REPORT. 



To the Honorahle the Senate and Assembly of the State of California: 



In accordance with a joint resolution of the Assembly, adopted 

 March 2d, 1861, and concurred in by the Senate, April 1st, 1861, 

 authorizing and requesting his Excellency the Governor to ap- 

 point a commission to report to the next Legislature upon the 

 ways and means best adapted to promote the improvement and 

 culture of the grape-vine in California, I have the honor respect- 

 fully to report as follows : 



Having been appointed by his Excellency the Governor, J, G. 

 Downey, upon said commission, I first considered the best mode 

 of fulfilling the duties imposed by the above resolution. 



It became evident to me that the objects of the Legislature 

 would be best secured by an examination of the different varieties 

 of grapes, and the various modes of making wine, in the wine- 

 growing countries of Europe, and I communicated this view to 

 the Governor, and offered my services to proceed to Europe, if he 

 should think it desirable. He approved my suggestion, and sanc- 

 tioned the enterprise, and I at once proceeded on my journey. On 

 my way I stopped at Washington, and was supplied by the Hon. 

 W. H. Seward, Secretary of State for the United States, with a cir- 

 cular letter, directing the diplomatic agents of the United States 

 in Europe to afford me such assistance as lay in their power in 

 this important mission. 



On my arrival in France, I opened a correspondence with the 

 different imperial agricultural and horticultural societies, request- 

 ing them to furnish such information and letters of introduction 

 as would facilitate my object. They responded with cheerfulness : 

 and I was received with distinction, and afforded every opportu- 

 nity for obtaining the information I required ; in fact, I met with 

 general courtesy wherever I went. 



I visited various parts of France, the Netherlands, Holland, 

 Rhenish Prussia, Bavaria, Nassau, Baden, Switzerland, Spain, It- 

 aly, and England. Various examinations confirmed my previous 

 conviction that California is superior in all the conditions of soil, 

 climate, and other natural advantages, to the most favored wine- 

 producing districts of Europe, and that it actually has yielded con- 



