The Raisin Industry: A practical treatise on the raisin grapes, their history, culture and curingEisen, Gustavus A.
History
The Raisin Industry: A practical treatise on the raisin grapes, their history, culture and curing
Eisen, Gustavus A.
Raisins; Viticulture -- California
_Other Soils in San Joaquin Valley._--In Merced the best soil is heavy
chocolate-colored loam, in places redder, in others darker, almost
blackish. It is generally mixed with some gravel. As a rule, all the red
soil in the San Joaquin valley is of the same characteristics, and well
suited to the Muscat grape, provided the ground is sufficiently level.
In Tulare county the proper soil for the Muscat is found to be the
bottom lands of Kings and Kaweah rivers, as well as the deposits of the
smaller creeks. This variety of gray alluvial loam is exceedingly
fertile, and there is none superior for the Muscat grape. But an
admixture of alkali often spoils soils which otherwise would be
considered the very best. A similar soil is found in Kern county,
especially near Kern Lake, and which must be rated among the best in the
State, its color being a deep bluish gray. The vineyards of Yolo and
Solano counties are located on a very similar soil, rich in humus, lime
and phosphates, but more yellowish or pale chocolate colored.
_Orange County._--A similar rich alluvial deposit is found in Orange
county in the fertile district known as Santa Ana valley. The soil
around Anaheim, Santa Ana, Orange and Tustin consists of a more or less
dark alluvial loam of unsurpassed fertility, and especially adapted to
the Muscat grape. It varies as to the percentage of sand and gravel. The
sandiest soil in this district, while less rich, brings the earliest
grapes, which come to perfect ripeness several weeks before those grown
on the heavier soils, but the latter produce the best raisins.
_Redlands and Riverside._--The Redlands soil of the mesa lands is
reddish, rather darker than the same quality of soil in Riverside and
Fresno. It is mixed with sand and gravel, and partakes strongly of the
nature of the red or chocolate-colored loams of the State. The Lugonia
bottom soil consists of a very sandy loam, on which the Muscat grape
has proved a failure. The best Riverside soil is red or
chocolate-colored sandy loam, so often spoken of. Towards Rincon we find
alluvial bottom soils producing grapes of superb quality and size. The
soil of the San Bernardino district resemble the red Fresno soils, while
the white ashy soil is not found there.
_El Cajon._--The El Cajon valley soils are of three or more kinds: Rich
red clay mixed with gravel, with the color changing from lighter
chocolate to deeper reddish. This is a very desirable soil,--a steel
gray or slate gray adobe with much gravel of a coarse nature; a black
adobe with some gravel; an alluvial sandy loam consisting of decomposed
granite mixed with much vegetable matter and humus. The El Cajon soils,
while sandy and gravelly, produce exceedingly sweet and highly flavored
grapes but comparatively small crops.
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