is one that so far has been almost entirely neglected. In France and 

 Germany vineyards are planted at an expense of land and labor that would 

 seem incredible. The vineyardists of those countries count themselves 

 rich in the possession of five- and ten-acre tracts. Here in San Benito 

 County thousands of the best quality of vine lands are lying unused save 

 for pasturage. One vineyard of 160 acres, sending its choice vintages 

 direct to all parts of the world, shows what can be done in this line. 

 Slowly crowding out the chaparral and chamisal brush, this famous vineyard 

 is pushing its green and luxuriant vines out on hills that equal the cliffs 

 of the Rhine, and produce crops of wine and table grapes that are unheard 

 of on the European continent. 



A thousand vineyardists can find homes and locations in this county. 

 Vine land can be purchased at from ten to fifteen dollars per acre that will 

 yield its purchase price in grapes the second year from planting. 



It would be hard to conceive of a greater range of favorable conditions 

 of soil, climate, and fertility for the raising of wine and table grapes than 

 exists in San Benito County to-day. 



Lake County 



PERCY H. MILBERRY 

 Secretary Lakcport Improvement Association 



LAKE COUNTY is unique in the galaxy of sections of this glorious State. 

 Situated on a plateau with a mean altitude of 1,500 feet, 100 miles 

 north of San Francisco and midway between the coast and the Sacra- 

 mento Valley, and inclosed by mountain ranges. Lake County is an 



"empire within itself." Travelers say its scenery rivals Switzerland. 

 Its beautiful lakes, majestic mountains, forests, streams, and smiling val- 

 leys are an attraction annually to thousands of tourists, summer guests, 

 and campers. 



Clear Lake is the largest and finest body of fresh water convenient to 

 San Francisco, and has innumerable favored spots for country summer and 

 winter homes. Greater advertisements than any of these attractions are 

 the health-giving mineral springs, of which this county alone has more than 

 all Europe. From the fame of all these, the Impression prevails abroad 

 that Lake is but a pleasure-resort and summer county. The patronage of 

 the many resorts furnishes a convenient and increasing market for a great 

 part of the county's products of ranch, range, and dairy, as well as 

 scattering money in other ways; 45,000 cases of various curative waters 

 were bottled and shipped from this county last year. But scenery, climate, 

 and mineral water are not our sole products. 



Lake County pears reach the highest perfection in flavor and quality 

 in the State, and that means in the world. Notwithstanding the fact that 

 the producing valleys are eighteen or more miles from any railroad, 30,000 

 fifty-pound boxes of green pears were shipped this season, some of them 

 to Australia and London, which demonstrates their keeping quality. The 

 dried-pear product this season will amount to 150,000 pounds. Apples 

 to the amount of 660,000 pounds were shipped last year, also 2,130,000 

 pounds of grapes. Another product for which this county has built up, a 

 wide reputation is string beans. By virtue of soil, care, and climatic con- 

 ditions, these attain such succulence and flavor that the three local can- 

 neries, which have been supplying epicurean tastes for several years, have 

 this season orders for five times as much as they can pack. 



Lake County has many advantages for home-seekers. The climate 

 is delightful, free from fog and extremes of heat and cold and from malaria 

 and insect pests. 



