WINE-MAKING IN CALIFORNIA. 161 



nishes facilities for shipping nearly all winter; and thus our 

 late varieties could come into the Eastern markets for the 

 winter holidays, and would outsell any of their late varieties. 

 So much for general rules to guide in selecting varieties for 

 this purpose, now to the discussion of the varieties themselves. 



FOR EARLY MARKET. 



The Chasselas Fontainebleau, or Sweet water, is still about 

 the earliest variety for that purpose, which bears sufficiently. 

 This has been described under varieties for win?. The Early 

 Madeline, synonym Madeliene Angevine, is still a week 

 earlier, and of rather better quality, will also carry well ; but 

 so far it has been a shy bearer, especially where late frosts pre- 

 vail, as it is one of the first to vegetate and bloom. For 

 locations free from frost, it would pay to try with long prun- 

 ing, when I think it will bear well. I would certainly try it 

 at Vacaville and Pleasant Valley. Vine a moderate grower, 

 with long jointed, brown wood. Leaf medium, deeply lobed, 

 dark green above, tomentose below ; young points reddish, 

 woolly, slender. Bunch medium, compact, shouldered. 

 Berry medium, oblong, yellowish green, transparent, rather 

 thick skin, sweet and juicy. 



The earliest black variety is perhaps the Slack Malvasia, 

 so called in this State. It is a much better table and ship- 

 ping grape than it is a wine grape, and as it is very productive 

 as well as showy, will pay to grow for market to a limited ex- 

 tent. It is too well known to need description here, in fact 

 has been too largely planted for wine, for which it is not 

 adapted, as especially the red wine will deteriorate with age, 

 and can only be used for port. If pressed lightly, as soon as 

 crushed, the first juice makes a very pleasant light, white wine. 



FOR LATE MARKET. 



The most prominent among these is the Flame Tokay, 

 which, on account of its handsome color, magnificent berry 

 and bunch and good shipping qualities, is perhaps the most 



