The owner of the Floreal vineyard arrived in Fresno in 1879, and
purchased a then already started plantation, which, however, he soon
greatly remodeled, enlarged and improved. Mr. Goodman, formerly one of
the brilliant newspaper men and literary writers of this coast, and
publisher of the _Territorial Enterprise_ of Virginia City, Nevada, has
probably more than any other man studied the characteristics and
requirements of the raisin grapes. His vineyard, while not the largest,
is in our opinion the best cared for in the State, and newcomers could
perhaps not do better than learn from it. It now comprises one hundred
and twenty acres, mostly in Gordo Blanco. For the curing of the grapes,
thirty thousand trays or more are needed, while a separate packing-house
and tray-shed are prominent features of the vineyard. The land was all
leveled with great care before planting, and every check can be flooded
if necessary. The soil is the very richest, being the chocolate-colored
loam, which in Fresno is considered the best and strongest soil for
Muscat grapes. The location of the vineyard is the old sink of Red Bank
creek, in the same district where Forsyth’s and Butler’s vineyards are
situated. As regards planting, pruning, sulphuring, topping and other
vineyard operations, Mr. J. T. Goodman is an authority from whose
verdict there is no appeal. The Floreal vineyard always bears good
crops, which must be exclusively attributed to the care given the
vineyard and to the judgment with which all operations there are
conducted. Mr. Goodman has invented several appliances for facilitating
the vineyard work, most prominent among which I may mention the vineyard
truck, by the means of which the expenses of harvesting and some other
vineyard labors are greatly reduced. He also suggested the facing-plate
independently of T. C. White.