PART FOUR THE GRAPE 

 CHAPTER XXV 



THE GRAPE INDUSTRY IN CALIFORNIA 



The grape grows in all parts of California, from near sea level 

 on the coast to an elevation of 5000 feet or more on the mountains. 

 It is contented, too, with nearly all fertile soils, from the deep 

 valley loams, where the great fat, firm-fleshed grapes are grown 

 for raisin and table grape shipments, to the shallow soils of the 

 high foothill and mountain slopes, where the grapes are less in 

 quantity, but of superior aromatic qualities. This wide adaptation 

 gives an immense area' suited for grape culture, but the chief 

 reason for the achievement and the promise of the grape in Cali- 

 fornia is in the fact that the European species, Vitis vinifera, 

 thrives, and thus the Californian grower has command of all that 

 Europeans have accomplished in centuries by developing special 

 varieties of the species for special purposes. The grapes of the 

 States east of the Rocky mountains are only grown in California 

 in a small way because the European varieties are the only ones 

 from which raisins can be made ; they also furnish the world's 

 wine and brandy, and they give size, beauty and shipping quality 

 beyond all comparison with American varieties. Wherever 

 wealthy Eastern connoisseurs choose grapes for their glass houses, 

 they select European varieties ; the Californian grows his "hot 

 house" grapes in the open air. He also grows most of them with- 

 out the cost of trellising, because the European varieties generally 

 will bear well in short-pruned bush form. California has a large 

 acreage of grape vines, and planting has been very active during 

 the last few years, because good prices have prevailed, especially 

 through the increased opportunity for fresh grape shipments. At 

 the same time, new economic and commercial problems are con- 

 tinually arising and the industry has to readjust itself to new con- 

 ditions. Discussion of such problems does not come within the 

 scope of a cultural treatise like this. It is the duty of the grower 

 to keep himself up to date on such subjects by faithful reading of 

 California periodicals and by participation in public assemblies in 

 the grape interest. Concerning cultural difficulties, the protection 

 of vine from its enemies and problems in vinification, special 



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