WINE-MAKING IN CALIFORNIA. 22-7 



its foreman and separate working force, with buildings in the 

 center, affording convenient quarters for all the men necessary, 

 as well as for the work animals, barns, tools and tool sheds, 

 struck me as the only possible way to work large vineyards 

 successfully; .and I could not help but admire the organisatory 

 talent of Mr. Livermore, which was evident in every direction. 

 Everything seemed to go like clockwork; the young vineyards 

 were in a high state of cultivation, showing extraordinary 

 growth and even some fruit; and the many new varities tested 

 then, .would have been of incalculable benefit to our young 

 industry, if the plans of Mr. Livermore had been adhered to. 

 I think it a public calamity that he was forced to abandon a 

 task he had so well begun; although the vineyards may have 

 fully come up to the expectations of the present managers in 

 a pecuniary point of view, the benefits which would have 

 accrued to the grape growing public at large, were in a great 

 measure lost sight of. The experiments with new varieties, 

 imported by Mr. Livermore, and which such a company 

 -could have carried out better than individuals, were virtually 

 abandoned; and although the varieties were in a measure dis- 

 tributed over the State, and thus not altogether lost, the test- 

 ing at Folsom or by the Company was abandoned. It is be- 

 cause I think this enterprise so important in its results to the 

 wine growing interests of the State, that I have given it so 

 much space in these columns. The soil at Natoma upon 

 which most of the vineyards are located, is a red, volcanic soil, 

 intermixed with stones and pebbles, naturally well drained, 

 and would seem to indicate high quality of wines. But the 

 climate is very warm, somewhat malarious, and it may be 

 more adapted to the production of heavy sweet wines and 

 -brandy, than to the finer light dry wines. 



They are situated in Sacramento County, California, about 

 sixteen miles northeast of the city of Sacramento, the capital of 

 the State. The Sacramento Valley Railroad runs for three miles 



