22 



The Grape Culturist. 



of the genuine article is less than fif- 

 teen cents per gallon. The principal 

 growers are Kohler k Frohlig, Sain- 

 sevain Brothers, B. I). Wilson & Co., 

 M. Keller, and the Annaheim Associa- 

 tion, the latter a combination of Ger- 

 man Avine-groAvers, who have a village 

 of fifty A'inej^ards, and liaTe all the ad- 

 vantages for successful culture which 

 it is possible to derive from the expe- 

 rience of Europe. ThcA^ have full con- 

 fidence in the result of their efforts 

 The climate of California excels in 

 this respect : that from the time the 

 grape begins to ripen until long after 

 the vintage is gathered, no raiu falls 

 to injure the crop. The best grape — 

 that which is most in favor — is the old 

 ilission or California grape, dark red 

 and of medium size, originally from 

 Malaga; also, the Muscatel and the 

 Black Hamburg. Foreign and Ameri- 

 can varieties have been intermingled 

 until hybrids exist in great variety. 



One discouragement has been a 

 glutted market, but groAvers relieve 

 themselves by making brand}', which 



finds read}' sale, and ncAv openings are 

 promised in Europe, Avhere American 

 Avines are coming into favor. German}' 

 is sending a number of orders. 



Some of the old mining counties are 

 becoming almost Avholly devoted to 

 grapes, as at Colima, or Sutter's Mills 

 (Avhere .gold Avas first discovered) 

 Avhich is noAv a perfect vineyard. In 

 fact, all the foot-hills of the Sierra Ne- 

 vad', including millions of acres of 

 government lands, Avill make excellent 

 vineyards. In Europe such lands 

 Avould be valued at S300 or $400 per 

 acre, Avhile their present valuation is 

 only about $1 or $1.25. All experience 

 here proA-es that the hills are superior 

 to the A^alleys. As to the quantity of 

 lands suited to A'ineyards scarcely any 

 limit can be assigned. Fifty millions 

 of acres is a reasonable calculation. 

 The best counties are Los Angelos, 

 Sonoma, Placer, El Dorado, uSTapa and 

 Santa Clara. A visit to the principal 

 Avine cellars of the State is Avorth mak- 

 ing, though caution should be obserA'- 

 cd in ;aking samples. 



THE EULANDER AND LOUISIANA. 



What excellent Avines so ever Ave 

 may gain from some of our native 

 grapes, Ave haA'e as yet been 

 unable to produce anything fully satis- 

 factory to him, who Avas used to the 

 refined bouquet of the Eudeshei- 

 mer, Hochheimer, Johannisberger etc. 

 and thus, despite of all our efforts, 

 the Avinc importation business is con- 

 stantly on the increase, and the mar- 

 ket for our home-made Avines cramped. 



Nearest to tl^e Ehine-gau Avines 

 oome those made of the DelcAvare and 

 Herbemont, both, therefore, thought 

 by many to be of European origin^ 

 the former to be a seedling of the 

 German Traminer, the latter of some 

 Suisse vine. However, in the Bu- 

 lander and Loxiisiana Ave have the 

 means of fully attaining the delicious- 

 ness of the famous Ehine-gau Avines. 

 Both arc undoubtedly Europeans, 



