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CHAPTER XXXV. 



THE VINE IN CALIFORNIA. 



Grape culture in California differs so materially from 

 Eastern methods that there is hardly any comparison to 

 be made. That the vine has here found the most con- 

 genial climate, there can be no doubt. All the choicest 

 vinifera varieties flourished here with a luxuriance un- 

 known in Europe until the phylloxera made its appear- 

 ance and began its ravages. So far, no remedy has been 

 found, save grafting the vinifera on the American re- 

 sistant stocks. This method has been tested for fifteen 

 years, and the results are all that can be desired. Not 

 only do the viniferas flourish as well as formerly on their 

 own roots, but they are greater and more abundant bear- 

 ers, while the fruit produced is fully as good, if not of 

 superior quality. We have now fairly passed the experi- 

 mental stage, and know pretty well what to plant and 

 what to graft. With these introductory remarks, we 

 can proceed to the first stage of the work, which will be 

 the foundation of the vineyard and the choosing of the 

 different classes of grapes. 



RESISTANT STOCKS. 



Vinifera. — Of European or Asiatic origin. By far 

 the greater part of our vineyards, where they have not 

 been destroyed by the phylloxera, consist of tliese on 

 their own roots. It comprises nearly all the valuable 

 varieties for wine, table or raisins, and as all grow from 

 cuttings with tlie greatest ease, the establishment of a 

 vineyard was an easy and inexpensive task. Such plant- 

 ing is no longer safe — the phylloxera has destroyed thou- 

 sands of acres of vineyards already, and the only safe 

 way is to plant resistant vines. These we will consider 



