260 AMERICAN GRAPE GROWING 



they must raise prices to a living basis if the vineyards 

 were to be kept up. It was very clear to them that their 

 immense storage houses, casks and machinery, and all 

 the capital it had cost to build up their trade, would be 

 wholly unremunerative if the vineyards died out, and 

 they would be in worse plight than the producers, who 

 had at least their lands, to cultivate in some other crops. 



As about eighty per cent, of the producers have en- 

 tered into contract with the association, it will be able 

 to control the market and fix prices. Most of the other 

 producers will find it to their interest to come in, and 

 the dealers who are not in the syndicate will also join or 

 be compelled, at least, to pay the same prices. In this 

 move I see the dawn of a new and better era in California 

 grape culture. We have the finest climate in the world, 

 and are reasonably sure of a fair crop of salable products 

 every year. There is no apparent reason why this should 

 not again become, as it once was, a leading industry of 

 the Golden State. 



My task is ended perhaps the last of the kind that I 

 shall ever undertake. Whether it is well done is for 

 those to say who read these pages. They may find their 

 way into many a vintner's cottage, and if faults and 

 oversights are found in them it is hoped the readers will 

 think as kindly of the author as he thinks of everyone 

 who grows the noble grape, and that it may prove help- 

 ful to them after he has been laid to rest in California's 

 soil. But while life lasts, so long will continue undimin- 

 ished his predilection for grapes and wine, and for his 

 brothers, the producers. 



