90 INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OP VITICULTURE 



In some parts of the Columbia River Valley, on the lower levels where 

 very little show falls, there is a very early start of vegetation in the spring; 

 this is frequently followed by a cold snap, and in such locations the vines 

 are frequently not profitable, unless well covered up through winter. This 

 covering can be done without much expense if a low cordon system of prim- 

 ing is followed. The best locations however are those where, on account of 

 the heavier snow fall this early start does not take place; the vine remains 

 dormant until the late frosts are over. In some of these favored locations 

 no winter protection is needed. 



The cold dormant season, followed by a continuous, cloudless warm grow- 

 ing season insures a great perfection in the grapes and results have been very 

 gratifying. 



At the Dalles, at Wenatchee and on the Clear Water and Snake Rivers 

 some attempts have been made to plant wine grapes and to manufacture 

 wine. Some of the choicest varieties from Europe were planted and very 

 satisfactory results obtained especially with grapes of the Burgundy and 

 Rhine types. The wines have maintained a fine bouquet while having a 

 good alcoholic degree and fine acidity. One of the pioneers Mr. Schleicher, 

 of Lewiston (Idaho), laid out a regular experimental vineyard of some 35 or 

 40 acres on a bench a few miles above Lewiston on the Clear Water; most 

 of these varieties were obtained through the writer from the collections of 

 the University of California. Wh^e the great number of varieties only 

 allowed making comparatively small amounts of the different types, it has 

 been sufficient to demonstrate the high grade of the products that can 

 be made here. Connoisseurs from Portland, and from Seattle are anxious 

 to secure the bottled products that Mr. Schleicher has offered from time to 

 time. 



It is unfortunate that the Prohibition Movement has not so far separated 

 the manufacture of pure wholesome wines and ciders from the so-called 

 saloon business. If there was a guarantee of protection in the future, 

 there is no doubt that a very important industry could be built up 

 in those districts. There would be practically no competition with California 

 wines, the climate of the Columbia River enabling the grower to make a type 

 of wine that cannot be made in California in the districts at present devoted 

 to grape culture. There would be as much difference between California and 

 the Columbia types as there is between the Rhine and the Languedoc or 

 Provence. 



However, on account of the fear of future interference the great bulk of 

 the planting has been done with a view to develope the table grape and grape 

 juice industries. Of possibly 5000 acres in the Columbia Basin not over one 

 tenth is planted to wine grapes. 



The most important centers of the table grape industry are Kennewick, 

 Prosser and Pasco. 



The European varieties planted have generally been introduced from 

 California and thus we find the Flame Tokay, the Cornichon, the Emperor, 

 Rose of Peru, and Black Hamburg in the lead of the red grapes, while Muscat, 

 Malaga and Chasselas are planted mostly for the whites. All of these ripen 

 well; however, the Malaga and the Muscat lack sometimes in sweetness. 

 The Flame Tokey does wonderfully well, the coloring and size being equal to 

 the very choicest California product. As these grapes usually come into 



