230 GRAPE CULTURE AND 



In 1 88 1-2 were planted about seventy acres, mostly Flam- 

 ing Tokay and Zinfandel this brought the entire plant up 

 to 300 acres, all of which except the Zinfandel was of ship- 

 ping varieties of grapes, and consequently this part of the 

 company's vineyard has always been known as the " Shipping 

 Vineyard," and its products have always commanded a ready 

 sale for shipment to the Eastern markets. It lies directly on 

 the railroad, at no part distant more than half a mile there- 

 from, with a very extensive packing house, so that two en- 

 tire cars can be loaded at the same time, and a force of 200 

 hands can be accommodated at once, picking, selecting, and 

 packing the grapes, which are placed without any jolting of 

 wagon transportation, directly on the cars, and are the same 

 evening over the Sierras on their way to Eastern markets, at 

 least one day ahead of the coast counties. 



The grapes produced in this vineyard are large, firm ber- 

 ries, full clusters, and the Tokays are of extraordinary size of 

 bunch, brilliancy of color, and durability to stand transporta- 

 tion. For the last three years shippers have freely paid 

 fifty-five to sixty-five dollars per ton for them on board cars, 

 they furnishing packages. 



That shippers are justified in giving preference prices for 

 this pack of grapes seems to be established by the Eastern mar- 

 ket sales quotations, where the Natoma brand uniformly brings 

 a higher price than other packs (E G Chicago, Sept. 5th, '87 

 quotes Natoma Tokays sold average $2.85 per crates, while 

 other brands were quoted $2 $2.25 per crate.) All this 

 shipping vineyard is under a complete system of irrigation 

 from the company's own canal, which carries a large supply 

 of water throughout its entire track and the adjacent coun- 

 try, from Salmon Falls on the South Fork of the American 

 River, about twenty miles distant from the vineyard. 



Very great judgment and moderation have to be practiced 

 in applying this irrigation, but it is the company's experience, 



