UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA. AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. g| BULLETIN NO. 59. The experimental vineyard-plot at Cuper- tino, placed at the disposal of the University by Mr. John T. Doyle, two years ago, has this season borne its first available crop, and sam- ples of most of the grape varieties have been shipped to the University Viticultural Labora- tory for experimental vinification, to the num- ber of 36. Of some of these, samples have been gathered and fermented at two different times, to determine the peculiarities at the several de- grees of maturity, and the rate of increase of sugar. As is well known, the sugar percent- ages have generally been low this season, so that a good opportunity was afforded for ob- serving those varieties which will yield a proper saccharine strength even under adverse cir- cumetances. The detailed j-ecord and discussion of these results will be found in the report of viticult- ural work for 1886, now in press at the State printing office. But it will be of general in- terest to give in advance, at this time, when the choice of vines to be newly planted or grafted is being made by grape-growers, the record of the actual product of the several va- rieties, which has been kept by Mr. John J. Doyle, the manager of the Cupertino vineyard, for all the more important varieties, his leisure not allowing the ext?ngion of the observation over the whole of the collection. Character of the Soil. The University tract being practically level, and its soil of remarkable uniformity, it will show characteristically the differences between the grapes and wines of the several varieties, being in this respect parallel to the case of Mr. H. W. Crabb, a comparison of whose varied wines is given in the report of the work for 1885, page 70. Moreover, the soil being a very much generalized one for the west side of the Santa Clara valley, the points elicited will be applicable to a large region, from the neigh- borhood of Mountain View to that of New Almaden. The land on which this tract is located forms part of the gently undulating valley slope that lies between the Santa Clara valley proper and the Coast Range, and into the higher part of which Cupertino creek and its branches have cut narrow and deep, abrupt valleys. The ex- perimental plot assigned to the University lies immediately adjacent to the valley of the main Cupertino on the west and about 50 feet above it. The soil is a drab-tinted clay loam, largely intermixed with gravel and rock fragments, showing the whole to consist of the wash from the adjacent and other ranges lying toward New Almaden. In the bluff banks that fall off steeply into the creek bottom it can readily be seen that the same material, 'only with larger proportions of gravel, and yellow instead of a drab colored loam, extends down nearly to the creek level. It is perfectly penetrable by both water and roots, the latter being seen in it at levels from 12 to even 20 feet below the trees and vines to which they belong. The land is therefore perfectly underdrained and thus fulfills one essential condition of first-class wine-grape land. It is, of course, easily workable soon after rains. In order to obtain a full insight into the nat- ure of the soil and subsoil, a trench 6 feet deep was dug in what might be considered a repre- sentative spot of the tract, and the soil mate- rial was sampled for each 12 inches from the surface, so as to obtain fair specimens. Three of these— viz.: 0 to 12 inches, 12 to 24 inches, and 5 to 6 feet — were fully analyzed chemical- ly, as reported below; and as these analyses are sufficient to show both the general character and the rate and character of change down- ward, the samples representing the other inter- vals received only a physical examination. From about 30 to 36 inches below the surface there is usually a noticeable change of tint to- ' ward the yellow, and an obvious increase of the gravelly ingredients, which is apparent in the wide difference in the percentage of "fine^ earth," in the table below, between the imme- diate subsoil 12 to 24 inches depth, and the sample taken from the interval 36 to 48 inches, the latter containing less than one-fourth as much of soil matter proper than the former. But it is also seen that from 36 down to 72 inches the soil percentage remains almost the same, and judging from the aspect of the bank where the level land breaks off into the valley, the same might be true to the depth of 10 or 12 feet, if not more. of 37 rows, eight feet apart, of 40 vines each, re-8tat©(i. The vineyard plot of which the nae the latter being, at the time, three- year-old is granted the University, consisted originally ANALYSES OF SOILS AND SUBSOILS FROM UNIVER- SITY VINEYARD PLOT •CUPERTINO. No. 986. Soil, o to 12 in. Coarse Gravel.. Fine gravel and sand ) Fine earth 69.7 No. 987. Sub- soil, 12 to 24 in. 30-3 37-5 62.5 No. 989. Under- subsoil, 36 to 48 in. 35-2 54.8 lO.O No. 991. Under- subsoil, 60 to 72 in. 73.0 13-5 13-5 100.0 loo.o 100.0 1000 ANALYSES OF FINE EARTH. No. 986. Soil, o to 12 in. Insoluble matter 73- 63 Soluble silica 6.25 Potash 60 Soda , 03 Lime 1.44 Magnesia 1.36 Br. ox. of manganese. . . .02 Peroxide of iron 6.68 Alumina 5.43 Phosphoric acid 10 Sulphuric acid 01 Water a'd organic matter 4. 30 No. No. 987. 991. Sub- Under- soil. subsoil, 12 to 60 to 24 in. 72 in. 71.43 65-54 7.98 9-74 .63 .79 .14 .03 1-59 1.29 1-53 1.88 .01 .01 6.75 7.58 5.72 8.58 .08 .11 .01 .01 3 96 4-65 99.82 100.22 5-13 8.05 Total 69.84 Humus 96 Available inorganic 1.64 Hygroscopic moisture absorbed at 15 deg. C. 5. 14 It will be noted that notwithstanding the wide diflferences in the mechanical composition of the materials analyzed, they do not differ materially in the general composition of the fine earth; although there is a manifest in- crease downward of several of the ingredients. The potash supply is from good to high, the lowest material having one-fourth more than the surface soil. The lime percentage is good in all, but decreases slightly in the lowest ma- terial, while the maguesia increases steadily downward. Phosphoric acid is practically pro- bably the same throughout, and is in fair sup- ply; sulphuric acid is low throughout, and might advantageously be raised by the aid of plaster. Humus in the surface soil shows a fair percentage, perhaps as large as so pervious a soil will maintain in the local climate. The moisture- absorption reaches a very satisfactory figure, and increases downward, parallel with a greater heaviness of the soil, as Is shown by the increase of the item of alumina, the char- acteristic ingredient of clay. Altogether the soil is a very fine one for vine- yard purposes, both as to its mechanical and chemical composition; and considering the great depth to which roots can readily pene- trate it, it promises high durability. It is, moreover, so ** generalized " in its character as to render the results obtained on it of wide ap- plicability. Product of the Vines. In order that the conditions under which these results were obtained may be fully under- stood, the history of the vines in this plot, al- ready given in the report for 1886, should be , Zinfandels. These were, in 1884, grafted to the following varieties of wine grapes: Grossblaue, Herbemont, Crabb's Burgundy, Franken Riesling, "Portals' Ploussard," Pizzutello di Roma, Gamay Teinturier (Crabb) Chauche Oris, Barbara, Nebbiolo, 2 varieties, Malbeck, Verdot, Meunier, Carbernet Franc, Petite Sirah, Ploussard, Chauche Noir, Fresa (Monfra), Black Hamburg, Barbarossa, Teinturier Male, West's St. Peters (?), Sauvignon Vert Johannisberg Riesling, West's White Prolific, Kleinberger (True Burger) Chasselas Fountainebleau, Semillon, "Golden Chasselas," Burger, Seedless Sultana, Muskateller, Huasco Muscat, Lignanza, Alexandria Muscat, Pinot St. George. Most of the grafts took well, and those which had not were mostly regrafted to the same va- rieties in 1885. It was expected that in that year at least a small crop would be obtained from them, but the season being so universally unfavorable, the product was too small to serve for more than an identification of varieties in doubtful cases. This season, 1886, all the vines were pruned long, three canes, and trained on stakes, so as to insure an adequate crop for experimental winemaking. This point must of course be taken into consideration in judging of there- suits, since short-pruning varieties would thus naturally overbear and show a heavier crop than that which they could be permanently charged without greatly shortening their lives. The following table .shows, in the last column, the average product, in pounds, of the vines sampled, the number from which this average is deduced being given in the first column, while the middle one gives the total product of all: PRODUCT OF VINES IN UNIVERSITY EXPERIMENTAL PLOT AT CUPERTINO, SANTA CLARA CO. No ^^^^^ Variety. of' -^^^ Vines. Nebbiolo 20 Fresa 7 Black Hamburg 40 Franken Riesling 20 Grossblaue 20 Crabb's Black Burgundy 20 Chauche Giis 20 Gamay Teinturier 20 Malbeck 20 •'Portal's Ploussard" (Malbeck) 20 Meunier 20 Sauvignon Vert 20 Folle Blanche 20 Johannisberger Riesling 20 Herbemont 20 West's White Prolific 00 West's St. Peter's (?) 20 Cabernet Franc 20 Teinturier 20 Sirah Kleinberger \ 20 Ploussard (proper) ' 20 Chasselas de Fontainebleau ... 20 Semillon Barbarossa \\\ Gros Verdot ' ' " PalominoC'GoId'n Chasselas") 28 Zinfandel (?) Burger [[]\ Sultana \\\\ Chauche Noir * ' 20 7 32 7 7 of Grapes. 650 200 1050 686 685 404 853 596 253 247 510 1037 765 309 658 1953 345 425 440 430 1000 881 1412 750 991 555 1605 "45 1884 487 457 Each Vine. 32.5 28.5 26.2 34.3 34.2 20.2 42.6 29.8 12.6 12.3 25.5 51.8 38.2 15.4 32.9 59.1 17.2 21.2 22 30.7 SO 44 70.6 37. 5 76 79.2 57.3 63.6 58.8 72.4 6«; It will be seen that the highest product of this list is that of the Gros Verdot, which gave nearly 80 pounds to the vine. This figure may require to be discounted to some extent, from the fact that it is an average of only seven vines, which were picked out from the somewhat mixed row of which it is intended to form the sole ingredient. Making all allowances, how- ever, the Verdot must be classed as a very pro- lific vine. It will be interesting to see what ia the quality of the wine resulting from such heavy bearing. Immediately below it, but still in the seven- ties, we find the Barbaroasa, Chasselas de Fontainebleau, Palomino and Sultana. Of these the latter is usually supposed to be capable of bearing the heaviest crops, but it is evident that on this soil at least, the two others are even with it. Ranging close to the sixties we find the Zin< fandel, Chauche Noir, Burger, Palomino and West's White Prolific. Close to the fifties are the Sauvignon Vert and the Kleinberger, or True Burger. Close to the forties are the True Ploussard, Chauche Gris and the Semillon. The latter, as so prolific a bearer, will agreeably surprise some of those who have hesitated about plant- ing this noble grape. The Ploussard, likewise, is a hi^h-grade grape* which thus shows its claim to attention. Near the thirties, we have the Sirah, Nebbiolo, Fresa, Frank en Riesling, Grossblaue, Gamay Teinturier, Herbemont, Meunier, Black Ham- burg. Near the twenties, Crabb's Black Burgundy, West's St. Peter's, Teinturier Male. Between 20 and 12, the Johanniaberger Ries- ling, and Malbeck, including ** Portal's Plous- sard,'* which is undoubtedly identical with the Malbeck of the University plot, Krug's direct importation. The low figure for Malbeck will be a disap- pointment to many who would like to cultivate this desirable variety. To these might be said, what is true of the entire series here recorded, that what is true at Cupertino may not hold good elsewhere on different soils, and also that of the several sub-varieties of the Malbeck, some may be found more prolific even at Cuper- tino, hf reafter; also that vines of greater age may bear more abundantly. As to the Riesling, its low product will disappoint no one; it is in accord with expe- rience on soils to which it is adapted, although on valley soils it may be forced into heavier bearing with a corresponding reduction in quality. It will, of course, require the , experience of several years to obtain a reliable average of the bearing of these several varieties, even on this particular soil. Still, the season of 1886 was in general a good one, except in the case of particu- lar varieties badly affected by coiilure. From the record on the latter subject made by Mr. F. W. Morse, with respect to the grapes received from Cuoertino, it does not appear that either the Malbeck or the Riesling was materially affected by coulure this season. A detailed ac- count of the discussion of this point will be given in the forthcoming report. In view of the numerous additional grape varieties that have come into notice since 1884, and deserve exact comparison in re- ppect to their adaptation and merits in the Cupertino region, Mr. Doyle has added to the I'st above given, by grafting on five-year-old Ztnfandel stocks, the following : Isabella Regia, Howland's Black Ham- burg, Blick Prince, Grape of Almeria, Semillon, Pinot Vert d'Orci, Canon Hall Muscat, Ugni Blanc, Franc Pinot, Noirien, Pinot de Pernand, Pinot Blanc Chardonay, Mondeuse, Still further additions to the collection are contemplated for the coming season, so that, including the varieties constituting Mr. Doyles' large vineyard, nearly 100 will be repre- sented in 1887. E. W. HiLOABD. Berkeley, Nov, 26, 1886. Cinsaut, Petit Verdot, Bastardo, Mourastel, Pedro Jimenes, Verdelho, Palomino, Tinta Amarella, Merlot, Gros Mancin, Aramon, Serine, Tinta Cao, Tinta Madeira.