WINK-MAKING IN CALIFORNIA. 203 



CHAPTER XVII. 



FROSTS AND HAIL, THEIR EFFECTS, PREVENTATIVES AND 

 REMEDIES. 



While many sections of the State are free from frosts, 

 others, and among them those which produce our choicest 

 wines, are very much subject to them, and they have proved 

 so capricious of late that it cannot be said that any location 

 in those sections is entirely safe. Locations which had not 

 suffered from them for ten years were frosted last spring, while 

 others which were frosted badly in former years, escaped un- 

 hurt this season. I speak here of late spring frosts and early 

 frosts in fall. Our winters are not severe enough to hurt the 

 vines, unless in abnormal seasons, where a moist fall which 

 started the vines into an unnatural growth and they did not 

 mature their wood fully, was followed by a sudden snap of 

 cold weather. This is so seldom the case, however, that it 

 should hardly be taken into consideration, and only in low 

 moist locations not fit for grape culture; which should be 

 avoided in planting anyway. 



But while we cannot say that any locality in some sections 

 of the State is entirely free from frost, yet there is a great dif- 

 ference. Low, narrow valleys and springy ground are pecu- 

 liarly subject to it, and should therefore be avoided in choos- 

 ing a location. Very often a few feet of elevation will make 

 a great difference, and the vines in the valley may be all 

 black with frost, while five feet above it, rising towards the 

 hills, not a leaf may be touched. Therefore avoid low, moist 

 locations; these will do, if you have them on your place, for 

 grain and hay, vegetables, etc.; and plant your vines on the 



