The south still retains the preponderance, reenforced by the southern counties of San Joaquin valley, while the essentiallv vinicultural regions of the north, So- noma and Napa, are strongly supplemented by El Dorado and districts beyond it in the Sacramento valley.

By 1889 about 150,000 acres were planted with some 120,000,000 vines, half of them in bearing, and fully half as yet in mission grapes; but a few years hence the area will be doubled, with a preponderance of foreign varieties.

In 1888 about 800 vines were planted to the acre.

An advantage here gained is the self-supporting stalk after the third year.

It is pruned to a height of about 18 inches, a process which hastens maturity and reduces the danger from wind and frost.