AND WINE MAEnS4; ... 249 



soils and of climate must yet be somewhat of an experi- 

 ment, is self-evident. If, therefore, there are vineyards 

 already established in one's immediate neighborhood, it 

 will be best to examine them, see what succeeds best 

 there, and choose accordingly. But if there is no such 

 guide, or the neighbors cultivate only the common 

 varieties, it will pay one to go to some location similar 

 to his, where there is a good, careful grower, when 

 the grapes are ripe, examine them, and get his opinion 

 as to their value. Two of the best places in the State, 

 perhaps, for this purpose, are the vineyards of Mr. H. 

 W. Crabb, at Oakville, Napa Co., and the vineyards 

 and cellars of Mr. Chas. Lefranc, at San Jose, Santa 

 Clara Co. The first has a collection of over three hun- 

 dred varieties, perhaps the largest in the State, Mr. C. is 

 a skilful wine maker, and a thoroughly practical man, 

 who takes great pains to keep his varieties true to name. 

 Mr. Lefranc has taken great pains in improving and 

 growing the best French varieties, and has given the 

 business close attention. Mr. G. Groezinger, at Yount- 

 ville, Napa Co., is also a very painstaking and intelligent 

 wine grower, cultivating choice varieties. The following 

 list is the result of observations made mostly in their 

 vineyards. It comprises only a small number of the 

 very best, taking both high quality and productiveness 

 into consideration, and from looking carefully over the 

 selections of others, as well as from personal experience 

 with some of the varieties. There are many more which 

 may be as valuable, but have not been as fully tried as 

 these. These are given separately, as "promising well." 

 I have also given their many synonyms by which they 

 are distributed and known in different parts of the 

 State, as far as I have been able to find them. It would 

 lead too far in a work of this condensed character to 

 give their full descriptions. These can be found in other 

 and larger French and German works, where they are 



