38 



thirtytFOurth fruit-growers' convention. 



grapes. I know of my own knowledge that in Fresno County alone 

 there were at least five million ^Muscat vines sold by nurserymen there, 

 mostly planted in Fresno County and some of the adjoining counties — 

 not many of the adjoining counties because of their restrictive ordi- 

 nances, from which I am a sufferer, I am sorry to say; but these 

 i»rdinances have not prevented the very extensive planting of ]\Iuscat 

 grapes and other varieties in Fresno County and in other counties of 

 the State. 



It must be borne in mind that although planting is very heavy all 

 these vines don't grow. There is always a large percentage of vines 

 that fail to start ; and this, with another fact, that many of the older 

 sqneyards are gradually going to decay, either from old age or the 

 ravages of the phylloxera, evens up the production when these younger 

 vines come in bearing. I am of the opinion that it is a mistake for 

 one man to do just exactly what his neighbor is doing. Nevertheless, 

 that seems to be the tendency of the people in a great mam^ cases. If 

 Muscat grapes happen to bring a very big price in one year, the ten- 

 dency of all those who intend to engage in the grooving of grapes 

 inclines to the planting of that one variety of grape, regardless of 

 whether their soil is adapted to it or not. This is a mistake that a great 

 man}" planters make. Because a certain variety of grapes has brought 

 a large figure, the tendency is to plant that in preference to anything 

 else. It would be far better if those who intend to plant grapes would 

 plant the varieties best adapted to their soil conditions. 



There are a great many other varieties of grapes which are profitable 

 and have been profitable in this State outside of the ]\Iuscat; and the 

 table grape business, in my opinion, has a great future. The varieties 

 which people have planted, as a rule, are the ^Malaga, Flame Tokay, 

 Emperor, and Black Hamburg. I am of the opinion that the Flame 

 Tokay is not adapted to San Joaquin Valley conditions ; and even in 

 this locality, where the climatic and soil conditions are very much like 

 they are in the San Joaquin Valley. I don 't think it would be advisable 

 to plant the Flame Tokay — not because it does not bear well, but 

 largely because it does not color well. There has been a very extensive 

 planting of the ]\Ialaga and Thompson Seedless in the Imperial Valle^^, 

 and probably a limited planting in this section. There is no doubt that 

 the latter variety has a great future as a shipping grape up to a certain 

 time. There was a car of seedless grapes shipped out of Fresno County 

 last year that sold for a higher price than any carload of grapes ever 

 sold in the United States before. This carload of grapes brought $3,600, 

 if I remember right, in New York, which is the heaviest return ever 

 received for grapes. It is a very promising kind for shipping purposes, 

 but of course must be shipped early in order to be profitable. 



This grape is followed by the ]\Ialaga. which is a very large white 

 grape. Most of you know of its firmness, thickness of skin, and other 

 qualities, it has always carried well; and unless the market is glutted 

 by too many carloads in am^ one city, it has brought a good price. 

 The latest grape that we have in Fresno that has been planted to any 

 extent is the Emperor. This is very similar to the Tokay, but ripens 

 fully a month later. Most of the shipping commences toward the first 

 'of October, and continues up to the first of November, and even later 

 than that. There is also another grape which has been extensively 



