AND WINE MAKING. 



257 



CHAPTER LV. 



EXTENT AND PKOSPECTS OF THE INDUSTBY. 



It is difficult to give accurate figures showing the 

 acreage devoted to grapes in California. Several years 

 ago the estimated amount was 150,000 acres, of which 

 about 90,000 acres were in wine grapes and 60,000 in 

 table and raisin grapes. I do not think the acreage has 

 changed greatly since then. Thousands of acres have 

 been destroyed by phylloxera and the Anaheim disease, 

 but to make up for this other, thousands of acres have 

 been planted to raisin grapes. The decrease has been 

 in the acreage of wine grapes, and it is still decreasing. 

 The magnitude of the wine industry is shown by the 

 fact that about $60,000,000 are invested in vineyards, 

 cellars and fixtures, giving employment to about 15,000 

 persons. I am unable to give exact figures, though the 

 State Board of Viticulture has tried hard to collect them 

 every year. They doubtless fall short of the reality, as 

 many of the small vineyards and cellars are hidden away 

 in the mountains or little valleys, where they were over- 

 looked. The following are the estimates, showing the 

 increase since 1876 : 



The extremely low prices which have prevailed during 



the last few years have discouraged thousands from 



planting, until it now seems that the acreage of wine 



grapes would fall off at the rate of 2,000 acres per 



17 



