WINE-MAKING IN CALIFORNIA. 217 



serves. They seem to spare no pains to meet all the require- 

 ments of complete cold storage. No doubt fresh grapes, well 

 kept, would bring a good price in February and March. 



For home market, they are generally packed in 2oR) boxes ; 

 and all methods of packing require, as a matter of course 

 great nicety and care in handling the fruit. So far, it has 

 been done mostly by Chinese help, but I do not see why fe- 

 male help could not be used as well, as has already been done 

 so largely in canneries, and with such entire success. Surely 

 this is work to which their nimble fingers, and taste for the 

 beautiful should eminently fit them. A great many grapes 

 are also canned every season, in the common quart cans. For 

 this purpose, the Muscat of Alexandria is used in preference, 

 on account of its color and fine muscat flavor, the largest and 

 most perfect berries only being used for the purpose ; while 

 the smaller berries can be utilized Tor grape jelly. 



But one very important method of utilizing the grapes seems 

 to have been strangely overlooked and neglected so far ; the 

 grape cure, so largely followed and universally recommended 

 by the leading physicians of Europe. Yet it would seem to 

 be more needed on this dyspeptic continent than anywhere 

 else. Thousands upon thousands flock annually to the 

 vineyards of the Rhine, the Moselle and the Danube ; they 

 commence with eating half a pound of grapes per day, which, 

 before a month is over, is generally increased to four and five 

 pounds daily, and is considered the universal remedy for 

 impaired digestion and diseases of the bowels and kidneys. Is 

 it not strange, that here, where so many suffer from these dis- 

 eases, and the remedy is at their door, so to say, it is used so 

 little, and seldom recommended by our physicians? Let me 

 suggest to the landlords of our numerous summer resorts the 

 propriety, nay the necessity, of having at least a few acres of 

 vineyard connected with their establishments, where there 

 guests can have fresh grapes at any time during the autumn 



