362 GRAPE CULTURE AND 



ers' cellars. San Francisco merchants and shippers control 

 the bulk of old stocks, and prices rule steady. The wines of 

 1885, rich and full in body and color, are developing slowly, 

 and will be late, therefore, in entering the general market for 

 consumption. 



"The year's business has been very satisfactory, showing an 

 increase of about two million gallons over last year's export 

 trade, and indicating even better progress in our local Cali- 

 fornia trade and coast shipments. 



"Great fear and apprehension have heretofore been enter- 

 tained of over-production. The steady increase of our vine- 

 yards, productiveness of soil and climate threatened to over- 

 balance the healthy equilibrium of supply and demand. But, 

 in spite of prohibition and fanatical temperance agitation in 

 some of our States and the reluctancy of Congress to protect 

 pure wine against imitations and adulterations, we are making 

 progress in every direction we carry no surplus of accumu- 

 lated stocks our vineyardists are as active and stirring as ever, 

 and we all are confident of continued success. Lower prices, 

 cheaper rates of freight, a very noticeable change for the bet- 

 ter in the average quality of our wines, and above all, their 

 indisputable purity ; all these facts will act as powerful agents 

 towards a rapid extension of our market and the general 

 distribution and introduction of California wines." 



This, together with the statistics given before, will serve to 

 show the importance of wine as an article of commerce. But 

 in addition, it is widening its sphere of consumption every 

 year, new markets are constantly opened, and the old ones 

 increase, just as a stone, dropped into the water, increases the 

 circle of its commotion, so does good wine extend its market 

 everywhere, where once introduced. 



Our shipment lists now show as markets for our wine, all 

 Eastern cities, Central America, Mexico, Panama, South 

 America, Germany, Japan, Honolulu, Tahiti, Belgium and 



