WINES OF CALIFORNIA. 265 



two to three feet in height, — some of the oldest ten to fifteen 

 years planted, — are fully six inches in diameter. No summer 

 pruning is practised further than the removal of superfluous 

 shoots, early in the season. The bearing canes are allowed to 

 run their full length, spreading over the ground, which is kept 

 clear and well cultivated. They are planted eight feet apart. 

 The cost of cultivating is $25 per acre, but some put it higher 

 than this. The average product is about twelve pounds per 

 vine through the State. Tlie Mission grape is most productive, 

 and frequently yields thirty or forty pounds to a vine ; the Ilcis- 

 ling not over four or five pounds. Some of the vineyards are 

 800 to 500 acres in extent. One of the most elegant vineyards 

 that we visited had a grape arbor three-quarters of a mile in 

 length, thirty feet in width and twelve feet high, covered with 

 grapes trained in the most elaborate and artistic manner. Part 

 of this grand arbor is used as a drive, in which carriages pass 

 each other in freedom. California seems to be the home of the 

 vine. 



"We do not intend to discuss here the expediency of crushing 

 the ripe clusters for " the sweet poison of misused wine," but it 

 is an established fact that no region whatever has superior 

 advantages for producing wine. With a temperature higher 

 and drier than that of Spain, or the most favored portions of 

 Europe, with suitable lands almost fabulous in extent, where 

 grapes arc produced at a lower cost than anywhere else on the 

 globe, where in some sections of the State wines can be stored 

 in open sheds, instead of costly cellars, without injury, it may 

 safely be stated that California is destined ultimately to become 

 one of the greatest grape growing and wine producing territories 

 of the earth. 



I suppose it may be expected that I should express an opinion 

 in regard to the culture of fruits in California. In the sev- 

 eral sections we visited, and many others, fruit in general can 

 be produced at a much less cost than with us at the East. 1st, 

 In most cases the land can be had of good quality at low prices. 

 Good fruit and grain land in the coast valleys, except close to a 

 town or village, can be bought for $20 to $100 per acre. In 

 the second range of valleys, Sacramento, San Joaquin, and 

 others at a distance from market, at a much less price. 2d, 

 The trees grow nearly twice as rapidly as with us, and come 

 Si 



