WINE-MAKING IN CALIFORNIA. 101 



vira the success was rather more uniform and the growth stronger than 

 on the wild riparia. The balance of our grafts were mostly on 

 Clinton, which proved a much mere satisfactory stock than I had an- 

 ticipated, being in that respect as good as the wild riparia, and taking 

 the graft readily. The grafts on Clinton were Herbernont, Lenoir, 

 Pedro Ximenes, Chauche Gris, Traminer, Rulander or Gray Clevner 

 Petit Pinot, Gamay Teinturier, Mataro. and Grossblaue. The Taylor 

 although a very strong grower, does not seem to take the graft as read- 

 ily as the three varieties named before, as our success was not as uni- 

 form and satisfactory. 



The grafts produced some fruit last year, were pruned for bearing 

 last winter, according to their strength, and most of them bore very 

 heavily, with a great difference, however, in the same variety where 

 they were exposed to the full force of the wind or sheltered by the 

 hillside, the latter producing more than double. The yield was espec- 

 ially heavy on Green Hungarian, Marsanne, Sauvignon Vert, and 

 Mataro. In a good many instances we gathered 30 to 40 pounds 

 of Marsanne and Green Hungarian from a single graft, and the growth 

 of wood for next year's crop is also strong and well ripened. The junc- 

 tion is so complete that it is hardly perceptible now, and the whole oper- 

 ation is a complete success. The bunches were very large and heavy, 

 and the berries full size and of excellent quality, as a number of visitors,. 

 Messrs. E. II. Rixford and Wickson among them, can testify. Our 

 wines, made from each variety separately, are fully fermented, and 

 many of them clear now. When the time comes I shall take great 

 pleasure in sending you samples of them for tasting and analysis. 



I am fully satisfied that instead of losing time by planting resistant 

 vines and grafting them, the grafts will bear more and earlier than the 

 same varieties would do on their own roots, on account of the increased 

 vigor caused by the stronger growth of the stock. 



As to. the alleged inferiority of the fruit and wine from such grafts, 

 it seems too ridiculous for any one at all familiar with the laws govern- 

 ing horticulture, and the influence of the stock on the scion, to need 

 refutation. In the case of grafts on vines, I have found, during a prac- 

 tice and observation of thirty-five years, that a stronger stock also im- 

 parts a more vigorous growth of wood ; and we all know that the more 

 vigorous the tree or plant the larger and more perfect will be its fruit 

 That such stronger growth also requires longer pruning to equalize the 

 strength of the root and top is self-evident, but I have yet to learn that 

 our growers would object to the increased yield resulting therefrom. 

 In rny opinion, the greatest perfection of the grape depends upon hav. 



