34 INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OP VITICULTURE 



produced many seedlings of value; Prof. T. V. Munson, who introduced more 

 hybrid grapes than any other viticulturist in America, if not the world. These 

 men devoted their lives to the vine. Their work was largely a labor of love. 

 Pew of them ever received any reward or profit commensurate with their 

 merit and ability. 



So, too, with the pioneers of California viticulture. They planted that 

 others might reap. Few of them were successful in a financial sense. 



I think few people, outside of the viticultural industry, fully understand 

 and appreciate what the vine grower must undergo before he takes a load 

 of grapes to the winery, or sends a basket of grapes to the table of the far- 

 off consumer. It may safely be said that vine culture demands more care, 

 skill or expert knowledge than any other branch of agriculture. Hence the 

 vine growers are, as a class, the most industrious and intelligent of all men 

 who till the soil. This is true not only in this country, but in the vineyard 

 districts of Europe. 



Again, what other branch of agriculture, what other industry compares 

 with viticulture as regards the variety of difficulties to be overcome and the 

 number of enemies to be met and conquered? The troubles of the vine 

 grower begin in the early spring and last until the crop is safely gathered 

 in the fall. He has to contend with the elements, with nature, and even with 

 man. A sharp spring frost may nip the buds and blast the hopes of the 

 grower for a good vintage. In summer may come hail and thunderstorms 

 to damage the vines and their growing fruit. Even when the time of the 

 vintage is at hand, and the grower is ready to gather a full crop of grapes, 

 if there come early frosts or heavy rains and storms, he may lose 10, 20 or 

 30 per cent of his crop. 



Then the grower has to combat vegetable diseases and insect pests. They 

 are the parasites of the vine, for they feed on the roots, leaves, buds or 

 fruit, according to the nature and habits of the class to which they belong. 

 The list of vegetable parasites is quite long and includes mildew, black rot, 

 oidium, anthracnose, etc. The list of animal parasites is also long. The 

 worst is the phylloxera, which is a terrible scourge. In California, as in all 

 the vineyard districts of Europe, the ravages of the phylloxera have caused 

 widespread disaster and ruin to many thousands of growers. In the last 

 fifty years in France alone the phylloxera has destroyed more than two 

 million acres of vines, representing a total loss of about one billion dollars. 



Last but not least, the vine grower has, sorry to say, human enemies. 

 The professional prohibitionist is one of the worst of these. He is, in a way, 

 a parasite. He lives on his work of destruction. In many places and States 

 the grape growers have been the innocent victims of unjust and destructive 

 legislation. They have had the value of their vineyard properties injured and 

 depreciated by prohibitory laws. They have sometimes seen the fruits of their 

 labor turn to ashes. In no other civilized country of the world has grape 

 growing, which is recognized as one of the most ancient and honorable pur- 

 suits of man, suffered more from harsh and oppressive legisaltion than it has 

 here in the Unied States. It is time now for the growers to insist upon their 

 rights and to demand in no uncertain voice and tones to be let alone. 



In spite of numberless difficulties, in spite of animal and vegetable pests, 

 and in spite of the attacks of many sleepless enemies, the vine grower has 

 abiding faith and confidence in his vineyard. He loves it, as has been well 



