16 



remedies and preventatives, there is but one 

 feasible, practical method left to secure 

 ourselves against the ravages of the phyllox- 

 era, and that is by the planting of seedlings 

 from the wild grape. It is therefore, 

 of the utmost interest that as many experi- 

 ments be made in this direction as possible 

 throughout the State, and more especially in 

 Sonoma valley, where the phylloxera is now 

 carrying on its ravages, quietly and slowly, 

 but surely. And I consider that you have 

 accomplished a great good, and one that will 

 last, in the successful efforts you have made 

 to gather seeds of our wild vine for public 

 distribution. As far as I am concerned I 

 confess to having become an entire convert 

 to the value of seedlings over that of cut- 

 tings in the planting of new vineyards, and 

 especially in phylloxera infected districts. 

 And everything tends to demonstrate that 

 our wild vine is not injured by the phylloxera. 

 In the valley of Sonoma, as we together had 

 occasion to observe in numerous instances 

 last Fall, the wild vine grows in the utmost 

 luxuriance right alongside of the in- 

 fected cultivated varieties, not only along 

 the creeks, but also along the fences, 

 almost entwining its branches with those 

 of its cultivated and dying neighbors. 

 Though this, as you mentioned in your 

 article on the propagation of the vine, 

 may not be positive proof against the 

 ravages of the phylloxera, still it has a 

 strong leaning that way. But outside of the 

 chances of discovering a vine that may resist 

 this terrible scourge, through propagation 

 from the seeds of the wild vine, there is a 

 very great likelihood of discovering new and 

 valuable qualities for wine-making. And 

 from the three samples of red wine you have 

 submitted to me, made from the grapes of 

 the wild vine, by Mr. C. Mattier, I am thor- 

 oughly convinced that this will be accom- 

 plished as soon as the seeds you have gratu- 

 itously distributed will bring forth their 

 product. Of the three samples you sub- 

 mitted to me, two of them, the red and the 

 dark brown red, have an excellent body, a 

 good clear astringence, a very mild sub- 

 acid and a strongly marked port taste. I think 

 if after cultivation they retain these quali- 

 ties, they will become valuable for the pro- 

 duction of native port and sherry wines. 

 But the gem of the three was the last the 

 beautiful rich violet, purple colored sample. 

 This was one of the very prettiest clarets I 

 have ever tasted, of its age, in any country. It 

 had a remarkable resemblance to the new, 

 pure red wines of the Medoc at a similar 

 age as I remember them. Like them it had 

 a fine free and subacid flavor, the first giving 

 a freshness to their taste, and the latter a 



lasting sensation the body just light enough 

 a fine strong but agreeable astringency 

 which always assures great keeping and good 

 traveling qualities. The color was identical, 

 only several tones deeper. And like the 

 good medoc wines when new, the flavor was 

 almost neutral. There appeared after care- 

 ful tasting but one difference, and that was 

 the faintest suspicion of a porty taste, which I 

 believe would not exist after the vine is culti- 

 vated, and which I attribute entirely to the 

 great proportion which the seeds occupied in 

 the fermenting mass. I think this vine will 

 in the future be placed side by side with the 

 noble Zinfandel as a claret grape, and think 

 you have done California an inestimable ser- 

 vice in its discovery. 



As to grafting upon the wild vine or its 

 seedlings, I need not say anything further on 

 that head. I advocated that plan in an arti- 

 cle published in the Overland Monthly in 

 1871-1872, with the purpose of securing a 

 greater production and still retaining the 

 quality desired. 



In conclusion let me say that I will en- 

 deavor in every manner in my power tb assist 

 you in having experiments made in this 

 direction. 



Yours very truly, 



ABPAD HAKASZTHY, 

 President State Vinicultural Society. 



The Wild Vine. 



We hardly need call attention to the mag- 

 nificent lithograph which we present with 

 this week's MERCHANT to our subscribers. 

 The exhaustive article by Charles A. Wet- 

 more, Esq., on the propagation of the vine, 

 which accompanies it, is the most valuable 

 contribution this gentleman has yet made to 

 the literature of viticulture in the United 

 States, and will be immensely appreciated in 

 France, where hundreds of costly volumes 

 have been published on the vine. It is the 

 first extended notice or illustration of the 

 wild vine of California that has been pub- 

 lished in any country. The chapter on the 

 Zinfandel, now the most popular grape in 

 California, is entirely new. It appears that 

 our Zinfandel is of comparatively recent wild 

 origin. The tradition is that it wa,s first ob- 

 tained from the seed of a wild grape found in 

 the woods of Central Europe. Mr. Wetmore 

 has gathered at great expense a quantity of 

 seed of the wild vine of California and placed 

 some of it in our hands, in half and one 

 pound packages, for distribution. On appli- 

 cation to this office a package will be sent 

 free by express to any address, express 

 charges collectable on delivery. Any farmer 

 in any part of the State who will send for a 



