TWENTY-XINTH FRUIT-GROWERS' CONVENTION. 



89 



at which our erstwhile great men so cavalierly scoffed, will support a 

 population such as only California can. Where now there are but tens 

 of thousands, millions will enjoy the blessings so freely showered on us 

 by an all-obliging Nature. To you, who have so nobly done your part 

 toward California's greatness, we owe our thanks and grateful recollec- 

 tions. And to you, who represent so large a part of those we hail as 

 " friends and Californians," we freely and gladly offer them. (Applause.) 



MR. STEPHENS. Mr. Chairman, I move that a vote of thanks of 

 the fruit-growers of California be given to our honorable Chief Execu- 

 tive for the assurances which he has just given us that, so far as in his 

 power lies, everything will be done that can be done to promote the 

 interests of horticulture in the State of California. I believe that it is 

 our duty, and it should be our pleasure, to do this, because it is the first 

 time in my memory or my knowledge that the Chief Executive has 

 come to the rescue of the fruit-growers of the State. 



Carried unanimously by a standing vote. 



PRESIDENT COOPER. I take pleasure in introducing to you Dr. 

 Chester Rowell. 



THE PRODUCTION OF WINE AND RAISIN GRAPES. 



Address by DR. CHESTER ROWELL. of Fresno. 



The production of grapes is almost coextensive with the civilized 

 world. Grapes are almost as universally produced as is either wheat 

 or potatoes. Some kind of grapes is grown from the tropics to the 

 arctic circle. Wine is made from grapes produced almost anywhere in 

 the world, but the production of raisin grapes is confined to very limited 

 localities. There are but few vineyards in Italy where the raisin grape 

 is produced. Wine grapes may be produced, as I have said, as far 

 north even as Lake Superior. The extreme northern parts of France 

 will produce them, but will not produce raisin grapes; while the whole 

 of the interior of Spain will produce wine grapes, there are com- 

 paratively few spots even in that country which will produce the 

 raisin grape, as it requires different climatic conditions and different 

 soils, and is produced in a different way to wine grapes. Raisin grapes 

 differ from wine grapes in their cultivation, in their management, and 

 in their life. Our consul at Genoa informed me, in conversation, that 

 the most valuable lands in Italy are those which will produce the raisin 

 grape, but the life of the vine is short, and its history is the same since 

 we have any knowledge of it. Its productive life is about twenty-five 

 years, as I have been told by those best informed on the subject in 

 Spain; its profitable, productive life, cut back as the vine is annually 

 nearly to the ground and its life thereby shortened, is about twenty- 



