62 THE VINE AND CIVILISATION. 
mencing on the Rio Grande from Chihuahua to El Paso, and 
west to the Gulf of’California, is the region best suited to the 
wine grape. The Mexicans produce good wine on the light 
soils of the hill sides, in those mountainous and hilly countries. 
Wine is produced in abundance, except those seasons when 
late frosts occur, which even at Chihuahua occasionally come 
as late as the month of May. In favourable years, where pains 
are taken in the vintage, a good article of wine is made; but 
as a market is wanting, there is small inducement to extend 
the cultivation. French wines have the preference even in 
the City of Mexico, and south of the vine region, the Maguey 
plant (Agave Americana) takes the place of the vine, and fur- 
nishes the natives with their favourite Pulke or beer, from 
which they also distil an ardent spirit. 
CALIFORNIA 
Is destined to become the wine-growing country of the United 
States. The vitis vinifera was there introduced in the last 
century by the Spanish missionaries, and found to suit the soil 
and climate admirably. The grapes are of several varieties, 
and are large, fine and luscious in flavour; but as may be seen 
from this brief history-of the vine and its productions, that the 
finest fruit does not always produce the best wine, and that 
the favourite spots where fine wines are made are few and far 
between. Have the favoured localities been discovered in 
California? Has the wine sent out been remarkable for quality, 
or agreeable in flavour to the wine drinkers? The general ver- 
dict in regard to California wine is not over favourable ; wine 
consumers in the eastern and western cities seldom call for it, 
and even in San Francisco the light wines of France still take 
the lead. What is the reason that the California wine product 
