342 GRAPE CULTURE AND 



cellars and cooperage again* and must dispose of their wines 

 of the last vintage in some way, before the coming one is 

 upon them. The dealers even, often have not capacity enough 

 to hold large quantities, and generally buy only a few months 

 in advance of their shipments. Thus California wines, in 

 the majority of cases, come to the consumer in an imma- 

 ture state, without having developed all their best qualities. 



The remedy for this is apparently simple and near at hand. 

 We have large grain warehouses in all parts of the State, 

 where the producer can store his grain, and obtain an ad- 

 vance upon it. Yet good, sound wine, stored in the same 

 manner, would offer a much safer investment to the capital- 

 ist than wheat or other grain, which is subject to the depre- 

 dations of rats and mice, weevils and other insects; while 

 good, pure wine is not only safe from all these, but with 

 proper care and handling, improves and gains in value in- 

 stead of deteriorating, as grain does. 



It was with evident satisfaction that I visited the first of 

 these establishments on the Pacific Coast, the immense cellars 

 of the " California Winery and Security Company, " at the 

 corner of Brannan and Eighth streets, and saw that this long 

 discussed project bids fair to become a living reality. I was 

 conducted over the immense buildings formerly owned by the 

 California Sugar Refinery Company, by the obliging Secretary, 

 Mr. D. M. Cashin, and all the details fully explained. The 

 buildings have a capacity of from five to six million gallons in 

 puncheons, and about 700,000 gallons have been stored so 

 far ; of which 600,000 gallons are dry wines, 100,000 gallons 

 Angelica and Port. Mr. Cashin tells me that about three 

 millions have been engaged so far, and although this, like all 

 new enterprises met with many difficulties ; and the cleaning 

 of the building of all the old machinery, etc., occasioned a 

 great deal of delay, they are now fairly under way. The 

 building keeps a very even temperature, is four stories high, 



