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San Jose 1904 BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD TARGET University of California at Berkeley Library USAIN State and Local Literature Preservation Project Master negative storage number: 99-155.2 (national version of master negative storage number: CU SN99155.2) FORMAT: BK LEVEL: d ISBN: GLADIS#: 50418578J LANG: eng CNTRY: LCCN: 04036200 MOD: 980221/NRL ME: Hoops, John Herman Henry, 1859- Tl: How to make grape culture profitable in California, with explanation of California vine or Anaheim disease, by H. Hoops IM: San Jose : Press of the Pacific tree and vine, 1904 CO: 40 p CALL: SB389.H7 MAIN Microfilmed by University of California Library Photographic Service, Berkeley, CA FILMED AND PROCESSED BY LIBRARY PHOTOGRAPHIC SERVICE, UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY, 94720 DATE 10/99 REDUCTION RATIO: 9 & © oF St SW 9: Sa ® VV Oo < A® NZ NV, <0 &) n a) ow hh 7, , 25 l _— I —_— 22 I —_— —] —_— 20 fi I 18 === — Tr ——— — —— ——— — ll = se 32 3 = 100711 719 1371/45) | w I Il m Oo xc = > S O Oo oc Qo = Q I < oc Oo ———— ams, ——— 1 IL ha pa = .4 I 10 ——— A ———— —— ET —— in I Il Il E———— [—— ——— .25 — — NBS 1010a ANSI/ISO #2 EQUIVALENT PM-1 31,"x4" PHOTO OAR © a0 A & > 0H A S55 G \S Pa & nN 2 RQ Se Main Lib. LIBRARY OF THE ’ / : UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA. HOW TO MAKE GRAPE CULTURE PROFITABLE IN CALIF WITH EXPLANATION OF CALIFORNIA VINE OR ANAHEIM DISEASE By H. HOOPS, Wrights, California HOW TO MAKE RAPE CULTU PROFITABLE CALIFORNIA WITH EXPLANATION OF CALIFORNIA VINE OR ANAHEIM DISEASE Juld ¢ CA H. HOOPS WRIGHTS, CAL. Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1904, by H. Hoops, in the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington In regard to my ex question, I sh Roe =; CHAPTER I. California Vine or Anaheim Disease—Its Cause and Nature. This disease has been under my special observation for the last five years. It may have been in this vicinity longer than that, but if it was, I did not notice it. The varieties mostly affected are the Muscat of Alexandria, Black Ferrara and Cornichon, and these only in such places where the soil is rich the vines grew vigorously and bore heavy crops. Where, for certain reasons, they did not grow vigorous foliage or bear abundantly, whether the soil was poor or rich, they have remained healthy so far. This seemingly would prove the contention of some, that the heavy bearing of a vine is the cause of the trouble. But Viniferas produce heavily also in countries where the disease is unknown, besides vines have died with it that did not bear at all. After observing the disease closely for the last four or five years, I believe, I do not make a mistake when I claim, that its prime cause is the great change in the moisture contents of our soils from wet in the spring to dry during the latter part of the summer; as it occurs in California on irrigated lands as well as un- irrigated. If the soil was always as wet as in the spring or always as dry as during the latter part of the summer, no matter how small the growth of the vines, there would not be this disease. In order to prove this more clearly, I irrigated some Muscat and Black Ferrara vines heavily during the fore part of June two years ago, as well as last year, by soaking up the ground thoroughly around them. The vines were about 15 years old and stnod on ground which had never been cultivated except the first year or two during their existence. The soil they grew on is a rich, deep, clayey loam. As I left the trench unworked the water soon evaporated and the ground was as dry as ever. Some of the vines had an attack the first summer and the others this summer, while all the rest of the vines on the same uncultivated ground, which were not irrigated, are as healthy and thrifty as ever, in fact went through this last most trying of all dry seasons in this locality better than any of my vines on cultivated ground. This was because. the ground was dry al- ready when they started growth in the spring and the change fron wet to dry, therefore not so great. I have made other observations and conducted other experiments to prove this cause as asserted, but it would lead off too far to explain them here. I suppose the roots of most vines are similar to cuttings; if cut- tings have been kept too wet and then are exposed to the air, they will dry out in a short time and be worthless : but if they have beer kept in dry sand, they will endure exposure for a long time. Stand- ing in a wet soil during the forepart of the vines’ seasonal growth leaves the roots with less power to resist dryness later on. I guarantee that vines cultivated and irrigated both, as laid down by myself in the chapter on preventive methods, will never be attacked. On the other hand IT guarantee to produce the disease in a vineyard of a uniform clayey or loamy soil, where Viniferas on yA Ho 4 W TO MAKE GRAPE CULTURE PROFITABLE IN CALIFORNIA their own, California, Ri more years old, soil during July and August, withi years from commencement of treatment. This by hea Pree indeed, but I may be able to d 1 : ’ o th i vineyard. at least in some localities Sstugwia fr SYenrald a rote ihe Niurencs in the moisture contents of a soil be- To Tall, the greater the liability of the vip - Bo ot considering the slight resistance wiih some ti i loi ? possess. Such is generally the case in all rich clayey or ayo os dose Save Le Sroatent capacity for holding mois- orier the greatest facility for th pest moisture through capillary attraction. "The Ws Plate so Me Hn Jestiction by evaporating and depleting the Its excessive foliage and crop. Lik Jann 1 have leen under the impression that on Pn od ol arn y ws ik Digging down once during August [ I s where new th i : e ground was charged with moisture during spring and had wi Ta meyly vated and the vines made ) / immens just as dry or drier than in the © growth, I found the ground much smaller. ch re the growth was the rich than on the cumbed more quickly. Different from countries with must be made in California i terms “rich” and “moist.” . bl Summer rains, a distinct differ- a In regard to soils between the and “poor” and A rich soil is gen- ultivation remains trees with large top-growth are Hany Joes or : d i i : ture supply, it may become evel ar 1s mois 15 not necessarily ‘dry during the mer, unless it ig shallow or deep and mixed pediment to the risi remains much moister than richer soils. exuberantly on such soils, the moisture coarse soils in valle A poor soil latter part of the sum- clayey at Ee ace CALIFORNIA VINE OR ANAHEIM DiSEASE—CAUSE AND NATURE 5 parts of Napa and Sonoma counties by Professors Viala and Serib- ner. That in some localities whole vineyards have died in a short time, is because in the first place the cause and the augmenting factors mentioned, were very pronounced; in the second place the vines stood on a uniform soil, made uniform growth and therefore died off uniformly. On account of the richness and great uniformity of all alluvial soils the trouble has been greatest in valleys. Mount- ain soils are more “spotted,” and for this reason the disease has ap- peared only in spots so far, wherever conditions were most favor- able. It has been called by some the vine-top disease, also in some of the earlier reports the statement is made, that the disease first appears at the end of the canes. This is wrong; tops and roots are attacked simultaneously, although generally in a different degree. If the roots were sound, there would be a bushy growth of healthy suckers coming from its base. As it is, if these come at all, they only come sparingly and sickly from the beginning. True, the symptoms of the disease are first visible on the young foliage. To ascertain this more clearly, I root-pruned during the winter several vines, which had made vigorous growth the preceding sum- mer, but which had shown signs of attack in yellow spots appear- ing on their leaves, by digging a trench around them about three feet deep and four feet from their bases. As the soil was shallow but rich and the vines extended their roots horizontally in all di- rections twenty feet and more, the root-pruning was thorough. I also root-pruned some healthy vines in the same manner. Exam- ining the roots of these vines the following summer I found the young root-growth on the healthy ones strong and sound, but on the attacked ones small and sickly, similar to the top-growth. If we are anxious to give a name to the disease, I believe “Par- alysis of the Grape Vine” is the most appropriate one. I shall point out a few similarities between human paralysis and the California vine disease: In both vital activity, which manifests itself in man principally in voluntary motion, and in the grape vine in the growth of new wood, is impaired, although without any outward sign on the main body. In both the young are less subject to an attack than the old. Like a human the vine sometimes is affected on one side only, while the other side remains healthy at least for some time. A predisposition to attack is increased in man by rich living, so vines on rich ground are more susceptible to the disease than vines on poor ground. In human paralysis there are different degrees of attack, so vines are attacked differently, some more severely than others. It is a curious fact that cuttings taken from only slightly af- fected vines will grow fairly well as long as the vines are young, the soil moisture is not exhausted and so the cause of the disease does not exist, but as soon as this appears again the vine has an- other attack during the latter part of the summer and then fails to make proper growth the following spring. In grafting an old Muscat vine three years ago, which had suf- CALIFORNIA VINE OR ANAHEIM DISEASE—CAUSE AND NATURE 7 ture in countries, where drouths are not infrequent, must possess this characteristic, while vines found wild on loose sandy or grav- elly soils, where the extremes of wet and dry do not occur, are de- void of the adaptability to such conditions. As we cannot use the st of the whol A vines mentioned, on account of non-rooting of their cuttings, we ican species are not exa ase | ini shall have to take recourse to their hybrids with Vinifera, Riparia rather moisture cond Ctly adapted and others, which have not this fault. oe tivated ground. The There are two points in the general characteristics of Rupestris of moisture and boun St. George, which speak against its success in California viticul- afterwards to great d ture. The first and most important is, that it does not thrive in dry vine not being a rational 1 of nourishment. The shallow soils in France, although it is drouth-enduring in “dry (3, of summer throw. 2 and economical being, during the io x deep soils on account of its deep-rooting. This shows that its roots €avier crop than it out a much stronger foliage and sets reépar: in themselves are not resistant to dryness. The second point is that ity, althou €an support properly without injury t 2 much in wet soils it is affected with root rot. We can see by this that it : me without any apparent oes 011s vital. has only a narrow adaptation. It is a hybrid of V. Monticola and h of the Viniferas and still 1S ex- Rupestris or, as claimed by some, of the former and Riparia. It par- ly summer to ill more takes of the characteristics of the pure Rupestris varieties, but has : the advantage over these in its thicker, more penetrating and ver- tical roots, which enable it to get a quicker start in most any soils, but especially compact ones. The Riparia and Rupestris varieties should as a rule not be used except where irrigation is possible, and even there I believe other : varieties will prove more valuable. I doubt that the Rupestris as exempt from its mali 3 that in the fut : Sass grafting stocks are more resistant against extreme dryness than the In conformit 8€S without their emplo ‘ Riparias; I even doubt that they are as hardy against moisture sistant. i changes in the soil as the latter; only on account of their habit of i : v : C | sending down their roots deeply into the substrata, where they gen- wise stated Th ; i Sos : 3 erally find plenty of moisture in all countries with summer rains, to wet, heavy soils and ol e L i . > they are more drouth-enduring. But in California conditions are hybrid of Vitis cinere also to dry ones, if th ; | different. As has been stated, in all soils of a compact nature, in- and Astivalis . to heav : | cluding gravelly clays and loams, especially in valleys of an alluvial | formation, the diffusion of moisture through capillary attraction is so even and uniform, that if these become dry two or three feet adapte h ! below the surface, they are also dry fifteen or twenty feet further the Champinis ar Ls ) down, providing there is no moisture near arising from ground : e : water. A vine sending down its roots deeply into such soils there- fore has but little better show that a more shallow-rooting one. Of course I do not want to be understood, that deep, penetrating roots of a stock, whether these are laterals from horizontal main roots as in the case of the Lenoir, or are vertical main roots as those of the Champini, are not preferable in California in anv soil, as we can- not always tell what is hidden under the surface. On the other hand mountain soils, especially the deep, loose, gravelly ones, which are generally underlaid by an impenetrable substratum, which does not allow the seepage coming down the hillside to escape out ot reach of the roots, give most any kind of a vine a better chance. Compact soils in mountains are more similar to valley conditions. While the Riparias require a rich, moist soil, the Rupestris are adapted to poor, moist gravelly or sandy soils. They cannot endure continued dry or wet conditions, nor great changes from wet to dry. The Rupestris St. George is similar to these latter, but as has been X: to California soil condit; : : ondit 1tions in the soil as they generally I pis tiful supply of food a nd within a : ryness and scantiness short time sary, as the susceptibil Increases from year t I'eason vines like the wide range of a as the two vines me It seems t 8 HowTtoM AKE GRAPE CULTURE PROFITABLE IN CALIFORNIA Stated, on account of its more od Sow more vigorously. But any vine, w Top-grow h, will soon exhaust the soil moistu Moon it as not an inherent resistance to dr aye p tence with the Rupestris St. Geor e oe ngly vl while young, but as soon 4 it top, i ins ol Size and exhausts the soil mo iw 3 gns of distress. It may do fairly well gravelly hillsides in localities with on fein vation, but even on i atom hu such soils the Champini I shall say here growth of a vine V iniferas raf te 1 R t upe CO perience, do not bear so well or produce is la nia, as they do on their own roots. The frui TS Fares In Callin t and leaves of a vine this. It is not caused Whenever grapes and g ge on rich as : | easily be seen from Yet from the a not m Sse It may easily be de- iparia-Rupestris hybrids. uch can be expected from the One of th . i : of cold and ne 2e:21pa] differences in th er or less amount of 3 sap ci ic transplanted into hot aah Srculation, and ns rests not only in For this reason To quite effective in savy. non-resistants on least not in i certai been obtained with ny But as some very fair resyl without any oth gratting stocks like Lenoir, Champin; Wis have €r precautionary measures, a ‘much an any others : etter showin can certainly be made j e in der: edge of the matter. the future, considering our better knowl penetrating roots takes a quicker start hich makes vigorous re in California, and yness, will succumb. is, that it grows ex- receives a Vinifera isture, it begins to n deep, loose, poor, II and careful culti- will grow and pay Y prevent the thrift would be more some other manner; this For. this reason also ntrary to French ex- PREVENTIVE METHODS OF CALIFORNIA VINE DISEASES CHAPTER II. Preventive Methods of California Vine Diseases. 1. Method. Selection of Proper Resistant Grafting-Stocks. There are four requirements with which good resistant stocks should comply: 1. Resistance to California vine disease or greatest possible range of adaptation to the changes from wet to dry in the soil; 2. Resistance to Phylloxera; 3. Adaptation to other climatic and soil conditions; 4. Affinity and good general behavior after grafting to Viniferas. In order to overcome the weakness of the Vinifera top and as any slight injury to the roots of a vine or tree may cause overbear- ing, an augmenting factor to the disease, it is plain, that only graft- ing stocks possessing the highest resistance against the Phylloxera as well as the greatest flexibility of adaptation both to wet and dry conditions of the soil, are perfectly safe. A resistance-coefficient of 16 is generally considered high enough for any soil, as it makes the vine safe against any injury to its roots by the Phylloxera. This does not say that a higher one is not preferable, providing the other qualities of the stock in question are as good. I have been under the impression for some time, that vines with thick fleshy roots are the best for California conditions. Of two vines, having the same adapt- ability, the one with the thickest roots will be the most dryness-en- during. For this reason the Solonis, which has small roots but a great adaptation to short changes from wet to dry and vice versa, as is attested to by French experience and that of Mr. T. V. Mun- son, does not last at all during our long, dry summers. It does not matter materially, whether the main roots extend themselves horizontally and the laterals run down deeply, or the main roots approach a vertical direction. I believe, for rich, level and irrigated lands I should prefer the former, as I think they will give better results, and for loose gravelly soils the latter. In such soils the moisture cannot rise to the surface by capillary attractions, but settles down by gravity ; the usefulness of a vine with very deep vertical main roots is therefore apparent New vines intended for stocks can be tested in the following manner: On a piece of level, clayey ground, either shallow or of an even texture to a great depth, some of the vines should be planted along with some Lenoir, Vinifera- and Riparia-Berlandieri for com- parison. They should be either rooted cutting-grafts, or if ungraft- ed should receive a Vinifera top as soon as large enough for graft- ing, as testing stocks with their own tops would be of no importance, because they act quite differently after being grafted. In order to accelerate the testing it is best to plant the vines rather close, about six feet each way. The plot should be well cultivated the first two years in order to enable the vines to get a quick start. The third year the ground should also be well cultivated up to the last rain; after that it should not be stirred any more, in order to let a crust form on the surface. During June it should be irrigated about once a week, to soak it up well with water and the irrigating furrows left course of five Most anybod i body with an ob years, which will do and i 10 How To \ MAKE GRAPE CULTURE PROFITABLE IN CALIFORNIA unstirr ili contimred, 2 Bibi the escape of moisture after irrigation is dis- : e last of June. No matter how the work is done e young vines Id he be ) would use The fourth and fifth year the experiment of pt ctivity during the latter art omplished can be s 0 Or SIX years, if the above directions are ihe ne eye will be able to tell in a few ic will not. Those, which make the These cuttin » apparently healthy vines ” surely, like the Muscat omb very slowly and graduall rely ] , : y, b scion lengths, then wo! of Alexandria. They should be cut ‘up in Some vines like Leno; . known, should be plants hampini and others, wh xed and grafted on the stocks to be tried. d in the Same SPECIES OF VITIS II grafts generally, if the ground is worked as directed for the first mentioned test, will show the disease in a few years, no matter how hardy the stocks, but it can easily be ascertained by this method, what stock has the greatest beneficial influence on its Vinifera top. I am inclined to think that it is best in California to plant hardy resistants, which are free growers, ungrafted in the field and let them go without grafting for three or four years and in localities, where the disease has been very destructive or if Viniferas are want- ed, which are very susceptible to the disease, even longer. In post- poning the grafting, the vines are not weakened with a Vinifera top, while very young, as the latter is apt to weaken most any stock, which will be explained later. It is possible that certain hardy resistants which are slow growers, are induced to quicker growth, if they receive a Vinifera top while very young, as the more quickly and freely growing Riparia and Rupestris stocks have this same ef- fect on their grafts. In such cases it may be advantageous if a quicker growth is desired, to make cutting-grafts or graft the vines in the field while they are young. . Species of Vitis, Valuable for Hybridizing in the Creation of New Grafting-Stocks. V. candicans or Mustang grape. This is considered the hardiest of any American species and occurs according to T. V. Munson, in lower as well as upper bottoms of upland ravines on the “black waxy lands.” Such soils are exceedingly wet while the rains last, but become during a drouth exceedingly dry, much drier than the more elevated, loose, gravelly soils, generally called dry. In fact two of its hybrids, Champini and Elvicand (Cand. Riparia Labrusca), have outlived any other vines, used as grafting stocks on Mr. William Pfeffer’s place in the Santa Clara Valley. V. cinerea. This vine has thick, fleshy roots and occurs wild on rich heavy soils, although also on rich sandy soils. From it its progeny, the Lenoir, has undoubtedly inherited the greater portion of its wide range of adaptation. I should like to ask those, who claim the Lenoir to be a pure Vinifera, how they explain its great resemblence to the Cinerea in leaf and root; also, where its resist- ance to Phylloxera comes from. It would be the only Vinifera pos- sessing this resistance. V. cordifolia occurs on “the lower and higher bottoms of up- land ravines.” It has produced vines having the largest trunks of any American species and has very thick, penetrating, highly Phyll- oxera-resisting roots. The hybrids Riparia-Cordifolia-Rupestris 1068 and Solonis-Cordifolia-Rupestris 2024 may have some value for California, but no attention must be paid to French experi- menters’ recommendations of vines for clays. The fact is that even for our gravelly and sandy unirrigated lands we can use with safety only vines which have stood the test on clays in countries with sum- mer rains and only very few kinds of such. I don’t think the two hybrids mentioned are as well adapted to California clays as the ' {i f " fi i i il i i | B gf | | ii i rr Rotem. Pray 12 How Tt 0 Manz GRAPE CULTURE PROFITABLE IN CALIFORNIA Lenoir is and ¢ 1 an fill its place: sti soils which ‘have b hei fore. Most any vine, which gravelly or sandy soils of rich ; perlandieri, This sp stone ridges as well as on ¢ Joining territories, bu PI ain 1811 a very “ry region, its sc ; ope of adaptati more extreme dry than moist conan. a dr - i re aduring than any other species of Vv sossing ther ces er French experimenters as The Vinifera- VEry great value, especially for coa ridges and slopes in mountains, whic moisture. The above named four grafting to the Viniferas, which js - riparia. I am of the opinj . . 0 species have a fairly good an Yiad the soil does not become t or medium quality. very important. n that the roots of vines of this oo dry, but on account of their penetrating power, the Riparia €€n a success on unirrigated ler good qualities should prove a S This species has little adaptability ; ig ll California. Hybrids possess- downward roots, HC | for poor gravell topics the expression ak » a bis A viticultural elly soils are meant. »” BY Which Sones Es grav- » Which are the only to Rupestris in ell, but neither are th ) pths at the end of close-textured soils. The Rupestris occurs pa te elly and rock ° y beds of “dry” ry wat . . . ns and creeks, . k Simply oe after springtime, but in a good ah So no occasional = out of sight. Moisture arising from such sli as s eal conditions for this species » wit hybrid- No vine of to our cli- Riparias and : y may have great value for €en considered well suited for Riparia hereto- thrives in clays, will do well also in ecies occurs along the top of lime. on. tern Texas and ad- t it is also found on compact soils. pp sie probably approaches It is probably more itis. The Riparia-Ber- bility to moisture changes pro- SELECTION OF HEALTHY CUTTINGS FOR SCIONS 13 V. vinifera. This last, but not least, on account of its large and spreading roots and great adaptation to different soils; it also sup- plies a greater affinity and homogeneousness to the stock with its Vinifera top. The stronger the root system and the closer the rela- tion between stock and graft, the better are the chances of suc- cess. A hybrid like Aramon Rupestris No. II may give fairly good results, where proper irrigation can be practiced, but I believe, hardier stocks than this or Riparia will prove more profitable, as less water will be required and a better quality of fruit obtained. It is always safest to employ several different resistant stocks for the same Vinifera variety with special reference, of course, to their like or dislike of existing soil conditions and to their affinity to intended grafts, as our experience in this line is too limited to tell to a certainty, what stock will prove the most successful, and so serious losses are avoided and in course of time a good deal of practical knowledge is gained. All we can do at present is giving the Viniferas a root, which is hardy against moisture changes in the soil and resistant to Phylloxera. What stock will exercise the greatest influence on the grafts in regard to good behavior and longevity of vine, only time will tell. With proper grafting-stocks and selection of healthy cuttings for scions, as will be ex- plained immediately below this, better results should be obtained than have been with the first importations from Europe, not considering other preventive measures, which we can take. The four species Candicans, Cineria, Cordifolia and Berlandieri attain large size and have great vigor in their native home, but make only a sluggish growth under California climatic conditions. Their value is in hybridization with species which grow too freely during the forepart of summer. Those hybrids which take more after the named species in their habit of growth, will very likely be valuable for hot interior locations or places, where the California vine disease has been very destructive, while hybrids, taking more after Vinifera, Riparia, etc., will have the greatest value for cool, moist coast mountain regions, or where vines like Petite Sirah, Beclan and Cabernet are intended for grafts and have too little vigor on their own roots. 2. Method. Selection of Healthy Cuttings for Scions. This is probably the most serious part of the problem, as it will be difficult in a good many parts of California to get such. The disease does not come as suddenly with a good many varieties as is generally supposed. The Muscat of Alexandria, for instance, will bear heavy crops with me for years, after having sustained its first attack. Others like Black Ferrara succumb more quickly. Yellow or brown spots on the leaves during the latter part of the summer are generally a sure symptom that the vine has suffered an attack. With some varieties the leaves curl up and the spots are very small. The fruit and the wood fails to mature and develop pronerly, the berries being sour and of small size. The following spring, according to the severity of the attack, the vine makes only a small growth or none at all. If the attack was very light, the - =F =: a ms ee re wee o. RARE i i 3 14 How 4 0 MAKE GRAPE CULTURE PROFITABLE IN CALIFORNIA gs, imported from Eu Periectly healthy vines. A Her plants, as some kinds of potatoes, wheat, etc., which when first introduced into i . a : their culture for 3 or = new locality, do exceedingly well, but after returns. some other hardy s In 1 iti . probably feet where the disease has been very destructive it i shown the greatest res; vy Such Viniferas, which in the past h e to my exparic resistance to the trouble. These ar D pve spring, oP nce those varieties which start growth S 2ceqrding g, mature their fruit early, do not overbh stowth late in the woodgrowth, as Petite Sj Srhear and others. - PROPER PREPARATION OF SOIL BEFORE PLANTING 15 But if the root given them is not as strong as their own, they may succumb more quickly or at least will not prove so profitable. It is rather difficult to tell at the present time, what Vinifera variety is the most resistant to the disease, as this would depend on the length of time a variety has been cultivated in California, whether the first imported cuttings were propagated on their own roots or grafted on some old Vinifera vines, on what soil and in what local- ity the first vines, which furnished most of the cuttings for later plantings, were grown, etc. 3. Method. Proper Preparation of the Soil Before Planting. Before vines are planted the ground should be turned over deeply, no matter how rich the soil. To run a subsoiler in the furrow is an improvement to the old method of simply plowing the ground; but even this can be greatly improved by following the first plow up with another plow in the same furrow instead of the subsoiler and throwing the bottom soil up on top. The humus of which there is a considerable amount left in most surface soils, should be turned down as deeply as possible, in order to prevent com- bustion of its organic matter, so disastrous in its effects during our long dry summers, and the purely mineral ingredients of the sub- soil turned up to the surface for exposure to the air, light and rains, to dissolve their plant foods. While doing this work, if the top- soil is devoid of humus, do not forget to put abundant organic mat- ter in the form of green or stable manure, straw, etc., in the bottom of the furrow and remember that this is the only chance you have to cause any material good with such things in a vineyard grow- ing under California conditions. Young vines planted on such ground will extend their roots deeply, as they find nitrogen of which they are in great need and the best of other ready plant foods at a depth that will not easily get dry. If these foods are near the surface, the vines will either have to do without them or else their main roots will be very shallow and more exposed to moisture changes. Such described work puts the physical condi- tion of a soil at its best, which is according to the experience of the best cultivators of the soil the most important. The value of humus consists further not only in the fact that it is the sole source of nitrogen in the soil, but also in the generation of carbonic acid, so important in creating new and different com- binations with mineral bases for plant foods directly and indirectly, which would otherwise remain unavailable on account of their in- solubility. This work as described has really but little to do with the point in question, but I inserted it to make the following better understood. 4. Method. Proper Cultivation. With the exception of the first year, during which they should receive good care in order to keep them alive, young vines should have only the minimum mois- ture allowance, absolutely necessary to keep them thrifty. How much this is cannot be given in a certain rule, as it would 4 it I Hi (e {i jd Mi ; I i i i 16 How To MAKE GRAPE CULTURE PROFITABLE IN CALIFORNIA Sepa on Fh different soil and climatic conditions of different oaiiiies. ay be excessive moisture during spring . er the late rains in the spring th d should be allowed to dr bs rao y off well first before it vi the cultivator or harro ya w, and then of course it sh thoroughly. Excessive soi i na he god : oil moisture produces shall roots and soft top-growth, scanti f oN tea oy od aly Ins ; ness of moisture makes deep gh top-growth. How wel! th i tents of a soil in California can b a ts of e regulated by more or les: i vation is not as well understood as i 0 a s it should be. Even ipari can be Byrdensd and made deep-rooting by such owt Ripa piel yi a8 time the vines are seven years old, they will be well i mi 2 the Viens of California soil conditions . e moisture allowance should be j : from year to year, as thei a fade ) r larger growth demands it. It j : [ . JE ! rn he health % i vines to hold excessive han d that previously has been neglected f years, as it 1s to neglect a vineyard that h IE pe : as had good car The Sire uniform the moisture supply is one ro Ate elo. he Deiter it wy he for the welfare of the vines Very much i ed is also the practice of some who rajse n : se nurser i ns plies with stagnant water near the surface. Such So 9 cially it they are intended to go on dry ground, are Forth 5. Method. Summer Pruning. ret lo prevent unnecessary woodgrowth and in deprive the vine ging it gh i A a ; ; attained an age of 6 or 7 ot orsa of is Soliage and stop its extending self to its full. at Spay. ir ong this I top those canes, that come down to oe Froun nd trail along for some distance or which catch the pag a8, nen by cutting them off where they. touch the Sroun L his > o d be done before the canes become woody Ty twa | Sets before the vine gets its full growth, generally nn hou fl e ret or second week in July. The vines will quit will throw out a lot of laterals and Keun ove n2 effect, as they Ww : €ep on growing. i tor to rally advised against such work, but I believe itis ] ny fer to ¢ eck the vigor of a vine growing under California climatic an soil ons somewhat than to have it collapse later o - 00 much ambition If not too many canes are Copa or J jasa this is certainly preferable. . clo order to do this prork effectively the winter-pruning should be cl . ers as well as some i be ribbed off I 10, removed while they are small ois smaller . O go over a vineyard i js the summer to do this and never should lg Wg Ty : uck- THINNING OUT OLD VINEYARDS AND ROOT-PRUNING 17 ers be removed at one time, as this would check the growth of thc vine too much. 6. Method. Thinning Out Old Vineyards and Root-Pruning. After the vines get about 15 years old and have quit extending themselves, or as soon as, or still better, before the first signs of the disease appear, I believe it best to thin out some of them, es- pecially if they have been planted too close, as trees and vines gen- erally are in California. This will give the remaining ones more moisture during the latter part of summer and make the difference between spring and fall moisture contents of soil less. These should be root-pruned during the winter about half-ways between the rows, which can easily be accomplished -by horse-power with an implement, which could be devised for this purpose. On rich ground, the only kind on which it would be necessary, the main roots of Viniferas and of a good many American species are shai- low, generally from 6 to 12 inches below the depth the plowing has been done. It is best to plant vines at a greater distance than they gener- ally are. From 10 to 12 feet each way for valleys and from 9 to 10 feet for mountains is not too far. The distance should vary accord- ing to the richness of the soil, the richer and compacter this is the greater the distance. It does not matter much, whether the tri- angular or the square form is used; the number of vines to the acre will tell, whether there are too many or not. On very rich sandy or clayey loams in cool, moist localities, vines, which ripen their fruit late, should not have quite the maximum distance, as this would retard the maturity of the fruit. As soon as such plantings are about 10 or 12 years old root-pruning should be practiced oc- casionally. As this has a dwarfing effect on vines or trees and de- creases their vigor, its usefulness will be seen. Smaller vines and more space to hold reserve moisture for their proper maintenance is the object desired. If root-pruning is omitted, the vines will in course of time occupy the whole of the ground and make condi- tions as bad as ever. There are single vines in the world that occupy from one-half to one acre of ground. On poor gravelly soils where vines make but small growth, root-pruning is not necessary, as the vines have not enough vigor to extend their roots through the whole of the ground allotted to them, if planted far enough apart in the first place. No apprehension need be felt that they will not produce as heavy crops per acre as with closer plant- ing. These will be just as large if not larger and a better quality produced. Although this will not come quite as soon, vineyardists will be amply reimbursed in the saving of labor and other expenses. 7. Method. Grafting Over of Old Vines. Grafting over a whole block, or still better, a whole tract of vines, especially to more resistant Viniferas, is sufficient to post: pone the disease for several years, because for the first time, since attaining full growth, as the grafts start later and their growth is generally smaller, they have plenty of moisture during the latter 18 How to MAKE GRAPE CULTURE PROFITABLE IN CALIFORNIA part of summer. It is needless t must be perfectly healthy. ° Cutting down vines about an inch below the surface during winter also has a salutary effect. It may be better in California eeding of the vines keeps back 8. Method. Irrigation. This is probably the best i i 1s )ESt preventive of any, if properl li but as it is generally practiced, i. e., filling up the AA abyss. In the spring, when it is too wet already, it is apt to make matters worse. Vines should not be irrigated, barring exceptional cases Jeo this Statement, till about two weeks after the bloom. As ir riga Lon during the summer creates shallow root-growth, this ¢ kept alive and healthy by a repetition of the practice, at least on heavy soils in some localities. Shallo ‘ W root-gr prevented by plowing deep furrows to let the whan 1e subsoil and so avoid moistening of the surface. Care should t to cut any of the main roots during the summer as be apt to weaken the vine. It is self-evident that ‘the ould be well filled up with loose, dry soil, after the y enough to do this properly. The wat enc . er sh - es 2pplied ja the Saine, ples, Young vines oh i | d, un 1S impossible, as may be the case in SO in- terior localiiles, to keep them in healthy growing condition wink “+ 4h such cases it should be done early and not late. i ly later in vious from preventive methods i i f J are given with regar ini- (ras heir own roots. Whether these, excepting Tia ion, ould Seah avail for vines grafted on Rupestris which atio i Tis root has. T camencer a p n in this respect than the Vinifera R : i esume: In order to prevent the disease, he very careful in y that the vines at grafting SPRAYING THE VINES Ig the selection of healthy grafting wood, decrease the excessive vigor of vine through choice of proper stocks, by summer-top and win- ter-root pruning; make it drouth-enduring, by giving it a hardier, more penetrating root and by diminishing its foliage somewhat, where this is excessive. It is possible that in course of time graft- ing-stocks will be found, which will make any other preventive method, excepting the selection of healthy scions, unnecessary. Where plenty of water is available, proper irrigation alone is suffi- cient to prevent the disease. All preventive methods should be commenced in time. No diseased vine can be cured permanently; even a vine, which has developed a strong predisposition to the disease is difficult to save, unless a copious water supply for irrigation is at hand. 9. Method. Spraying the Vines. In places where the conditions for the development of the dis- ease are known to be very favorable and the two first mentioned preventive measures have been neglected, or in order to save vines which are very susceptible to the disease and show signs of weak- ening, another preventive may be employed or rather experimented with, viz: Spraying the vines with some liquid, preferably of a whitish color, which covering part of the leaves would prevent ex- cessive evaporation of moisture and sap. In an experimental way I have found spraying with the Bordeaux mixture right after top- ping of the vines quite effective in this regard, but a cheaper spray may be just as beneficial. Some wild plants and shrubs with shiny. glossy leaves, which in spite of shallow roots and large tops or standing on solid beds of clay, are exceedingly drouth-enduring, have come to my notice. This glossy appearance of the leaves, which is most intense, the hotter the sun is, is undoubtedly caused by the exudation of a gummy matter covering the leaves and pre- venting a too rapid escape of moisture. The upper surface of tlie leaves of Lenoir, Champini, Berlandieri and others presents a sim- ilar appearance. Some species and varieties of Vitis, which are known to be very hardy, but which do not possess glossy leaves, undoubtedly have a drouth-resistant power in their foliage of some other character. It is also possible that with some vines such hardiness rests altogether in the peculiar structure of their leaves and none in their roots, but the success that has been ob- ta.ned with Lenoir and Champini, points in the direction, where to get our grafting stocks. As an example of the anomaly, just mentioned, I may name the Rupestris St. George, which seems to be much hardier before than after grafting. Its strength lies in its top and its weakness in its roots in spite of their great penetrating power. The weakness of the Viniferas is in their foliage and their strength in their roots at least in this respect. If we could create a Phylloxera-resistant stock with the large and spreading roots of a Tokay, for instance, but much hardier, we should have a valuable grafting stock. For this reason the Lenoir, which has hardy thick roots and is a Vini- fera-American hybrid, comes nearer being as idea] a grafting stock, 20 How To MAKE GRAPE CULTURE PROFITABLE IN CALIFORNIA at least for rich soils, as anything we have at present, if it only had a higher resistance against the Phylloxera. It is not adapted to poor gravelly soils as the Champini is. On account of its Rupest- 1is strain, this latter hybrid probably would be entirely safe only on somewhat deep, well-drained gravelly soils, including poor grav- elly clays and loams. It is very hardy on such soils in my own locality and vines bear heavily on it. A mistake has been made in the Santa Clara valley undoubtedly in the use of unsound grafting wood and in planting it mostly on very compact soils, to which it is not adapted. The Champinis occur wild mostly on soils similar to those on which the wild Rupestris grow, but richer and in a drier region and on much drier ground. A vine growing wild on a rich soil, even if this is gravelly and mixed with small rocks, has a greater range of adaptation to moisture changes than a vine occur- ring on such soils which are almost devoid of humus and fine earth. Aside from the hardiness of its roots the Lenoir has the ideal form of root-system for rich, heavy soils, which hold excessive moisture during spring and are apt to become dry later, in extend- ing its main roots horizontally under the surface and its strong, penetrating laterals down vertically to a great depth. : The resistance-coefficient of Lenoir is 12 and that of Champini 14, which have not been found adequate under the climatic condi- tions of France. Which is the minimum resistance absolutely safe under California conditions is still an open question. It is known that Viniferas do not succumb as quickly here from the at- tacks of the Phylloxera as they do in France, which may be ex- plained by the fact, that decay of the roots, which causes the death of the vines, does not proceed as rapidly in our soils during the summer, as it does in countries with summer rains. At what degree of resistance a vine js immune from an injury to its roots by the Phylloxera in California, is a point which should command thorough investigation in the near future as a matter of the greatest importance. A stock with a somewhat low resistance but a good adaptation to existing soil conditions, is much safer than one with a high resistance against the Phylloxera, but without the adaptation. Our past experience has shown, that this latter 1 he Phylloxera question, in fact have been design treatise. The former is prob- - ably the best for table grapes and other heavy-bearing Viniferas and excepting the very poorest. Anybody desiring i i ld commence with these, but of the four hardy ’ tion the natur o the hardiness of a vine can be seen most anywhere. In my own locality on a rich, deep, sandy or clayey loam the Cornichon is very hardy and 21 SPRAYING THE VINES disease, while on a kay and Verdel are an easy prey to the 4 : a of medium quality fhe Brel named Shatupy se and the other two vines are very hardy. In a som ich, pin 1 is hardier than the Tokay, w clay on my own place the Verdel is Sn Ss oy yo r gravelly clay the latter is the hardiest. If i iteronee pe varieties of the same species, it can Souly be seen, that a single resistant, that 5 do Site en ony on 2 0 i f soil or in any locality, will never be found. : wi jd oa to employ different ones to get best results, es ecially in mountain districts where soils vary so much. ; P Figure I as given below shows the range of adaptation o different species and of the two hybrids Lenor and ch, ungrafted, in regard to moisture changes in the soil. Gra 2 a Viniferas it would become less, excepting Riparia, which proba y has a less drouth-resistant foliage fr the Yoiteee ud occu i ly in cool places in the shade o trees, but ev x res weekend after grafting on account of lack o sufficient affinity (similar to Rupestris) and the heavy bearing o the Vinifera-top. Fi1G. 1. Dry . . Berlandieri Candicans Slightly —\ Californic a Moist Riparia Rupertris Champini Extremely Vinifera Moist Lenoir > __| Cordifolia ACinerea i i i he range of adapta- f course the lines in the diagram show t - tion Os comparatively and approximately, as Suginds would be i It. Not only the inherent adaptability o oe sidored, but also the form of root system, depth and nature 22 How To MAKE GRAPE CULTURE PROFITABLE IN CALIFORNIA ver th though less range of adaptation. But it is always safest, if a stock is chosen, which has adaptation to spare for a certain soil, than if 3 is deficient or doubtful. It can also be seen from the diagram ig Jptovement 1s possible on our two best known grafting stocks, the Lenoir an By hybridizing a Cinerea TON sand rock. leys tains — Rich gravelly clays Extremely Moist — — Rich sandy loams — Clay loams J Extremely heavy clays and adobes Fig. 11 shows the changes from wet to dry as they occur in the different soils of vineyards in the coast regions of northern only approximately and comparatively, as there are a thousand dif- ferent combinations in the physical structure of our varied soils according to depth, admixture of humus, clay or other binding material, broken sandrock, clayrock or granite, gravel or sand, ete r ~~ ~ Shallow, poor gravelly clays | _ { Deep, poor, brittle gravelly clays, mixed with broken — — Deep, coarse gravels in val- Deep, loose gravelly soils on of hillsides in Cont Moun- SoiLs ADAPTED TO GRAPE CULTURE 23 which all have a greater or less influence on their capacity of hold- ing moisture in the spring and of retaining it through the summer. The more compact a soil is or if it is gravelly, the more fine earth or clay is mixed with the gravel, the greater are apt to be the mois- ture changes. In localities where the rainfall is scant, heavy clays and loams may not be very wet during spring, or may be so only within a few feet of the surface, while below this they are com- oaratively dry. The great value of a vine, extending its main roots horizontally under the surface, as the Lenoir does, is appar- ent for such soils. From what has been said on the condition of soils, on which wild species are found or on which cultivated vari- eties have proved successful, it can be deduced that adaptation is principally governed by the moisture changes occurring in the soil and conditioned by the physical structure of the iaiter, by climate and cultivation. For this reason, adaptation, as taught by French experts, has not realized for California, as uioisture changes in soils of the same physical structure are much greater with us than they are in France. As the planting of resistant direct bearers which undoubtedly wculd avoid the trouble altogether, has been recommended by some, I shall say, that there is no vine of American origin at pres- ent, which approaches in the least degree the peciless qualities of the Viniferas. Even with twice the expense of growing these, which indeed is not necessary, they will pay much better than any hear- ing resistant. For this reason no effort should be spared to re- tain them in localities where the disease has occurred with great- est severity, but which was caused mainly through ‘gnorance of its true character. : CHAPTER III. Soils, Adapted to Grape Culture and Preparatory Work for Planting. There are a great variety of soils in California and most any of them, excepting rich bottom lands near the coast or other parts of too moist and cold atmospheric conditions, or where groundwater is too near the surface, can be planted to the grape vine provided the peculiar kabits of the different varieties and grafting-stccks are understood and the proper ones chosen. In this respect a good many mistakes have been made in the past and some losses of money incurred. In particular it may be said that brittle gravelly clays of a reddish or brownish color mixed with broken sandrock and situated on warm sloping hillsides, are the very best, as they produce the highest quality of wine and table grapes, which is the desideratum desired. In regions near the coast shallow soils, on which the grapes ripen better and whose impoverishment and drying out can be pre- vented by plowing under plenty of green manure, which is gener- ally abundant, are better than deep, rich ones. Lands being cov ‘red with small brush as manzanitas, dwarf-oaks and other shrubs, when in their wild state, is in such localities indicative of their adaptation to grape culture. Where large trees are growing, the a Ba em pd Ig ST AE 8 24 How To MAKE GRAPE CULTURE PROFITABLE IN CALIFORNIA soil is gencrally too rich and deep to be available for this pur- pose, at least the services of an expert would be required to avoid mistakes in the choice of varieties. In the more interior locations a deeper soil is necessary, to maintain the vine properly and pro- duce a good quality of fruit. Clays generally produce a higher sugar and firmer grapes than rich sandy loams. : In the preparation of the soil for vine planting, California methods have in the past been so slack that great losses of money or, as in some cases, even bankruptcy have been the consequence, especially where vineyards were planted on steep hillsides of poor gravelly soil. I shall not repeat anything here, that has been said on tris subject in the chapter on preventive methods of the Califor- nia vine disease, but shall only make a few completing remarks with reference to mountain regions. Where vineyards have been planted on hillsides, the neglect of properly securing the natural richness of the surface of virgin soils, in preventing its washing by winter rains or loss of organic matter through combustion by the summer’s heat, will make itself felt with greatest severity, when these vineyards will have to be replanted on account of the de- structive work of the Phylloxera. The only way such lands could have been remunerative would have been fo plow or dig trenches about 3 feet deep and 2 wide horizontally along the slops and filling them up with humus earth from above. Vines planted in such trenches would have produced from 7 to 10 tons par acre, where they yield cn!v 2 or 3 tons by the go-as-you-pleasz method. The grape vine is the most grateful cultivated plant we have. Treat it well and intelligently and it will pay you back abundantly. It is better to have 5 acres producing 35 tons of grapes, than 50 acres producing only 100 tons, especially when grapes are cheap. The five-acre vineyard would have paid enough profits to set out an acre or two more every year, as described above, while the fifty- acre one depleted your pocket book in the first place and kept you poor afterwards, all the income from it being required to. pay Asiatic labor, as has been the case in a good many instances. f In reconstituting vineyards destroyed by the Phylloxera or from any other cause, on resistant stocks in places where the land has been under cultivation for 10, 15 or more years, the work be- comes much more difficult. It is best to work over all lands that will wash or slide from winter rains by trenching as described, in- stead of turning the whole of the ground over 20 inches or two fee: The better portions should be commenced with and the poorer and steeper ones left for four or five years, to cover themselves with natural vegetation, if this will grow; if not, some cultivated plants which are valuable for green manuring, should be sowed and as- sisted by cultivation. If leguminous plants will not succeed, any- thing that will grow is better than nothing. As has been stated, when doing such work, if the surface soil is devoid of humus, do not forget to put plenty of organic matte: in the form of brush, dead prunings and vines, straw, stable and green manure into the trenches. The first named should be put. in the bottom and the last named about 18 inches below the sur- “material and also that this should not be excessive. CHOICE OF VARIETIES OF GRAPES 25 face; it is plain that fine earth should be well filled in 2 vay Suh er of souring the ground easily in a California vineyard, as sim- i is tn in rapean countries, where decay on Recostt of summer rains goes on much quicker. A grapevine is not Shay affected by decaying organic substances in the soil, at least not : right kind of a grafting stock. Humus is most important as no soi is productive without it, however rich in mineral ingredients it may be. It is almost an impossibility in California to cause any ussval benefit to deep-rooting perennial plants, by simply plowing ia o organic manures, not considering the great loss hoon, con us tion by the sun’s heat. The benefit derived is generally of a p os cal nature only, in that compact soils are made more mellow an \ coarse gravelly ones denser and closer, and so both kinds more retentive in holding moisture. Of course this is very Jp It might be claimed that such work does not pay in California on account of high wages paid for labor. But considering oy we need not plant our vines three or four feet apart in order to ge them to ripen their fruit uniformly, it will not cost as much as work con- ducted on such a plan in European countries. A little more re- course to old world methods, seasoned down with a touch of Amer- ican ingenuity in the use of proper implements, will make grape- culture the most remunerative pursuit in the State. The next best way to the above-described method would be to dig deep and wide holes and then put a good amount of stable man- ure, coarse or rotted, in their bottoms. This will enable the young vine to get a quick start and get its roots down deep, so it does not suffer from want of moisture and nourishment. When it becomes necessary later, commercial mineral manures can be applied by plowing under. As a rule such Ses ur necessary in California only when the vines become old, provi 3 the land is worked over before planting, as described, and plowe deeply afterwards, as according to Prof. Hilgard’s BL our soils are generally very rich in such ingredients to a gre depth, on account of absence of summer rains and so of leaching i luable portions. “ 4 pi intended for vineyard use should be kept dry and piled up loosely under a shed, to prevent the formation and escape of carbonate of ammonia. Mixing with land plaster or humus earth, or sprinkling with diluted sulphuric acid, will assist in this. It should not be left undisturbed very long but worked over occasionally. If it dry-burns, which means the formation of nitric acid, which is very volatile, the loss is still greater. In the winter it is safest to haul it right on to the land, where it is intended to go. CHAPTER IV. Choice of Varieties of Grapes. This has been one of the most difficult problems confronting the vine-grower in the past, and has led to numerous mistakes and 26 How To MAKE GRAPE CULTURE PROFITABLE IN CALIFORNIA losses of money. The difficulty was greatly augmented by the passing under wrong and several names of some of our best vari- eties, which would have come undoubtedly sooner to greater prom- inence, if this had not been the case. Also giving wines of poor- grade varieties fine-sounding names, in order to enhance their salableness, as is sometimes imagined, is a reprehensible practice, which can only do harm. Some 30 or 40 years ago, when grape- culture took the form of a more general occupation, 4 great mis- take was made in presuming that the most famous wine-grape vari- eties of Europe would also make the best wines in most any local- ity of California. Although our climatic conditions are not so varied as those of European countries where grape-culture is prac- ticed, the fact has made itself felt, that it requires different varieties for the different localities to produce best quality and largest quan- tity, not considering our manifold soil conditions. Our past experi- ence in this line will be of incalculable benefit to us, as the rehab- ilitation of our vineyards on resistant stocks is somewhat more expensive, and mistakes made now will be felt with much greater severity than in former times. Without fear of contradiction, I shall say that the highest quality, combined with from fair to good quantity should be the most desired aim in viticultural pursuits, To gain this object is not a difficult task at present, as we have it in our hand with the proper selection of resistant grafting stocks, to make choice varieties like the Petite Sirah, Beclan, Cabernet, Sauvignon blanc and Red Veltliner bear much heavier crops than they do on their own roots. As the planting of white-wine varieties has been neglected in late years and less localities are adapted to the production of first- class white than of red wines, all lands well suited to them, should be used for this purpose. All poor gravelly or sandy soils of the coast mountain regions of northern California, excepting those in very close proximity of the coast or where for other reasons too moist atmospheric conditions prevail, where the more-rot-resistant red varieties like Beclan, Cabernet, Tannat and Petite Sirah are preferable, are best for white grapes, especially the early kinds as Red Veltliner, Sauvignon blanc, Semillon, Johannisberg and Franken Reisling. In more interior points where the acid of most of these would be too low for a sound fermentation, other kinds are probably better. In such places even richer soils may be used for the planting of white varieties. All rich lands, especially in th: coast region, are best for the growing of red grapes. Some excep- tions will be found to these rules and past experience where such is at hand, is the best guide in this respect. Dry wine varieties with a high acid in their fruit like Alicante Bouschet, Gros Mansene and all Italian varieties, are best adapted to warm interior points, as also the Valdepe- nas, which in spite of a comparatively low acid has the ex. ceptional quality of a perfect fermentation, while varieties with medium to low acid like the Beclan, Cabernet, Tannat and Petite Sirah are better for the cooler coast regions. Such latter vari- al a. ‘b J NOS CHOICE OF VARIETIES OF GRAPES 27 eties with proper blends may be turned into good wines even in the warmer localities, as also varieties with a high acid may be val- uable in small quantities for blending purposes in the cooler re- ions. 3 High tartaric acid contents of a grape in the fermenting tank especially during hot weather, are conducive of a sound ferment- ation in checking the development of secondary, injurious fer- ments, but give a wine a harsh, rough taste if too much is present. First-class white wine should contain about .06 per cent and red wines about .05 per cent of tartaric acid, or rather, bitartrate of potash (cream of tartar) as which it occurs in wines. Free tartaric acid is generally not present, except where unripe grapes went into the fermenting tank; wines made thus have a very harsh flavor. A wine fermenting its sugar contents out is not proof that the fer- mentation has been conducted properly. Low-acid grapes like Pinot, Meunier, Franken Riesling and Grenache, although they may apparently go through fermentation all right, favor the development of injurious bacteria, as acetic, lactic and tartaric, which cause, com- mencing generally during the after-fermentation, a steady increase of the general acid contents of the wine and finally spoil it. If the fermentation took place during cold weather in a well-protected cel- lar of an even temperature, such a condition need not be feared so much as if it occurred during hot weather. For this reason all best dry wines are made in cool countries of grapes with a comparatively low or medium acid, which leaves the wine with a smoother, pleasanter taste. In hot countries like Italy, grapes must contain a high acid, besides high contents of sugar, body and tannin, in order to give the wine a sound fermenta- tion and good keeping qualities. Such obstacles have been over- come at the present day, at least to some extent, with modern meth- ods of pasteurization and filtration. Thin wines are also very much subject to injury from secondary ferments; such wines should be pasteurized. Red wines intended for export or eastern shipments should con- tain a higher percentage of tannin than would be palatable for im- mediate or home consumption. The superfluous tannin will pre- cipitate through the shaking of the wine in the casks, while in tran- sit, and at the same time keep it in good condition and improve it. While the wine remains in the cellar its development is accelerated - by a moderate amount of tannin and retarded by an excess of it. The best tannin and color grape for California is the Tannat, with the Alicante Bouschet for second place. Other varieties like Caber- net, Petite Sirah, St. Macaine, Mondeuse and Valdepenas contain good contents of tannin, in most localities enough for their own safety. The above remarks are not made to give any information con- cerning winemaking, but to assist in the selection of proper varieties for a particular locality and in regard to the purpose for which grapes are wanted. 28 How To MAKE GRAPE CULTURE PROFITABLE IN CALIFORNIA White-Wine Varieties for the Coast Region of Northern California. Red Veltliner—Description: Vine very vigorous, with strong spreading canes. Leaves large, deeply five-lobed, dark green and rough above, lower side white woolly during forepart of summer. Bunch medium, somewhat loose, pyramidal, with from small to medium-sized pink-colored berries. This variety has originally come from Austria, where it is es- teemed, according to Babo and Mach, on account of the superiority of its wine and good bearing qualities. From there it has been brought into Germany, where it is grown to a small extent and known among common vineyardists as the large Traminer, because its grapes have the same pink color as those of the Traminer. For this reason it occurs in California also under both names; but the same color of the grapes of two varieties is no mark of relationship, nor is a different color a good mark of non-relationship. If the above description is compared with that of the Traminer by Prof. Hilgard in his report on winegrapes, the great difference between the two vines can easily be seen. The Traminer has no value for California, as it is a shy bearer and produces a wine of poor keeping qualities. Some Veltliner wine made in this locality (Santa Cruz Mountains) from grapes grown on a poor gravelly soil by inexperienced wine- makers and sold to an eastern dealer, has brought 30 and 40c a gal-. lon, when other wines did not bring one-half of that amount. A blend of two-fifths Veltliner, two-fifths Franken Riesling and one- fifth Johannisberg Riesling produces a wine of first-class quality. This grape has a great value for the coast region, as it resists rot better than any other early white-wine grape with long horizontal canes, and bears heavily on all gravelly soils. In more interior places it probably needs an addition of some other more acid variety, like the Sauvignon blanc, in order to produce a wine of good keeping qualities. Sauvignon blanc. This is a somewhat shy bearer on its own roots, but does better on resistants. It is confounded in this locality a good deal with the Muscadelle du Bordelais, which it resembles very much in the appearance of the vine as well as the fruit. But while the Muscadelle generally drops its fruit by coulure two sea- sons out of three, the Sauvignon blanc very seldom does, where it stands on a soil of medium or good quality. . This grape probably has a greater general adaptation than any other Vinifera variety, as it holds its acid well even in hot interior valleys. Its wine in itself is somewhat rough, but is very valuable as a blend with wines ° of less quality and lower acid and sugar. The vine is about as nearly frost-proof as any variety can be, as it starts its growth very late in the spring. It requires long horizontal canes to bear well. Semillon. This has been the favorite white-wine variety in California and is therefore so well known, that it is not necessary to mention any of its characteristics. It is extremely liable to get damaged by late spring frosts, as it starts its growth very early. Its behavior on resistants, at least Riparia and Rupestris, is far from RED WINE GRAPES 29 being satisfactory, but it may do better on some hardy Vinifera- American hybrid. Riesling Johannisberg. This is rather a shy bearer, and easily fiosted in the spring. On a poor gravelly soil in the Santa Cruz mountains it bears fairly well and makes a wine of fine quality. This as well as any other Vinifera variety will undoubtedly do much better on some hardy resistant than on Riparia or Rupestris or even its own roots. Sylvaner or Franken Riesling. This is an immense bearer in ‘this locality, if pruned with long horizontal canes, but should be planted only on dry gravelly soils, as its grapes are much subject to rot. Its wine by itself is not best quality, but a good wine can be made of it, by blending in the fermenting tank with the Johannis- berg Riseling or Sauvignon blanc and in some places even with the Red Veltliner. It starts growth late in the spring and is seldom hurt by frost. . ' Pinot Chardonay, from which the celebrated Chablis wines are made in France. There are only a few vines of this variety planted here, but which give promise of its value as a good bearer. Sauvignon vert. This is similar to the Franken Riseling, an immense bearer, and its fruitfulness is not impaired by frost, as it bears on canes from adventitious shoots, if its first growth is cut down. It should also be planted on dry gravelly soils only, as on rich ground it has not sufficient sugar and makes then a thin in- sipid wine. For some more interior places, like Napa county, a greater value is claimed for it. It does well on resistants. Green Hungarian. On dry gravelly soils with warm exposure this makes a good, light, neutral wine, but does not ripen early enough to be adapted to many coast locations. Different from the other varieties mentioned, it can be stool-pruned and somewhat short. It bears heavily. Red Wine Grapes. Petite Sirah. This and the Serine resemble one another some- what, but have undoubtedly originated from two different seed- lings, as the difference between the two varieties is too great to be. explainable any other way. The leaf of the Petite Sirah is somewhat more deeply lobed and of a deeper green color than that of the Serine. The first-named starts its growth later in the spring and its leaves hang on later in the fall. It has also a larger bunch and sets fruit much more profusely. As the Petite Sirah occurs here, there is another variety mixed with it, which has a small, generally loose bunch and large leaves, covered with a heavy, cottony down on the lower surface. This variety is worthless. The Petite Sirah is a most valuable grape, as it bears heavily and produces one of the best red wines in the state. It does exceedingly well on all kinds of resistants. I have been told lately that it is the same grape, that was known in former years as Pfeffer’s Cabernet. 30 How 10 MAKE GRAPE CULTURE PROFITABLE IN CALIFORNIA Beclan. This is probably the best grape for rich land, whether sandy or clayey, in the coast region. It grows, bears and ripens its fruit early, similarly to the foregoing. It also does well on resist- ants and makes a fine wine, which has great value as a blend with Cabernet. Cabernet Sauvignon. This is a shy bearer on its own roots, but does better on resistants. It is the most rot-resistant grape we have and is therefore valuable in places with moist atmospheric conditions. It requires long horizontal canes to bear well. Tannat. This is also very resistant against rot and an im- mense bearer. Its value as a tannin and color grape has been stated. There are two varieties of it as it occurs here, which are called in France T. male and T. femelle. The leaf of one is not quite so deeply lobed as that of the other and its bunch not quite as large, but closer; it is the better bearer of the two, but also more subject to the California vine disease. It does poorly on Rupestris St. George (the same as all other varieties on this stock) but bears im- mensely on Riparia. Alicante Bouschet. This occurs a good deal under the name of Petit Bouschet, which is giving a bad name to a good grape, as the latter is a much inferior variety. The former can be easily dis- tinguished from the latter by its leaves, which are shiny on the up- per side, with the edges turned back. The Petit Bouschet has flat and more downy leaves. The Alicante Bouschet is an immense bearer, but it is reported from France as not doing well on resist- ants, but will probably behave more satisfactorily on some hardy Vinifera-American hybrid. Carignan. This is so well known, that it is not necessary to mention its good qualities. It ripens later than the other red vari- eties mentioned and does best on clays. It behaves well on resist- ants. Mondeuse. This makes a good wine and bears well in some places, but in others its behavior is not so good in either respect. It does not seem to do well on pure American stocks. The Mon- deuse and the Carignan are the two best of the ordinary varieties. Valdepenas. This is best adapted to warm interior localities. It has the reputation of fermenting high sugar contents out with- out any trouble and makes a very superior wine. Table Grapes. Flame Tokay. This is the most prominent table variety, as it bears heavily and its fruit brings the highest price in the markets, provided it is of good quality. To produce such is sometimes diffi- cult, as not all soils and locations will do this. It requires for its perfect development a somewhat dry atmosphere; where this is heavy and moist from ocean winds, it is not of a marketable char- acter. In regard to soil it is best on a poor gravelly clay of a red- dish or brown color; if the soil is rich, it should not be deep. If the vine is planted on rich ground, where it does not ripen its fruit well, it should be trained to a high, large, spreading head PRUNING, GRAFTING AND BUDDING 31 and pruned with a great number of canes of two and three buds. Its young growing shoots will be shorter and more upright then, its bunches smaller and looser and in consequence its berries more evenly ripened and better colored. On very poor soils it should be trained to a lower and closer head with fewer fruit canes. Verdel. This produces its best product on a gravelly clay of medium quality. On such a soil its fruit keeps longer and better than that of any other variety. In the Santa Cruz mountains it is generally one of the best paying varieties grown, as it bears im- mense and regular crops. Where the ground is too rich for a per- fect product, the quality and sugar contents of this can be im- proved by a similar mode of pruning as that recommended for the Tokay, but not quite so many canes need be left. It should only be planted in places well protected from the north winds, as its young canes in the spring break off very easily and its fruit is also dam- aged quite often if vines are standing in an unprotected place. Cornichon. This is the best table grape variety for rich ground, especially a sandy loam. It is trained and pruned in all kinds of manners, from a somewhat low and close head with few half-long canes for poor ground to a high spreading head with nu- merous short canes of three buds for very rich ground. For soils of medium quality the best way of pruning is intermediate between the two extremes described. It is a favorite grape for attack from small birds, which bore holes into the ends of the berries and sometimes cause ruin to a whole field. The shotgun remedy is the best means of protection, as the birds generally are intelligent enough to learn that it is best to stay away. Emperor. This is a very fine, although thick-skinned grape, of good marketable and keeping qualities. It requires also a soil of good or medium quality with warm exposure, and is pruned simi- lar to the foregoing. No first-class table grapes can be grown by any other system than head pruning. Excessive vigor of a vine can be overcome with a high spreading head and more fruit spurs, as well as with pruning by the Guyot system or extension to one side. Muscat of Alexandria. This is coming into disfavor somewhat in the coast region on account of its susceptibility to the California vine discase and the easy rotting of its fruit, if caught by the early fall rains. It should be planted only on such soils where it will ripen its fruit early. Its liableness to coulure can be corrected by pruning to three buds, canes extending upwards at an angle of about 30 or 40 degrees, with a close head and few fruit canes, if on poor ground and by careful suckering several times before the bloom. The Muscat is a very sensitive vine; too much or too little vigor, too much moisture in the ground or too little, as also a strong north wind may cause coulure. CHAPTER V. Pruning, Grafting and Budding. 1. Pruning. There are numerous systems of pruning practiced 32 How To MAKE GRAPE CULTURE PROFITABLE IN CALIFORNIA wherever the grape vine is grown. In general it may be said, that the pruning must conform to the variety of grape, to the vigor and size of the vine, to climatic and atmospheric conditions of the lo- cality and to the demands of the market for the fruit. There are some minor considerations, but I believe these are the principal ones. The quantity and quality of the crop is very much influenced by the nature of the soil. On account of this a vine may have too much or too little vigor, to bear properly. To maintain the proper equilibrium between crop and woodgrowth, should be one of the objects of pruning. The vigor of a vine can be lessened with higher training, more spreading head and more numerous or longer fruit canes. It can be increased by reversed methods from the above. It is always best, especially on virgin soil, to start with a lower head than appears necessary at the time for the production of greatest quantity and best quality. A vine can be much more easily raised up higher with short upright spurs, than lowered if it has been raised up too high in the first place. In general, not enough differ: ence is made in the winter pruning of large vines and small ones, as also in their training to a higher or lower head according to the richness of the ground. Training a vine to a high and spreading head on a poor soil, takes all its resources to nourish this, without it being able to bear. On the other hand, where a vine has been trained to a low head on rich ground, the woodgrowth is so im- mense, that it robs the sap, which should properly go into, fruit. This is more pronounced with some varieties than with others. The same may be said of the manner, heads of vines are spread, more or less. It is much better for the health and longevity of a vine, if it has a little too much vigor and less fruit, than the reverse. Excessive moisture as well as extreme dryness during the time of development and ripening of the fruit may postpone its maturing or cause inferiority of the same. The first generally does not occur in California, except during the forepart of the season, when it does its harm in causing unnecessary woodgrowth, injuri- ous to the proper development of the fruit and the healthfulness of the vine. - For this reason, vines on poor gravelly hillsides in mountain districts, where they do not grow excessively on account of the poorness of the soil and in consequence later on do not suf- fer for want of moisture, produce the firmest, sweetest and a good many times the largest berries. Where vines are growing on rich ground, heavily charged with moisture during spring, their am- bition should be curbed by vigorous summer pruning as described in Chapter II. Too much old wood may prevent a vine from doing its best. The arms of a vine should be renewed occasionally. The smaller ones may be cut near the main body, but the large ones should not be cut nearer than six inches from the trunk and should al- ways have one or two canes of young growth at their extremity. Large cut surfaces should be painted over. ’ Excessive crops may retard the maturing and the formation of the necessary sugar contents of the fruit. Large trees standing PRUNING, GRAFTING AND BUDDING 33 near vines, robbing the ground of moisture, when the latter are in great need of it, also prevents proper development of the sugar contents of the fruit. The sugar is highest, if vines on rich ground are trained to a high spreading head and pruned with numerous short fruit spurs and on poor ground to a low and close head with few canes. On intermediate soils the pruning and training should be between the two extremes. Head or stool ‘pruning is best adapted to California condi- tions, as the ground can be more carefully worked and its moisture contents better regulated. Varieties like Petite Sirah, Alicante Bouschet, Beclan and others will bear just as well and more reg- ularly by head-training and pruning to 4 or 5 buds, or even less in some places, than by leaving long horizontal canes. It is best to put varieties like Riesling, Cabernet, Sauvignon blanc, Semillan, etc., which do not bear except with very long canes, horizontally placed, on gravelly, loose soils, which are not so subject to drying out and can be more easily worked; or they may be put on steep hillsides, which can be conveniently worked only in one direction. If the soil is very poor, it is best to train any of the varieties men- tioned to a very low head, leave only one long cane and bend it around in a bow, the tip end almost touching the ground, or this can be run into the ground 5 or 6 inches and the bow above tied to a picket. This also gives the vine more stability against strong winds. ~~ R. Grafting. According to the size of the stocks there are two principal methods of grafting, the common cleft graft and the English cleft or tongue graft. Instead of the former, if stocks are of sufficient size, the saw-in method, as I generally call it, may be practiced. This mode of grafting is done by cutting across the edge of the stump with a California pruning saw. The cut is trimmed out on the sides with a sharp pruning or budding knife. A shoemaker’s leather knife, which has a narrow, thin blade and is made of good material, is very handy for this purpose. The scion is shaped by first cutting it in wedge form as in the common cleft graft, and then making another slanting cut opposite the bud, from the node down to the point, which should have about the thickness of the width in the cut of the stock at its lower end. The two edges on the cut of the scion are shaved down a little, so they do not hinder in making a close fit. The scion is then inserted and driven down with a small wooden mallet. It requires a good deal of prac- tice to make this graft properly, but if this is acquired, it is quickly and effectively done. The wood of the scion should press snugly in its full length against the wood of the stock, in order to enable the former to draw sap immediately. The inside of the bark of the scion should fit against the inside of the bark of the stock in order to Joke proper connection through the callousing of scion and stock. This graft has the advantage over the common cleft graft in that the stock can be cut off just above a node, at which a connec- tion is made much more easily than at an internode. If the bud on the stock is in a smooth place, it can be cut out with the saw, and | § 4 { i i 4 Mh i 14 ¢ 11 i o SA a ibaa 5 dada clei i A x —— 34 How To MAKE GRAPE CULTURE PROFITABLE IN CALIFORNIA the scion inserted in such a place generally grows without failure. The slanting cuts on the scion should come up to the bud as near as possible, so this rests closely against the stock. This graft can be employed on stocks not much more than one-half inch in di- ameter. Such small stocks would of course need a ligature. In ty- ing grafts interspaces should be left between the windings, to leave room for the callous. On dry gravelly soils most anything will do for tying material, but on wet heavy land bluestoned raffia is the best, in order to pre- vent rotting of ligature and also decay of the cut surfaces of both scion and stock. Raffia is bluestoned by soaking it in a three per cent solution of bluestone (4 ounces in a gallon of water) for 24 hours; it is then hung up to dry. Before using it is washed thor- oughly in running water, to remove the bluestone from its outside, and is then kept moist and ready for use. With the suckering of the grafts one should be very careful. It is best not to disturb the grafts with the appearance of the first suckers, but simply pinch these. After a while the earth may be removed from around the grafts and all the suckers cut off, provid- ed the scion has made a growth of one foot or more. If this is not the case two or three suckers near the top of the stock should be left and pinched again. Too severe suckering will easily kill the graft or even the vine, as it is apt to cause souring of the sap. Along in July or August all the grafts should be carefully ex- amined, the tyings and the roots, that have started from the scions cut off, and then well mounded up again, as the knitting of the scion and the stock goes on better under ground than above, Cuttings to be used as scions are best kept in boxes filled witl, sand and placed in a The sand can be moist when the cuttings are first i ject to decay, if the ground. sh Cuttings to be used for propagation on their own roots are better buried outside in a well drained place of gravelly or sandy soil. 3. Budding. This has not b given a fair and thorough trial in California so far and it is therefore difficult to say at present, what can be done in this line. As our atmosphere is much drier during the summer than that of i modifications. CHAPTER VI. Creation of New Hybrids for Grafting Stocks. As has been stated, grafting-stocks of a much greater adapt- 1 ic conditions than the pure species sing or hybridizing varieties be- longing to different species. Crossing and hybridizing do not mean exactly the same thing. A hybrid is obtained from a seed, POLLENATION BY NATURE'S METHOD 35 the ovule of which had been fecundated by the pollen of a variety belonging to a different species, while both parent varieties of a cross are of the same species. More vigorous and hardier types are produced by hybridizing than by crossing; for this reason it is of greater value in the creation of new grafting-stocks. To make the operation better understood it is necessary first to give a short description of the flowers of different seedlings and the process of fecundation. There are three kinds of flowers in grapes: 1. The perfect, hermaphrodite, with well developed pistil and stamens, capable of self-pollenation, Fig. 1. All Viniferas which are cultivated have such flowers. : i 2. The practically pistillate flower with perfect pistil, but weak recurved stamens, generally incapable of self-pollenation. Fig 3. The staminate flower, with perfect stamens, but without pistil. Fig. 3. Example: Rupestris St. George. Only vines with either hermaphrodite or pistillate flowers, pos- sessing a perfectly developed pistil, can bear fruit. But in most cases the pistil does not develop into a grape, unless one or more of its ovules have been fecundated by a pollen grain. Pollenation by Nature’s Method. The pistil of a hermaphrodite flower may be pollenated by the pollen of its own anthers, the enlarged upper portion of the stam- ens, but with pistillate flowers generally only cross-pollenation is efficacious, that is, the pollen must come from a different vine. This latter is also with hermaphrodite flowers more effective and consequential of better results. It seems to be Nature’s preferred method in producing new and more vigorous and valuable types in plant life. Gentle winds and small winged insects, visiting the flowers to gather nectar, are pollen distributors. Whenever a pollen grain is deposited on the stigma, the enlarged upper portion of the pistil, and this is in its receptive state, which is generally after a flower has opened on a warm fair day at about 10 a. m., it begins to germinate in the moist, gummy substance and send down its threadlike roots in one of the minute tubes of the pistil, penetrating the ovule cell-wall and intermingling its substance—protoplasm— with the protoplasm of the ovule. The pistil holding such a fructi- fied ovule at once begins to enlarge and in time becomes a mature grape and the ovules develop seeds within. CL As male vines have not a flower with pistil, it is clear, that salt sn : om ene at rR em a $ ey a Re AE p J iA i h i i ' i { he AEG, oh E o i i Oe i i$ * i ! fe o t { 4 ) {eg i sd! oN i i ¥ i 1