than the pure Merino, and of less 

 length and strength than pure Cotswold wool. 

 We have distinct classes of wool -fine wool, 

 and long wool. Both of these classes have 

 their importance in the factories, and fine 

 wool cannot be worked to advantage without 

 long wool, neither can a fine quality of wool- 

 en goods be made without the use of fine 

 wool. There is greater demand for "warp," 

 and has been for years in this country, tlian 

 for filling. We are satisfied that the time 

 is not far distant when we will have factories 

 to work up every pound of wool raised, and 

 will have to raise long wool or import it. 

 Combining wools used in the Eastern fac- 

 tories are now brought from Canada, where 

 the Cotswold, Southdown and Leicester 

 breeds predominate. The ^Teat object in 

 raising long wool is to have it as strong as 

 possible, and in order to do this the sheep 

 must have better range. Whenever an ani- 

 mal falls off in flesh, then there will be a 

 weak place in the fibre, which will be apt to 

 break in combing. In the large Eastern 

 factories it has been found that the wool 

 from pure bred Cotswold and Leicester is the 

 very best warp that can be used, and any at- 

 tempt to cross these animals with fine wool 

 will not only make the long wool less valu- 

 able for warps, but will impair the quality 

 of the fine wool for filling. Experiments 

 are good sometimes, but they should always 

 be made with a thorough understanding of 

 the end aimed at, and the result desLred.- 



lu the above the Sacramento Valley Agri- 

 cidlm-uil, of Dec. 20th, has quoted our words 

 correctly. The opinion we expressed was 

 the result of mature deUberation, and is con- 

 firmed by the experience of many practical 

 wool growers on this coast. It will be no- 

 ticed in our report of a visit to S. B. Emer- 

 son's farm, that Mr. E. is of the same 

 opinion. We have deferred the above criti- 

 cism of our opinion to Lewis & McCracken, 

 well-known wool gi-owers in our valley. 

 They both say that they have produced and 

 sold wool from Cotswolds graded on Merino 

 sheep, first and second crosses, that has 

 brought 33 per cent, more per pound than 

 the pure Merino wool sheared at the same 

 time. This they have done for the past two 

 years. They assert that a seven-eighth 

 Cotswold from pure Merino produces a 

 combing and delaine wool, which demands 

 the very highest price in the Eastern markets, 

 as can be proved by the quotations of the 

 Boston, New York and Philadelphia com- 

 mercial papers. On the other hand a three- 

 quarter to fifteen-sixteenth Merino from a 

 Cotswold cross not only gives a better frame, 

 and mutton value to Merinos, but also greatly 

 increases the value of the wool. 



On this coast where at two seasons tho 

 pasture is short, and where scab is bad, and 

 it is found practicable to shear the sheep 

 twice each year tho fine, short, pure Merino 

 wool is not as valuable as the longer staple 

 from a little mixture of Cotswold blood. 

 Markets are governed by the demand for 

 different grades of wool. The wool in the 

 greatest demand now is just such staples us 



can be produced from graded sheep at either 



end of the grade. The kinds of clothing 

 the most in fashion and in demand are man- 

 ufactured from just such wool. In Cali- 

 fornia the woolen mills use neither the finest 

 Merino nor the very longest combing wools, 

 they demand such wool as will make the best 

 goods, for usefulness. 



What our contemporary says about " warp 

 and filling " is very true, so far as it goes. 

 A very strong warp is needed for a verj- fine 

 and week filling, but the best cloth for actual 

 service has both substantial warp and filling. 

 The homespun that the writer of this article 

 used to wear in school-boy-days, V70ven by 

 mother's own hand on the family loom, was 

 of this sort, and it was almost everlasting. 

 Our only excuse for " expaciating " uj^on this 

 subject is that it is one of much importance 

 to all wool growers. 



To Prevent Ruts in Roads. 



A Western exchange contains the following 

 practical hints on this subject: 



The art of road-making is yet in its infancy 

 in this country. The roads are not laid out, 

 made, or repaired with reference to economy 

 of draft in using them. Deep ruts are soon 

 worn in them by the common vehicles that 

 past over them, and these grow worse and 

 worse, until they are almost impassable in 

 Spring. Broad cart tires are a partial remedy 

 for these. Longer yokes, both for oxen, and 

 for double horse wagons and carts, compell- 

 ing the teams to walk in the same line with 

 the wheels that come after them, would be a 

 still better remedy. On most country roads 

 there are two tow-paths and two ruts, aud it 

 is not noticeable that the tow-paths are always 

 in much the better order. Longer yokes 

 would bring the paths and ruts together. The 

 feet of the teams would break down the sides 

 of the ruts, and fill them as fast as they were 

 formed. This would improve the road bed, 

 and make the draft of loads easier. We C4in- 

 not shorten tho axle trees without increasing 

 the danger of upsetting, but we can lengthen 

 the yokes with safety. Legislation is needed. 

 W'e reg.ard this idea as a most practical 

 one ; but unless the whole community of team- 

 sters would observe the rule, it would only 

 make the traveling all the more difficult for 

 the one or two who might try it. Legislation 

 would be the only way to compel a general 

 reform of the kind. 



Shipping Meat Instead of Grain. 



Mr. Joseph Harris says, in tho American 

 AijricnUarisl, "I hope and believe that the 

 time is not far distant when not a bushel of 

 wheat or corn will leave our shores. We 

 ought to raise all our own wool, and supply 

 the world with pork, bacon, hams and lai-d. 

 To ship a carload of thin hogs from Iowa to 

 Bufialo,, and send four carloads of corn along 

 with them, to fatten them here, paying 

 freight and commission on both, is poor 

 policy. To shiji corn to Ireland to malco 

 pork and bacon for the English market, is 

 equally unwise. Better feed out our own 

 corn at home, and learn to furnish the bacon, 

 hams and lard, which the foreign market de- 

 mauds." 



This advice will as well apply lo tho Pacific 

 States as to the Eastern and Western States. 

 Our wheat and barley, if converted into pork 

 to supply the home market, would pay bet- 

 tor than to ship it to Europe and imporj 

 bacon. 



Xo man knows what good friends are worth 

 until he is without them. 





