296 AMERICAN GRAPE GROWING 



country, pure grape brandy would be more wholesome to 

 use than the often poisonous and adulterated liquors now 

 sold as whiskies and brandies. So far, most of the brandy 

 has been distilled from the pomace and lees of wine, 

 which, as connoisseurs say, will not make as smooth and 

 delicate an article as that made from the wine of certain 

 varieties of grapes, the Folle Blanche, for instance, which 

 is the great Cognac grape of France. Yet while this may 

 be the case, certain manufacturers have already gained a 

 name for their brandies. Gen. Naglee at St. Jose has 

 taken great pride in ageing his brandy, and it ranks very 

 high. Mr. Geo.West, of Stockton, has produced a very 

 delicately flavored and fine brandy from West's Prolific, 

 and I suppose that this industry will perhaps progress to 

 perfection as rapidly as the wine industry. More care in 

 its manufacture, and better material, will bring better 

 results as its natural consequence. 



CHAPTER LVI. 



EXTENT OF GRAPE GROWING IN CALIFORNIA. 



The extent of grape growing in the State can hardly be 

 estimated, as there are no official data at hand that I am 

 aware of. The planting of new vineyards progresses at 

 so rapid a rate that it is difficult for any one to even ap- 

 proximate to it. When we look at only a few of the 

 largest plantations, we may form an idea of how rapidly 

 these plantings are progressing. 



Ex-Governor Leland Stanford, at his vineyards at 

 Vina, found seventy-five acres in vines, planted by his pre- 

 decessor, Mr. Gerke, to which were added one thousand 

 two hundred and fifty acres of new plantations in 1882, and 

 one thousand five hundred acres last spring, and I thkJt 



