,transcriber's ,notes ,in this document1 texts between underscores1 equal signs and tildes represent texts printed in italics1 in bold face and underlined texts1 respectively4 ,more ,transcriber's ,notes may be found at the end of this text4 ,illustration3 ,muscat of ,alexandria ,raisin ,grape1 ,first ,crop4 ,one-half ,natural ,size4 ,,the ,,raisin ,,industry4 ,a ,,practical ,,treatise ,,on ,,the ,,raisin ,,grapes1 ,,their ,,history1 ,,culture ,,and ,,curing4 ,,by ,,gustav ,,eisen4 ,,san ,,francisco3 ,h4 ,s4 ,,crocker ,,company1 ,,stationers ,,and ,,printers1 #ahij4 ,entered according to ,act of ,congress1 in the year #ahij1 by ,,gustav ,,eisen1 in the office of the ,librarian of ,congress1 at ,washington4 ,,preface4 ,of late years the raisin industry has been prominently before the horticulturists of ,california4 ,many people now make their living and acquire wealth by the cultivation of the raisin grapes1 and many are now studying the methods of cultivation1 pruning1 curing and packing while waiting for their vines to bear4 ,the literature of the raisin industry is a very scant one1 and1 with the exception of a few notices in works of travel1 or in treatises on general fruit culture1 we find not a single book in which this important and interesting industry is made the special subject of study and discussion4 ,a book on the raisin industry may1 therefore1 be considered timely4 ,i have endeavored to so write it that it would contain something of interest to all those connected with the growing and curing of the raisin grapes1 to those who have already succeeded in building up fame and fortune1 as well as to those who have just begun the cultivation of the vine1 and who have as yet only realized the pleasures1 but not the profits1 of the industry4 ,the historical part of the book will principally interest the former2 for the latter the practical part on cultivation1 pruning1 curing and packing is intended4 ,as our climate and other conditions differ from those of any other country in the world1 so must our methods of cultivation and curing differ from those practiced elsewhere4 ,foreign methods1 while interesting and1 in some respects1 of great importance to us1 had to be greatly modified and improved upon before our growers succeeded in producing raisins equaling the best from the raisin districts of the ,old ,world4 ,it has cost years of experimenting and study to attain success1 as well as much money and disappointment to many who had nothing to guide them when they commenced4 ,these processes by which success was achieved can now become the property of all1 and a safe guide to even the most inexperienced beginners4 ,the methods advocated here are the result of practical experience of the author1 as well as of the most successful raisin-growers of this ,state4 ,for the benefit of those of our readers who now study the raisin industry at a distance1 but whose steps may in the future be directed to this ,coast1 a descriptive tour through the raisin districts of our ,state has been added in order that they may see what our country is like1--the country of the raisin and the fig2 the country of almonds1 olives1 oranges and prunes2 the country where health1 profit and enjoyment are more than anywhere else derived from horticultural pursuits4 ,it is for these prospective readers1 that the short biographical sketches of our principal raisin-men are intended1--short records of the pioneers of the raisin industry1--men who have broken the way which is now easy to travel1 and through whose experience and perseverance others are now being benefited4 ,,gustav ,,eisen4 ,,san ,,francisco1 ,,cal41 ,,october1 #ahij4 ,,table ,,of ,,contents4 ,,page4 ,,historical #e ,raisins #e ,the ,currant #f ,muscatels #g ,dehesa ,raisins #g ,lexias or ,lye-dipped ,raisins #i ,various ,kinds of ,raisins #aj --,muscatels2 ,currants2 ,belvideres2 ,black ,smyrnas2 ,california ,malagas2 ,california ,sun-dried ,sultanas2 ,seedless ,muscatels2 ,thompson ,seedless2 ,dried ,grapes2 ,lexias2 ,california ,dipped2 ,smyrnas2 ,faros2 ,huascos4 ,,raisin ,,districts #aj ,foreign ,districts #aj ,raisins in ,ancient ,times #aj ,modern ,raisin ,districts #aa ,the ,malaga ,district #ab --,extent and ,age2 ,climate2 ,soil2 location of the ,vineyard2 ,varieties of ,grapes2 ,characteristics of the ,raisins2 ,yield of ,grapes2 ,distances of the ,vines2 ,pruning2 ,manuring and ,fertilizing2 ,drying ,floors or ,sequeros2 ,drying and ,curing2 ,packing2 ,labor4 ,valencia and ,denia #ae --,extent of the ,district2 ,soils and ,appearance of the ,district2 ,climate2 ,irrigation2 ,quality of the ,raisins2 ,planting and ,care2 ,dipping and ,scalding2 ,drying and ,curing2 ,packing and ,disposing of the ,crop2 ,export and ,production4 ,corinth and ,currants #bb --,historical and ,geographical ,notes2 ,characteristics and ,quality2 ,soil and ,irrigation2 ,preparation of the ,land2 ,distances of the ,currant ,vines2 ,care of ,cuttings2 ,planting and ,grafting2 ,pruning the ,vines2 ,care of the ,vineyard2 ,ringing the ,branches2 ,drying and ,curing2 ,cost of ,currant ,vineyards in ,greece2 ,consumption and ,production4 ,smyrna ,raisins #cj --,districts in ,smyrna2 ,climate2 ,care of the ,vines2 ,dipping1 ,drying and ,curing2 ,production and ,export2 ,cost of ,vineyards in ,smyrna2 ,other ,varieties of ,raisins4 ,italy and ,italian ,raisins #cf --,lipari and ,belvidere2 ,pantellaria2 ,calabria4 ,chile and ,huasco ,raisins #cf --,characteristics2 ,location2 ,varieties2 ,soils2 ,climate2 ,irrigation2 ,the ,vineyard2 ,drying and ,curing4 ,california ,raisin ,districts #ch ,a ,general ,review #ch --,early ,history2 ,later ,planting2 ,acreage and ,crops4 ,yolo and ,solano #dj --,soil and ,climate2 ,the ,vineyard2 ,the ,crop4 ,northern ,california #dc --,general ,remarks2 ,placer ,county2 ,yuba ,county2 ,sutter ,county2 ,colusa ,county2 ,butte ,county2 ,tehama ,county2 ,shasta ,county4 ,fresno1 ,merced1 ,tulare and ,kern #dd --,extent and ,location2 ,soils and ,climate2 ,irrigation2 ,the ,vineyard2 ,pruning and ,other ,operations2 ,the ,crop4 ,san ,bernardino ,county #dh --,location and ,acreage2 ,climate2 ,irrigation2 ,soils2 ,the ,vineyard2 ,the ,crop2 ,the ,profits and ,other ,items4 ,orange ,county and ,santa ,ana #eb --,general ,remarks2 ,location2 ,climate2 ,soils and ,ripening2 ,the ,vineyard2 ,the ,crop and its ,curing2 ,yield and ,profits4 ,san ,diego and ,el ,cajon #ee --,location and ,acreage2 ,climate and ,rainfall2 ,soils2 ,the ,vines and the ,vineyard2 ,the ,crop4 ,other ,raisin ,districts #ei ,,climatic ,,conditions1 ,,soils1 ,,location ,,and ,,irrigation #fj ,climatic ,conditions ,favorable and ,unfavorable to the ,raisin ,industry #fj --,limits of the ,raisin ,districts2 ,dry ,seasons1 ,spring and ,fall ,rains2 ,winter ,rains2 ,frost in ,spring and ,winter2 ,summer ,temperature2 ,winds1 ,injurious and ,beneficial2 ,fogs and ,moisture in the ,air2 ,ideal ,conditions of ,climate4 ,soils #fg --,general ,remarks2 ,malaga2 ,valencia and ,denia2 ,smyrna2 ,zante2 ,chile2 ,fresno2 ,other ,soils in ,san ,joaquin ,valley2 ,orange ,county2 ,redlands and ,riverside2 ,el ,cajon2 ,subsoils2 ,hardpan ,soils2 ,comparative ,value of ,soils2 ,alkali ,soils2 ,fertilizing4 ,irrigation #gg --,introductory ,notes2 the ,necessity of ,irrigating the ,raisin ,vines2 ,health and ,longevity of ,irrigated ,vines2 ,the ,bearing ,quality of ,irrigated ,vines2 ,quality of ,irrigated ,grapes2 ,various ,methods of ,irrigation2 ,irrigation by ,flooding2 ,irrigation by ,furrowing2 ,subirrigation2 ,seepage2 ,drainage2 ,the ,influence of ,irrigation on the ,soil4 ,the ,raisin ,grapes #hg --,introductory ,notes2 ,muscatel or ,gordo ,blanco2 ,muscat of ,alexandria2 ,huasco ,muscat2 ,other ,varieties of ,muscat2 ,seedless ,sultana2 ,black ,currant2 ,other ,varieties of ,currants2 ,thompson ,seedless2 ,other ,seedless ,grapes2 ,malaga2 ,feher ,szagos2 ,other ,raisin ,grapes4 ,,diseases ,,and ,,insect ,,pests #ic ,powdery ,mildew or ,uncinula #ic --,general ,notes2 ,characteristics2 ,history and ,distribution2 ,remedies4 ,downy ,mildew or ,peronospora #ie --,general ,notes4 ,the ,vine ,plague #if --,characteristics2 ,nature and ,cause2 ,damages2 ,remedies4 ,leaf-hopper #ih --,characteristics2 ,damages2 ,distribution2 ,remedies4 ,red ,spider #ajj --,characteristics2 ,remedies4 ,caterpillars #ajj --,characteristics2 ,damages2 ,remedies4 ,black-knot #ajb --,characteristics2 ,remedies4 ,grasshoppers #ajb --,general ,notes2 ,remedies4 ,,the ,,raisin ,,vineyard #ajd ,planting #ajd --,distances for ,muscat ,vines2 the ,marking ,out of a ,vineyard2 ,relative ,value of ,cuttings and ,rooted ,vines2 ,the ,making of ,cuttings2 ,the ,care of ,cuttings2 ,planting ,cuttings2 ,care of ,young ,cuttings2 ,transporting ,cuttings to ,distant ,parts2 ,rooting ,cuttings2 ,care of ,rooted ,cuttings2 ,planting ,rooted ,vines2 ,proper ,time for ,planting2 ,cost of ,cuttings and ,rooted ,vines2 ,winter ,plowing2 ,plowing ,devices2 ,cultivation2 ,back- furrowing2 ,cross-plowing2 ,weed-cutters2 ,cutter-sled2 ,hoeing2 ,time for ,cultivation4 ,grafting the ,muscat on ,other ,stocks #aag --,time for ,grafting ,raisin-vines2 ,points to be ,observed in ,grafting2 ,various ,methods of ,grafting2 ,stocks and their ,influence4 ,various ,summer ,work #aba --,sulphuring2 ,tying ,over2 ,covering the ,vines2 ,thinning the ,crop2 ,ringing the ,vines2 ,the ,vineyard ,labors of the ,year4 ,pruning #abd --,winter ,pruning or ,pruning ,hard ,wood2 ,bleeding of the ,vines2 ,summer ,pruning or ,pruning ,green ,wood2 ,root-pruning2 ,suckering4 ,various ,vineyard ,tools #acj --,general ,notes2 ,the ,sheep's-foot2 ,the ,planting-bar2 ,the ,dibble2 ,planting ,chains2 ,spades2 ,hoes2 ,plows2 ,cultivators2 ,randel ,disc ,cultivators2 ,the ,ash-trough2 ,sulphuring ,cans and ,bellows2 ,the ,cutter-sled2 ,vineyard ,trucks2 ,shears4 ,,drying ,,and ,,curing #acc ,california ,sun-dried ,raisins #acc --,notes2 ,time of ,ripening2 ,signs of ,maturity2 ,picking2 ,cleaning2 ,drying on ,trays2 ,turning2 ,reversing2 ,slanting the ,trays2 ,elevating the ,trays2 ,stacking ,against ,rain and ,dew2 ,taking ,up2 ,covering2 ,drying-floors2 ,dryers2 ,sweatboxes2 ,trays for ,drying4 ,california ,lye-dipped ,raisins #adi --,general ,notes2 ,dipping ,process2 ,drying and ,curing2 ,stemming1 ,grading and ,packing4 ,,the ,,packing-,,house #aec ,buildings and ,mechanical ,appliances #aec --,the ,packing-house2 ,the ,stemmer and ,grader2 ,the ,sweating- house2 ,the ,presses2 ,boxes and ,cartoons2 ,packing ,frames and ,packing ,trays2 ,facing-plate2 ,scales2 ,labeling ,press2 ,tables2 ,bags and ,bagholders2 ,trucks2 ,trays for ,weighing2 ,followers2 ,paper2 ,tin ,boxes4 ,loose ,raisins #aeh --,stemming and ,assorting2 ,packing and ,cleaning2 ,sacking2 ,facing1 ,top-up ,method2 ,facing1 ,top-down ,method2 ,comparative ,value of the ,two ,methods4 ,layer ,raisins #afb --,sweating and ,equalizing2 ,packing ,layers1 ,top-up ,method2 ,packing ,layers1 ,top-down ,method2 ,filling2 ,nailing and ,trimming2 ,labels4 ,,statistics ,,of ,,importation1 ,,production ,,and ,,prices #afi --,production of ,raisins in ,california from #ahgc to #ahhi2 ,number of ,acres in ,raisin ,grapes in ,california in #ahij2 ,california and ,malaga ,prices1 ,importation1 etc41 from #ahga to #ahhi2 ,exports of ,malaga ,raisins from #ahfd to #ahhi2 ,exports of ,valencia ,raisins from #ahej to #ahhi2 ,first ,cost of ,crop of ,valencia ,raisins2 ,production and ,distribution of ,smyrna ,raisins from #ahdd to #ahhd2 ,world's ,raisin ,production in #ahij2 ,importation of ,raisins1 ,currants and ,figs into the ,united ,states from #ahgc to #ahgh2 ,importation of ,raisins1 ,currants and ,figs into the ,united ,states from #ahgi to #ahhh2 ,consumption of ,currants and ,raisins per ,head of ,total ,population in #ahhd2 ,prices ,ruling in the ,california ,raisin ,districts4 ,,through ,,the ,,california ,,raisin ,,districts #aha ,through ,san ,joaquin ,valley to ,fresno #aha ,from ,los ,angeles to ,santa ,ana #ahi ,from ,santa ,ana to ,san ,diego #aib ,el ,cajon #aie ,riverside #aii ,redlands #bjb ,an ,hour in a ,packing-house #bje ,,raisin-,,growers ,,and ,,their ,,vineyards #bjh --,g4 ,g4 ,briggs2 ,r4 ,b4 ,blowers2 ,robert ,mc,pherson2 ,t4 ,c4 ,white2 ,miss ,m4 ,f4 ,austin2 ,joseph ,t4 ,goodman2 ,a4 ,b4 ,butler2 ,william ,forsyth2 ,a4 ,d4 ,barling2 ,san ,joaquin ,valley ,raisin ,packers of #ahhi4 ,,literature #bae --,introductory2 ,list of ,books of ,reference4 ,,general ,,index #bai ,,the ,,raisin ,,industry4 ,a ,,practical ,,treatise ,,on ,,the ,,raisin ,,grapes1 ,,their ,,history1 ,,culture ,,and ,,curing1 ,,with ,,special ,,reference ,,to ,,california1 ,,by ,,gustav ,,eisen4 ,copyrighted4 ,,historical4 ,,raisins4 ,the word 8raisin0 as spelled and pronounced to-day1 is not of very ancient origin1 but rather a corruption and evolution of older words1 both spelled and pronounced differently4 ,thus ,falstaff replies to ,prince ,hal3 8,if reasons were as plentiful as blackberries1 ,i would give no man a reason upon compulsion0 7,henry ,,iv1 ,act ,,ii1 scene #d74 ,also1 ,cooper1 in his dictionary of #afhe1 indicates that 8raisin0 and 8reason0 are of identical sounds4 ,the derivation of the word has1 again1 been very variously suggested either from 8red0 or 8rose0 color1 connecting it with the ,german and ,danish word 8rosine20 and it has even been suggested that the word was derived from the fact that the raisins were cured in the 8rays0 of the sun4 ,the true derivation1 however1 is from the ,latin word 8racemus10 meaning a bunch or cluster4 ,richardson1 who first points out this derivation1 quotes3 8,whether a reisyn 7,e4 ,v4 graap1 racemus7 of ,effraym is not better than the vindages of ,abiezer0 7,wicliffe ,judges ,,viij1 #b74 8,and there shall be left in it as a rasyn0 7,e4 ,v41 braunches of a cluster74 ,marginal note1 8,a rasyn is a lytil bow with a lytil fruit0 7,idem4 ,is41 ,,xvij41 #f74 ,but we have much older testimony of this derivation being the correct one4 ,an old document states that1 in #abfe ,a4 ,d41 the ,countess of ,leicester paid in ,london twelve shillings for fourteen pounds1 or1 as the statement reads in ,latin1 8,pro uno fraello racemorum20 which1 translated1 would be1 8for one frail of bunches40 ,the evolution of the ,latin word racemus was thus seen to have been accomplished rapidly enough2 but1 on account of the illiteracy of the olden times1 it was spelled and pronounced promiscuously4 ,thus we meet with such spellings as 8reysyns10 in #abff2 8reysons10 in #addg 78,russell's ,book of ,nurture074 ,in #aeed the ,stationers' ,company in ,london paid twopence for one pound of 8greate reasons20 while ,andrew ,borde1 in his 8,dietary0 of #aedb1 says that 8great raysens be nutrytyve1 specyally yf the stones be pulled out40 ,in #aegh ,dodoens speaks of dried raysens4 ,in #afhe the word 8raisin0 is used and spelled as in our days1 and from that time on the different spellings were used1 if not promiscuously1 still without any great uniformity4 ,the term of 8greate raysens0 was introduced to distinguish them from the smaller raisins1 or currants4 ,in our own days1 the latter is seldom classed or alluded to as a 8raisin0 proper1 although it1 strictly speaking1 should be considered as such4 ,the tendency at present in ,california is to make the distinction between 8raisins0 and 8dried grapes10 meaning by the former certain varieties of grapes which have been skillfully dried and cured1 and which are superior in taste1 flavor1 thinness of skin and saccharine matter4 8,dried grapes10 again1 are simply any kind of grape1 especially wine-grapes1 which have only been dried1 and which have not undergone that skillful treatment which the grape-grower is so proud of1 and justly enough designates as 8curing40 ,they are an outgrowth from the late efforts of the ,french wine merchants to make genuine ,french wine out of anything that is sweet1 and as they are immensely preferable to beets1 potatoes and glucose1 they will always be in demand4 ,with the above definition of the 8raisin0 accepted1 we can proceed to consider their different varieties1 their names and derivations4 ,the old designations of the different varieties were derived from the places where they were produced1 without special reference to the grapes from which the raisins were made4 ,thus we had ,malagas1 ,currants1 ,valencias1 ,denias1 ,turkish and ,italian raisins4 ,but since it has been found that the same kinds of raisins have been produced in very different localities1 and that some localities can produce all the different kinds1 a new division has been found necessary4 ,thus1 disregarding the many various brands with which this and other markets are flooded1 the following different varieties of raisins will be found the principal ones3 ,currants1 ,muscatels1 ,dipped and ,sultana4 ,,the ,,currant4 ,the currant is one of the very oldest raisins known4 ,as early as #ge ,a4 ,d4 ,pliny speaks of the fine grapes grown in ,greece1 the berry being thin-skinned1 juicy and sweet1 and the bunch being exceedingly small4 ,this1 then1 must be the currant of later times4 ,after this first mention of this grape1 the same drops out of history for ten centuries1 and the name currant is first to be identified with raisins de ,corauntz1 or rather1 8reysyns de ,corauntzs0 as late as #accd4 ,as early as the eleventh century1 a lively traffic in this kind of raisins had taken place between the ,greek producers1 the ,venetians and other of the ,mediterranean merchant nations4 ,in #accd we find them called 8corauntz20 in #adce1 8corent20 and old ,,ms4 of the ,grocers' ,company in ,london1 speaks of 8x butts and vi roundelletts of resins of ,corent40 ,thus spelled1 the name was used for years4 ,in #adfc 8reysonys of ,corawnce0 were three pence per pound1 and in #aeab the ,duke of ,northumberland paid two pence per pound for rasyns of ,corens4 ,in #aeed the name had changed to currans1 and the ,stationers' ,company provided for a banquet 8#e punde of currans at one shilling and eight pence40 ,in #aeeh the same company provided for 8#f punde of currance for #b shillings40 ,in #aegh we find in ,lytes' translation of ,dodoens's 8,herbal10 in the description of different varieties of vines1 that 8,small raysens1 commonly called ,corantes1 but more rightly raysens of ,corinthe4 ,the fruit is called in the shoppes of the countrie1#a passulae de ,corinthe2 in ,french1 raisins de ,corinthe2 in base ,almaigne 7,dutch7 ,corinthea2 in ,english1 ,currantes1 and small raysens of ,corynthe40 ,here1 then1 is indicated for the first time that the true and correct name should be 8raisins of ,corinth40 ,but we need not follow this evolution any longer2 there can be no possible doubt that the name currant1 the one now accepted for this class of raisins1 is derived from the town of ,corinth1 on the mainland of ,greece1--the ,morea of our days1 the ,peloponnesus of the ancients4 ,until the time when the ,turks conquered ,greece1 the port of ,corinth was the principal point of export for this class of raisins1 and while1 after the subjection of ,greece this commerce entirely ceased1 still this fruit always continued to bear the name by which it first became known to commerce4 #a ,holland1 ,dodoens was a learned ,dutch botanist4 ,,muscatels4 ,the principal and most valued class of raisins are the ,muscatels or ,muscats4 ,they all derive their name from the ,muscatel or ,muscat grape1 from which these raisins are made4 ,as to the origin of the name ,muscat1 opinions differ4 ,the most popular one is that the grape got its name from the supposed musky flavor peculiar to this variety of grape4 ,it is1 however1 far more likely that the name is a very ancient one1 and derived from the ,latin word ,musca1 meaning a fly1--these fine grapes when drying being especially attractive to flies4 ,the ,romans called this grape1 8,uva ,apiaria10 meaning bee grapes1 or grapes beloved by bees1 from the fact that the bees are especially attracted to these grapes when they are being dried4 ,the ,muscat or ,muscatel would then not originally designate a certain variety of grapes1 but grapes used for drying generally4 ,in the course of time the name was transferred to or especially given to the best grape for drying purposes1--the ,muscatel of our own times4 ,,dehesa ,,raisins4 ,the finest or at least the most expensive brand of raisins made is the ,dehesa raisin of ,malaga4 ,they are produced from the ,muscatel variety and the name they bear has an interesting origin1 giving us at the same time an insight in the development of the agricultural and horticultural resources of ,spain4 ,the word 8,dehesa0 is found by reference to a good ,spanish dictionary to mean pasture ground4 ,the 8,dehesa0 raisins then are pasture-ground raisins1 or raisins grown on former pasture ground4 ,the way the raisins came to be given such a name is as follows4 ,between the years #hjj and the end of the fifteenth century1 the fairest part of ,spain as well as ,portugal was occupied by the ,moors4 ,contrary to their nature in other countries1 they proved here extremely industrious1 and excelled both as merchants1 artisans and agriculturists4 ,the waters of the streams were conducted to the land in aqueducts1 dams were thrown across the rivers1 reservoirs were formed1 and the whole of ,southern ,spain became most highly cultivated1 rich and prosperous4 ,in fact1 if the historians are to be believed1 and the yet remaining views of former grandeur can be trusted1 no country either in ancient or modern times has ever in prosperity rivaled the ancient ,moorish kingdoms of ,granada and ,andalusia4 ,in the thirteenth century the ,christian knights and kings of ,central and ,northern ,spain succeeded in conquering the ,moors1 who again were unmercifully expelled1 massacred or enslaved1 their cities burned and razed1 and the fertile and cultivated districts utterly ruined4 ,vast tracts were depopulated and abandoned1 and1 nature taking its course1 wild grass1 shrubbery and trees soon covered the former highly cultivated plains4 ,in the course of time these uncultivated lands attracted the attention of the highland shepherds1 who drove their herds to them during the winters1 again returning to the mountains at the advent of the dry season4 ,by degrees the self-taken rights of the sheepmen became more widely recognized1 and1 while the less valuable lands were taken possession of by the poorer peasantry1 these pasture lands were set apart for the exclusive use of the sheep-owners4 ,the pasture lands thus being free1 it was no wonder that the sheep industry flourished1 and that the flocks increased4 ,the wool industry soon became one of the most important in ,spain4 ,the flocks were principally owned by nobles and monks1 and the poor peasants1 who constituted the only agricultural population1 had very little if any chance to oppose the ever greater encroachments of the wandering flocks or their insolent owners4 ,the ,merinos1 or moving sheep1 were wintered in the warm valleys of ,andalusia1 ,murcia and ,estremadura1 only to be again removed to the cooler mountains of ,leon and ,castille at the advent of spring4 ,what curse this would entail on the agricultural population is easy to be seen4 ,the sheep were moving in bands of #aj1jjj each1 and #gjj to #hjj such flocks were moved annually twice through a country devoid of fences or inclosures of any kind4 ,numerous disputes and constant bloody fights arose between farmers and the shepherd1 to settle which the 8,council of the ,mesta0 was instituted4 ,in tyranny1 this dreaded institution was only equaled by the famous ,inquisition1 with which in birth and death it was almost contemporaneous4 ,in the year #aeef a code of laws was promulgated1 and a compromise was entered upon4 ,but the tyranny of the shepherds1 upheld through their 8,mesta10 was in no way diminished4 ,the latter continually extended its power1 encroached upon new territory1 appropriating gradually the finest pastures of ,spain1 and finally obtained a monopoly of the wool trade4 ,its tyranny became at last intolerable4 ,the shepherds of the ,mesta were more dreaded than robbers and highwaymen in every place through which they passed4 ,agriculture became almost impossible4 ,at last the 8,mesta0 was abolished by the ,cortez in ,cadiz in #ahab1 and a few years afterwards the pastures or ,dehesas were sold4 ,one of the finest ,dehesas near ,velez1 ,malaga1 was planted to ,muscatel grapes1 and through the combined fertility of the soil1 and the abundance of moisture1 the vineyard proved a great success4 ,so fine were the grapes grown there that they attracted great attention2 no such fine grapes had ever been seen in ,andalusia before4 ,the merchants to whom the first raisins were sold were much astonished1 and wonderingly asked whence they came4 ,the reply1 8from the ,dehesa10 was from that time on applied to the finest ,muscatel grapes4 ,,lexias1 ,,or ,,lye-,,dipped1 ,,and ,,other ,,raisins4 ,the third class of raisins are the dipped raisins1 so called from being dipped in boiling lye before being dried and cured4 ,the ,spanish name for these raisins is ,lexias4 ,the name ,lexia is1 again1 derived from a more ancient word1 the ,latin lixivium1 or lixia1 meaning lye4 ,to-day the continental name for this class of raisin is ,lexias1 when the more specific names of ,denias and ,valencias are not used4 ,here1 in ,america1 we generally use these names1 and whenever we speak of ,valencias and ,denias we mean the dipped raisins of these districts4 ,to the above three classes of raisins we might appropriately add ,sultanas and ,malagas4 ,the ,sultanas are made from the ,sultana grape1 a seedless grape from ,asia ,minor1 now grown in many ,mediterranean countries1 as well as here in ,california4 ,the ,malagas1 again1 were originally the ,muscatels grown around ,malaga1 in ,spain2 but of late this name is being1 with considerable confusion1 applied to a coarser raisin made in ,california from a grape here called1 for want of a better name1 the ,malaga grape4 ,among names which were formerly much used1 but which have gone out of use1 was the ,solis1 or sun-dried raisins1 especially the sun-dried ,muscatels of ,malaga4 ,as early as #abie ,a4 ,d41 the ,muscatels were generally called thus3 ,raisins of the sun2 ,solis1 or sun-dried1 so as to distinguish them from the inferior dipped1 or ,lexias4 ,in our own time1 this name was nearly being revived1 when a couple of years ago our ,california sun-dried raisins were spoken of in opposition to our machine-dried raisins1 and when both classes had their earnest and enthusiastic champions4 ,we cannot leave this chapter on names without referring to classes of raisins receiving their names from certain localities4 ,of course1 the number of such names may be almost endless4 ,it is1 however1 only of interest to refer to the principal ones1 such as have been known to commerce in former days or are yet known4 ,thus1 we designate as ,malagas any of the raisins grown and shipped from ,malaga4 ,the ,smyrnas 7formerly ,smirna7 are those from ,smyrna1 in ,asia ,minor1 both sun-dried and dipped raisins2 the ,alicantes1 dipped raisins1 from ,alicante1 in ,spain2 the ,denias1 dipped raisins from ,denia1 in ,spain2 the ,valencias1 dipped raisins from ,valencia 7include ,denias72 the ,lipari1 raisins from the ,island of ,lipari1 near ,sicily2 the ,belvideres1 from the same island and from the ,island of ,pantellaria2 the ,calabrian raisins1 from ,calabria1 in ,italy2 the ,faro raisins1 from the port of ,faro1 in ,algarve1 ,portugal4 ,we have above already referred to the currants1 from the town of ,corinth and the ,grecian ,islands1 and the ,malagas1 from ,malaga4 ,the latter were also known as 8great raisins10 on account of their superior quality4 ,among the latter we should1 of course1 count the ,california raisins2 but1 unfortunately1 our raisin-growers have not until quite recently recognized the necessity of adopting names which should at once show the locality where the raisins are produced4 ,but we will return to this further on4 ,,various ,,kinds ,,of ,,raisins4 a4 ,sun-dried raisins4 #a4 ,muscatels1 or ,muscats1 from ,malaga or ,california4 ,the former1 also known at various periods as 8,solis10 or sun-dried1 or 8great raisins10 on account of their very superior qualities4 #b4 ,currants1 raisins made of the small currant grape1 originally from ,corinth4 #c4 ,belvideres1 raisins from ,calabria1 in ,italy1 and from the ,islands of ,lipari and ,pantellaria1 near ,sicily4 #d4 ,black ,smyrna1 properly only a dried grape1 not exported to this country4 #e4 ,california ,malagas1 made from the ,malaga grape4 #f4 ,california sun-dried ,sultanas1 made from the ,sultana grapes in this ,state4 ,and1 lastly1-- #g4 ,seedless ,muscatels1 made in ,california1 and being the smallest ,muscats separated from the larger seed-bearing berries4 #h4 ,thompson ,seedless1 a new1 very promising raisin now being produced in this country from vines imported originally from ,constantinople1 producing seedless grapes1 slightly larger than the ,sultanas4 #i4 ,dried grapes of any description1 especially wine grapes1 exported from this and ,mediterranean countries for wine-making to ,france1 ,england and the ,eastern ,states4 b4 ,dipped raisins4 #aj4 ,lexias1 or ,dipped ,muscatels1 from ,denia1 ,valencia1 ,alicante1 in ,spain4 #aa4 ,california ,dipped1 especially second-crop ,muscatels4 ,proper name not yet established4 #ab4 ,smyrnas1 which again may be either ,sultanas1 ,chesmes or ,elems4 ,the first from the ,sultana grape1 the two latter1 the 8red0 grapes1 from ,dipped ,muscatels4 #ac4 ,faros1 from ,algarve1 in ,portugal1 not known in this country4 c4 ,dried in the shade4 #ad4 ,huasco raisin1 from ,chile4 ,to this list might be added many more varieties of less importance4 ,,raisin ,,districts4 ,,foreign ,,districts4 ,,raisins ,,in ,,ancient ,,times4 ,previous to the production of raisins in ,california within the last twenty years1 the raisin industry of the world was entirely confined to the ,mediterranean district of ,europe and ,asia4 ,at that period1 however1 raisin grapes became more disseminated1 and raisins were produced to begin with in small quantities in widely distant countries1 such as ,chile1 ,australia and ,california4 ,by virtue of their climatic conditions1 the ,mediterranean countries were the only parts of ,europe where raisin culture could be successfully carried on1 though it is almost certain that the original home of the raisin grapes must be looked for elsewhere4 ,in searching for the original habitat for the ancient varieties of raisin grapes1 we must look further east to ancient ,persia1 or to the tablelands of ,western ,asia generally4 ,in remotest antiquity1 grape culture was carried on there1 and in the ancient records of travelers in those countries we find mentioned dried and seedless grapes4 ,we can trace the origin of two varieties of raisin grapes to the beginning of our era1 which must then already have attained perfection4 ,as has been mentioned before1 ,pliny spoke of a small1 sweet and remarkable grape grown by the ,greeks1 evidently the 8currant20 he also mentions ,uva ,zibebae and ,uva ,alexandria4 ,the ,latins generally spoke of ,uvae ,apiariae or ,uvae ,muscae1 our present ,muscatels or dried grapes generally4 ,this carries us back fully nineteen centuries4 ,but we may well believe1 even in want of records1 that the drying of grapes was practiced centuries before4 ,,modern ,,raisin ,,districts4 ,leaving remote antiquity1 it was only in the ,mediterranean basin1 and in comparatively modern times1 that the drying of grapes developed to an important industry1 and in more recent times yet that grapes were exported to ,northern ,europe4 ,while thus the industry is old1 it was not until the eleventh century1 at the time of the ,crusades1 that it became important4 ,the returning knights brought with them taste for and acquaintance with the products of the ,east4 ,northern ,europe became the consumers of raisins1 regarding them as the greatest luxuries1 only to be afforded by the rich4 ,it has been reserved for our time to make the raisin a necessity even in humbler homes4 ,the perfection to which the raisin industry has attained is of modern origin not yet half a century old4 ,the raisin districts of the world are not large1 and while for centuries every effort was made to extend the planting of raisin grapes and their curing into raisins1 few of these efforts have been crowned with success4 ,while raisin grapes may grow and be turned into raisins in almost every part of the ,mediterranean basin1 experience has demonstrated that it has only proved a paying business in comparatively few localities4 ,the reasons of this are not fully apparent2 but they are evidently dependent both upon climatic conditions and upon the capability of the natives to learn and profit by the experiences of others1 and upon their enterprise in venturing upon a new industry4 ,on the other hand1 it is not likely that1 even with extensive experiments and with the aid of large capital1 the growing and curing of the raisin grapes could be very extensively extended4 ,the question there as well as here is not one alone of agricultural consideration1 but a financial problem dependent upon the labor supply1 the facilities for shipping1 climatic conditions during the curing season1 etc4 ,such being the case1 all the more interest is attached to those localities and districts where the raisin industry flourishes1 and where there is every probability that it will remain a success4 ,,the ,,malaga ,,district4 ,extent and ,age of the ,district4--,malaga has been known to export raisins since #abie ,a4 ,d41 but must have been a raisin-producing district centuries before4 ,the raisin cult1 then1 is no doubt of ,phnician origin1 and has been practiced in the same locality for two thousand years or more4 ,under the ,romans the raisin industry was continued1 but appears to have deteriorated and later on to have been abandoned altogether1 as the local tradition credits the ,moors with having re-introduced the raisin grape into ,velez ,malaga4 ,the raisin district of ,malaga extends along the southern coast of ,spain for a distance of sixty or seventy miles4 ,the district is subdivided into several other districts4 ,thus1 the subdistrict of ,malaga proper occupies a plain eighteen miles long by nine miles wide1 in the northeast corner of which is situated the town of ,malaga4 ,the best part of the whole district is1 however1 found at ,velez ,malaga1 situated northeast of ,malaga proper4 ,it was here the raisin grape was first planted by the ,romans or ,phnicians1 and it was here also the devastating phylloxera first made its appearance4 ,the raisin vineyards extend here not over a vega or plain1 but occupy the fertile country along the coast or the litoral towards ,malaga proper4 ,beyond ,velez ,malaga to ,algaroba1 the ,muscatel grape is of inferior quality1 and is greatly superseded by the red ,muscats1 principally exported to ,france4 ,another district is ,marbella1 on the coast1 and in the interior we find ,ronda and ,albuol4 ,of the principal towns in these districts1 the population of ,malaga is #abj1jjj1 that of ,velez ,malaga #bd1jjj1 of ,marbella #g1gjj1 and of ,ronda #ai1jjj4 ,climate4--,the climate of ,malaga is the very mildest4 ,frost is almost unknown1 and is never heavy4 ,the average temperature of ,malaga during the winter months of ,november to ,january is #ef degrees ,fahrenheit1 while that of ,pau in ,france is #da1 and that of ,nice #dg4 ,malaga is well sheltered on the north and east by mountains1 but is open to the south4 ,it is the most equitable climate of ,europe1 although the winds are sometimes trying4 ,the summer is very tempered4 ,the air is1 however1 moist1 and fog1 while rare1 is not entirely absent4 ,rain sometimes falls during the growing season of the grapes1 and quite frequently during the drying season4 ,but the fog is warm and not specially injurious to the grapes1 the latter often growing within reach of the spray on the seashore4 ,soil4--,the soil of the ,malaga vineyards varies considerably1 the best being a reddish clayey loam with much sand and gravel4 ,but we have also other varieties of soil1 such as the white ash1 gray alluvial soils1 and the very sandy loam on the hills4 ,location of the ,vineyards4--,in former years1 the vineyards were principally located on the hillsides1 only occasionally extending to the level plains4 ,of late1 however1 the hillside vineyards have suffered from the phylloxera and various other diseases1 and many of them have been dug up4 ,the lowland vineyards are now the best1 although even they are1 by far1 not free from disease4 ,few of the vineyards are located on entirely level ground1 there being but little such in the district4 ,the nature of the country is rolling1 with small valleys or flats4 ,the raisin grapes grow apparently well both inland and on the coast4 ,according to ,consul ,marston1 about eighty per cent of the vineyards are situated on rolling land1 ten per cent on lowland and ten per cent on the very coast4 ,the vineyards on the coast are actually within reach of the spray4 ,the vineyards are generally small1 none being over eighty acres in extent4 ,most contain1 perhaps1 from three to four acres each2 while from twenty to forty acres is considered a good-sized vineyard4 ,varieties of ,grapes4--,the principal variety used is the ,gordo ,blanco or ,muscatel4 ,it is identical with the grape known by us under that name1 and which was imported to us from ,malaga4 ,but several types are found1 although none superior to the ,gordo ,blanco4 ,characteristics of the ,raisins4--,the ,malaga raisins were1 until lately1 the finest raisins in the world1 and for the present have only the ,california raisins to compete with4 ,they are characterized by great sweetness1 deep bluish color1 great size and by good keeping qualities4 ,the best raisins are those called ,dehesas1 being produced on the valley lands of the districts4 ,yield of ,grapes4--,the yield of ,malaga vineyards varies of course4 ,the best yield eight or nine tons of grapes to the acre1--just like those of ,california4 ,but there is a great difference between new and old vineyards4 ,in many vineyards where formerly the yield was nine tons1 the soil has been so exhausted by continuous croppings that to-day1 even with manuring1 two or three tons of grapes must be considered a high yield4 ,distances of the ,vines4--,the older vineyards had their vines set seven feet by seven feet1 but of late the vines are planted generally eight feet by four feet1 thus much closer than by us in ,california4 ,pruning4--,the pruning of the vineyard is performed very much as in ,california4 ,formerly the soil had to be removed from the vines before they could be pruned2 now this is not necessary except while the vines are very young4 ,the various branches are pruned back to a few inches1 with two eyes each1 while the heads are elevated only a few inches above the ground4 ,manuring and ,fertilizing4--,the ,malaga vineyardist fully understands the value of manuring his vineyards1 and uses for this purpose not only all fertilizers available at home1 but also imports directly from distant countries4 ,the most valued fertilizers are the ,mexican and ,chilean guanos or phosphates4 ,the ,mexican phosphate costs in ,malaga sixty-five dollars per ton2 still it is used by all the principal vineyardists1 who know the value of fertilizers4 ,in fact1 concentrated fertilizers are a necessity to the ,malaga vineyards2 without them they could not be cropped4 ,even the most virgin soil is exhausted in ten years' time by constant croppings of raisin grapes2 no paying crops could be expected if fertilizers were not used yearly4 ,this fertilizing of the soil is1 however1 of recent origin1 and fifty years ago was almost unknown4 ,when home manures are used1 it is placed in holes dug round the roots of the vines1 which1 after exposure to the air for several months1 are again filled up at the advent of spring1 generally in ,march1 before the vines start to bud4 ,drying-floors1 or ,sequeros4--,the raisins1 when picked1 are dried on so-called sequeros1 or drying-floors1 characteristic of the ,malaga district4 ,these floors are of different sizes and lengths in different vineyards1 but everywhere constructed on the same general principles4 ,where an incline or a hill is found1 the floor may simply be built on the slope1 with no artificial elevation2 but1 where the ground is level1 the structure of the sequero is different4 ,the floor must always face the south1 and the back is raised to give the floor the proper slope4 ,the sequero thus consists of four walls1 the front one of which is only a foot high1 and the back wall from six to eight feet high4 ,the side walls slope between these1 generally with an angle of forty-five degrees4 ,in length1 these floors vary from forty to fifty feet1 according to the different ideas of the vineyardists4 ,the whole interior is filled with black gravel1 and is tamped hard4 ,these sequeros are divided in beds1 fourteen feet or so wide1 by tiles that are sunk1 thus forming walks of several feet in width1 and which also serve for leading off the rainwater4 ,around every little bed of this kind are small upright tiles to prevent the rainwater entering from the walks4 ,finally1 in the center of the bed1 is a long row of upright tiles1 high enough to support either boards1 mats1 or more generally canvas1 in order that they may shed the rain into the tile walks4 ,the value of such floors is evident4 ,being covered with canvas1 etc41 every night1 the heat is preserved1 and every morning1 when the sun rises1 the grapes are yet warm4 ,the drying on such beds has never1 in fact1 been interrupted4 ,the drying-floors are also useful in case of too hot weather1 when the grapes can be properly sheltered with canvas and prevented from being cooked2 when finally dried1 the covering1 again1 will serve to keep the moisture from too quickly evaporating4 ,drying and ,curing4--,when the grapes are picked1 the best vineyardists separate the bunches immediately in three different grades4 ,each grade is placed by itself on the gravelly drying-ground1 and remains there to dry4 ,when half dried1 they are taken bunch by bunch by a workman1 who picks out bad or overdried berries and rubbish1 and in putting the bunch back turns it over4 ,in ten days the grapes are generally dried1 provided the weather has been favorable4 ,every night the canvas covering is slid down over the sequero1 and the grapes protected from dew and cold1 or rain4 ,the drying is sometimes greatly hastened by the ,terral or hot winds blowing from the plains of ,la ,mancha1 a wind very similar in its effect to the desert wind of ,riverside and ,santa ,ana1 in ,california4 ,packing4--,the raisins in ,malaga are packed by the large growers themselves1 and every such grower packs almost to a man4 ,the generally accepted idea that a few packers living in ,malaga pack all the raisins is erroneous4 ,this is not the case4#b ,nearly all packers there are also growers owning their own vineyards4 ,the raisins are all packed in #bb-pound boxes or in quarters1 etc41 according to the demands of the trade4 #b ,according to ,a4 ,b4 ,butler4 ,the various raisin brands packed in ,malaga are different according to the different markets that are to be supplied4 ,thus for ,england we have3 ,finest ,dehesa1 three crown2 finest ,dehesa1 two crown2 finest ,dehesa1 one crown2 ,dehesa2 ,choice layers2 ,london layers1 three crown2 ,london layers1 two crown2 ,london layers1 one crown4 ,for ,france again we have3 #a ,imperiaux2 #a ,royaux2 ,couches2 ,surchoix2 ,choix2 ,ordinaire2 ,surcouches1 etc4 ,the loose raisins or ,brena and the seedless or ,escombro generally go to the continent or even to the ,united ,states4 ,the old terms ,garoon or ,sun are now never used4 ,for ,american markets we have3 ,imperial ,dehesa2 ,royal finest ,dehesa2 finest ,dehesa2 fine ,dehesa2 ,dehesa2 ,london layers1 three crown2 ,london layers1 two crown2 ,london loose1 one1 two and three crown4 ,boxes are generally made from fir imported from ,portugal1 at fifteen cents each4 ,of late years1 however1 they are also received from ,canada1 and cost only seven cents each4 ,labor4--,the labor in ,malaga is the most expensive in ,spain1 the best laborer being paid forty cents per day1 while in ,denia the labor is obtained for fifteen cents only2 but it must be remembered that the packing of the ,malaga raisins is a much more particular work than the packing of the dipped ,denias4 ,the price paid for ,malaga raisins at the packing-house is at an average of seven cents per pound for the best1 or from one to two cents more than what is paid in ,california4 ,the lower grades bring from two and a half cents upwards4 ,,valencia ,,and ,,denia4 ,extent of the ,districts4--,the ,valencia raisins1 or1 as they are called1 the ,lexias or ,spanish dipped raisins1 are produced in the province of ,valencia1 situated on the east coast of ,spain4 ,the district contains three sub-districts1 the southern one1 the ,alicante district1 extending from ,villa ,joyosa in the north to ,elche in the south4 ,the raisins of the ,alicante district are inferior to those produced in the other districts1 both as regards quality and quantity4 ,the most northerly district is the ,valencia district proper1 extending from ,cullera in the south to ,castellon in the north4 ,north of the latter place the ,muscat grape does not come to perfection1 and even within this district comparatively few raisins are now produced as compared with a few years ago4 ,but the bulk of all the raisins produced in the province are exported from ,valencia city1 and hence these raisins are known as ,valencias1 while in reality they come principally from ,denia4 ,the bulk of the ,valencia raisins come from the central district1 or the ,denia sub-district1 comprising the land between ,villa ,joyosa in the south and ,cullera in the north1 or about thirty miles on each side of the town of ,denia4 ,towards the interior the raisin district extends at the most nine miles1 but the average is less1 so that the whole district over which the ,denia vineyards are spread includes only an area of #cej square miles1 equal to ten townships of land1 or about #bbd1jjj acres4 ,a large part of this land is not cultivated1 and consists of mountains and waste places only suitable as watersheds4 ,the town of ,denia is the principal town of the sub-district1 and has now a population of about #b1fjj people4 ,it is situated about half way between ,valencia in the north and ,alicante in the south1 on the shore of the ,mediterranean1 in about the latitude of ,sacramento in ,california1 or thirty-eight degrees1 fifty minutes north4 ,being one of the oldest towns in ,spain1 ,denia was first founded by the ,phnicians1 who here established the worship of ,diana1 from which word the name ,denia is a corruption4 ,the ,phnicians also introduced the grapes1 and possibly also the drying of raisins2 but the local tradition gives the honor of the latter industry to the ,moors1 who are said to have brought with them the variety of grape known as the ,muscat of ,alexandria4 ,during a part of the year1 ,denia is the export harbor for the raisins of the district4 ,this is only possible in the early part of the raisin season1 as then only are the winds favorable1--the so-called harbor being nothing but a roadstead4 ,later in the season1 when storms and rains set in1 all the raisins are shipped to ,valencia by railroad1 and from there exported by steamers and sailing vessels4 ,among other industries of the ,denia district are the cultivation of onions1 the manufacture of cotton goods1 its sardine fisheries1 etc41 all giving work to the vineyard workers during a time of the year when there is nothing or but little to do in the vineyards and packing-houses4 ,the raisins of ,denia are not all of the same quality1 but vary according to the locality where grown4 ,the whole district is dotted with small villages1 all producing raisins4 ,the principal ones of these are1 besides ,denia proper1 ,jabea1 ,jaraco1 ,jerrea1 ,oliva1 ,pedreguer1 ,jalon1 ,gandia1 ,ondara1 ,vergel1 etc4 ,of these1 ,denia proper produced in #ahgf over #b1ejj tons of raisins1 ,jabea #a1gjj tons1 ,oliva #a1fjj tons1 ,pedreguer #a1jjj tons1 ,retoria #ijj tons1 ,jalon #hej tons1 ,ondara and ,benisa #hjj tons each4 ,but1 besides these1 there are some twenty odd more villages or smaller raisin centers1 which produce from #bjj to #gjj tons each1 or an aggregate of #bj1jjj tons of raisins4 ,soils and ,appearance of the ,districts4--,the soils of the province of ,valencia1 where the vineyards are situated1 are of various kinds1 such as cretaceous and calcareous soils1 containing admixtures of clay1 sand and gravel4 ,the color is often red1 changing to gray where irrigation has been practiced1 but much of the soil is of an ashy white color1 similar to that of bottom lands generally4 ,in many of the lower situated plains1 the soils are blackish or dark gray1 especially so where stable or other manures have been used for years4 ,many vineyards are situated on the hillsides or on the rolling lands1 where the gravelly soils produce raisins of smaller size and in less quantity1 but sweeter and finer flavored4 ,but the largest bulk of the vineyards are on comparatively level land1 which can be and which is irrigated4 ,the raisins produced on these low grounds in the moist and cool valleys are larger1 but not of equal flavor and sweetness4 ,in wet seasons1 the hillsides are preferred1 the valley lands then being too wet and cold4 ,accordingly1 as the seasons are wet and cold1 or dry and warm1 the various localities produce raisins of different qualities1 which again are valued and paid for differently4 ,the extent of the valley or plain lands decides the extent of the raisin districts1 and of late years the rolling vineyards have decreased in quantity1 while those on the plains have increased1 until at the present time almost all the plain lands are occupied with raisin vineyards1 especially in the ,denia sub-district4 ,climate4--,the climate of ,denia and its surroundings is rather cold and windy2 damaging spring frosts1 as well as early fall rains1 frequently interfere with the setting of the grapes and with the harvesting of the crop2 it has even happened several times that the entire crop has been seriously injured by one of these1 or by both causes combined4 ,farther north1 or in the ,valencia district proper1 the climate is milder1 and frost is rare4 ,oranges are here at home1 while the culture of raisin grapes becomes less every year4 ,north of ,castellon the climatic conditions are such that no raisin culture is possible4 ,as compared with the climate of ,malaga1 that of ,denia is much less favorable to the raisin grape4 ,the production of sun-dried and undipped raisins in ,denia is not possible1 and1 although it has been attempted several times1 it has seldom succeeded4 ,the rainfall of ,denia averages twelve inches per year4 ,the rainiest months are those of ,november1 ,february and ,april1 but the heaviest rainfall at one time occurs quite frequently in the first week of ,september1 while light showers are not uncommon in ,august1 at that time doing much damage to the grapes or the just exposed raisins4 ,irrigation4--,not only is irrigation necessary to grow the vines successfully and to produce an abundance of grapes1 but the irrigation in the province of ,valencia is necessary to the health and longevity of the vines4 ,nowhere else in ,spain is the water so abundant1 and no saving of the water is necessary in the majority of the districts4 ,through an abundance of water1 the soil on the lowlands has now filled up to such an extent1 that in the best vineyards the surface water is only from five to eight feet from the surface of the ground4 ,those vines which could not be irrigated have gradually become diseased1 and the hillside vineyards are being rapidly abandoned and devoted to something else4 ,upon the abundance and constancy of the water depends the prosperity of the whole province1 and there is hardly a more prosperous country in ,spain4 ,to show the close connection between irrigation and raisin production in ,spain1 it will no doubt interest many to know something of the irrigation system and the irrigation districts of the province of ,valencia1 than which no more important ones are found in ,spain4 ,the district of ,alicante is supplied with water from the river ,monegre1 and the ,elche district from the river ,minalapo4 ,in the northern part of the province is the ,murviado irrigation district1 taking its water from the river ,palencia4 ,the ,jucar irrigation district1 situated immediately south of the huerta of ,valencia1 takes its water from the ,jucar river1 distributing #hej cubic feet of water per second upon some #ej1jjj acres of land4 ,the ,valencia irrigation district consists of #bf1cej acres of land close to the town of ,valencia1 and is watered by the river ,guadalaviar1 or1 as it is generally called1 the ,turia4 ,the water is distributed through eight canals1 each carrying from #ce to #abj cubic feet of water per second1 the combined low-water discharge of all the canals being from #bej to #cej cubic feet of water per second4 ,of the importance of irrigation in this district1 we can judge when we learn that the above #bf1cej acres contain #gb1jjj inhabitants and sixty-two villages1 or an average of #a1ggd people per square mile1 not including the city of ,valencia itself1 with a population of #abj1jjj people4 ,it is also remarkable that this enormous population on a territory not as large as the arable land surrounding any one of our principal inland towns in ,california1 is not alone due to the irrigation and care of the land1 but to the minute subdivision of the land1 which makes this culture and irrigation possible4 ,it is a practical illustration of the value of the colony system as inaugurated in ,california1 showing what we can expect of our inland plains when they become fully irrigated and the land properly subdivided4 ,quality of the ,raisins4--,it has already been stated that the grapes grown in ,denia are the ,muscat of ,alexandria1 which were introduced there by the ,moors4 ,farther south1 in the ,alicante district1 other varieties are more common1 but play no important part in the raisin production of the district4 ,the ,valencia raisins are inferior to those of ,malaga1 the want of heat requiring them to be dipped in lye before drying4 ,this1 again1 gives these raisins a peculiar reddish1 semi-transparent color1 which unfits them for table raisins4 ,the ,valencia raisins are principally used for cooking2 even the best grades of ,valencias are inferior to the inferior grades of ,malaga raisins4 ,during the last season 7#ahhi7 large quantities of ,denia grapes were cured on the ,malaga style1 and with great success4 ,large quantities of such sun-dried ,denias were sent in bulk to ,malaga1 and there repacked for export to the ,united ,states1 the ,malaga crop having so diminished that the usual demand could not be supplied4 ,years in which such sun-drying is possible in ,denia are rare4 ,planting and ,care4--,the ,muscat cuttings are planted generally in ,february4 ,the best cuttings are considered to be those taken from vines at least six years old4 ,the cuttings are set at various distances according to the richness of the soil4 ,the richer the soil the less room is given the vines4 ,thus the vines are set either five by eleven feet or five by twelve feet1 or1 in other words1 they are set in rows eleven or twelve feet apart1 with the vines five feet apart in the row4 ,the depth of the cutting is regulated by the moisture of the surface soil1 but averages eighteen inches4 ,the vines begin to bud in the middle of ,march1 and are from the start subject to great care and constant cultivation4 ,the first operation after the cutting is planted is to cut off the top bud as soon as the vine starts to grow1 leaving the two shoots only from the two lower buds4 ,no more shoots are allowed to grow the first year4 ,next winter the smaller of these two branches is cut off completely and the remaining branch is pruned back to two eyes4 ,in the second year the young shoots from the vine are allowed to grow to ten inches or so long1 when all are cut away except two of the strongest4 ,next winter again these are pruned so to leave only two eyes on each1 or four buds on the whole vine4 ,in the succeeding years the branches are gradually increased in number1 but always pruned back to two eyes4 ,after the vine is five years old1 it is seldom increased as to branches2 it is then always pruned back to the same number of spurs4 ,it can be said that the ,denia growers pay less attention to the quality of the raisins1 and prune more to attain quantity4 ,they leave more spurs on their vines than do those in ,malaga1 and in this respect resemble many of our own ,california growers1 who frequently leave from twelve to fifteen spurs on a vine4 ,the vines in ,denia are also raised higher above the ground than in ,malaga1 very much as we have been in the habit of pruning our own vines4 ,at the age of three years the vines come into bearing2 but no fine raisins are made until the vines are five or six years old4 ,dipping and ,scalding4--,the dipping process is one of the greatest importance1 and gives the peculiar characteristics to the ,valencia or ,denia raisins4 ,as a similar process will sometime or other be more generally used in ,california1 a more detailed description may prove interesting to ,california growers4 ,we can probably not do better than to imitate them1 although in mechanical appliances we will readily improve upon their methods4 ,the dipping is always done at the drying ground or secadero4 ,the larger part of the dipping apparatus1 or the kettles1 are placed under the ground so as to save heat and fuel4 ,a trench eight or nine feet in length is dug to the depth of three or four feet4 ,at one end is built a chimney protruding three or four feet above the level of the ground4 ,in the other end of the trench is built a brick wall with an opening for feeding the fire4 ,some trenches are lined inside with bricks1 making them more permanent and solid4 ,on the top of this flue1 and on a level with the ground1 are built the kettles or boilers1 containing not less than twenty gallons each4 ,the boiler nearest the fire entrance is destined to contain a solution of lye or ashes1 the one next to the chimney being for boiling water only4 ,the lye is made from the ashes of burnt vine cuttings1 together with lime and sometimes some salt1 by men who have acquired the art from years of experience1 and who know by the appearance of the scalded grapes whether the solution is too strong or too weak4 ,if too weak1 the skins of the grapes will be insufficiently cut1 which will delay the drying of the grapes1 and cause them to rot if the weather is damp and foggy4 ,if1 again1 the lye solution is too strong1 the skin will be destroyed and the berries seriously injured4 ,the grapes to be dipped should be perfectly ripe4 ,if dipped before1 they will become inferior both as to color and taste4 ,the perfect ripeness is a most important point4 ,the grapes are picked in baskets of about ten pounds each1 and carried to the scalder4 ,the man nearest him on the right fills a perforated ladle with about twenty pounds of the grapes4 ,the ladle is made either of wire netting or of tin or zinc1 with large perforated holes about three-eighths of an inch wide4 ,there is a scalder at each boiler4 ,the first scalder dips the grapes in the scalding water for a second1 and immediately hands them to the second scalder1 who dips the same ladle in the boiling lye solution for not over two seconds4 ,the grapes are then carefully turned out on trays to dry4 ,the dipping first in scalding water is of the greatest importance1 both in washing off the dust of the grapes and in preparing them to receive the alkali wash with more effect4 ,since the hot-water process was introduced1 the ,valencia raisins have materially improved in quality4 ,the grapes are never rinsed in cold water after being dipped1 and it is more than likely that the lye prevents molding1 as1 according to ,a4 ,b4 ,butler1 dipped raisins are sometimes exposed to the rain for three weeks without being totally ruined4 ,in ,california1 our dipped and washed raisins spoil quickly if exposed to rain4 ,the object of dipping is1 of course1 to slightly crack the skins so as to allow the water to readily evaporate4 ,dipped raisins dry sometimes in five days1 while undipped raisins would require as many weeks4 ,efforts to produce sun-dried raisins without dipping them have repeatedly been made in ,denia2 but they are invariably spoiled by the rain1 and lately two firms were ruined in their attempts to dispense with the dipping process4 ,drying and ,curing4--,after the grapes have been properly dipped1 the drying proceeds very quickly4 ,the grapes are immediately spread on cane trays or caezos1 about six feet long by three or four feet wide4 ,these cane trays are made of the common ,italian reed or ,arundo donax1 which grows everywhere1 even in ,california1 and is here incorrectly known as bamboo4 ,the trays are made either of split or of entire canes tied strongly together4 ,these trays are placed flat on the ground1 only leaving enough space around each one to allow the workmen free access to the tray on all sides4 ,after having been exposed to the sun for three days1 the grapes are turned1 in order to dry evenly on both sides4 ,on the fifth day1 the raisins are turned again1 and1 if the weather has been favorable1 many of the raisins are then ready to pack4 ,a day or two after this1 all the raisins are ready1 and are collected and housed4 ,if1 again1 the weather has been unfavorable1 the drying is very much delayed4 ,at the approach of rain1 the mats or trays are taken up and piled on the top of each other1 under sheds previously made4 ,every drying ground has stationary appliances for this purpose4 ,these simply consist of poles stuck in the ground1 and extending five or six feet above the same4 ,other cross-rafters or scantlings are nailed between the poles1 thus forming rows of roofless sheds eight or nine feet wide1 of greater or shorter length4 ,painted canvas1 or simply mats or empty reed trays1 are used as covers1 under which the raisin trays are piled4 ,under and between each tray are placed five little cubes of wood1 for the purpose of lifting the tray and preventing it from pressing too heavily on the grapes underneath4 ,packing and ,disposing of the ,crop4--,when at last the raisins are dried1 they are either stored by the producer1 or1 as is more generally the case1 are taken to the merchant or packer who has supplied the grower's wants during the year in anticipation of the coming crop4 ,there are thus a number of special packers in ,denia1 who own large and splendid packing-houses in which the crop is yearly handled4 ,the grower never packs himself1 the enhanced value of the raisins not being sufficient to warrant the trouble4 ,one of the best and by far the largest packing-houses in ,denia is owned by ,j4 ,d4 ,arquimbau4 ,a more perfectly equipped establishment is not found anywhere else4 ,illustration3 ,views from ,col4 ,wm4 ,forsyth's ,raisin ,vineyard1 ,near ,fresno3 ,residence1 ,lake1 ,raisin ,dryer1 ,packing ,house4 ,all of the packing is done by women1 while the men do the carting of the raisins from the vineyards to the packing-houses4 ,during the balance of the year1 when there is no more work in the packing-houses1 these very men occupy themselves with the sardine fishery1 while their wives then dress the sardines and pack them in oil4 ,they have thus work all the year round1--an absolute necessity in a country where the wages are so small1 and where the poor man has no chance to save up a capital4 ,the wages paid for packing in ,denia is only fifteen cents per day2 while in ,malaga the same work commands from forty to sixty cents per day4 ,in some of the warehouses in ,denia1 from two to three hundred women are employed1 as well as a number of men4 ,the boxes now used are halves of twenty-eight pounds1 or quarters of fourteen pounds each4 ,the large or whole boxes of fifty-six pounds each are no longer in use4 ,the raisins are all packed 8off-stalk10 or1 as we say1 8loose40 ,bunch or stem raisins1 or 8on-stalk0 raisins1 are seldom seen4 ,this great improvement in packing is of recent origin1 and is due entirely to the influence of ,english merchants4 ,some thirty years ago1 the raisin industry of ,valencia had so deteriorated1 that it threatened to entirely cease4 ,the cause of the deterioration was principally the habit of the buyers to pay for crops1 not according to the quality of the raisins1 but according to the quantity4 ,the small farmer with a few hundred pounds of raisins carefully cured was paid less1 or at least not any more1 than the man who had hundreds of tons carelessly cured4 ,as a consequence1 it was to no one's interest to take any particular pains in curing4 ,the raisins deteriorated2 no care was paid to packing2 anything1 almost1 stalks1 dirt and bruised berries were dumped in boxes together2 brands1 trade-marks and labels were unknown4 ,the whole business was apparently going to ruin4 ,the orders from ,england became less and less every year4 ,those from ,america almost ceased4 ,the 8equality price0 or 8average price10 which has been so much in vogue in ,california1 actually ruined the ,valencia raisin industry4 ,we ought to take a lesson from them1 and change this system in time1 or we will be in the same bad fix as they were4 ,the improvement in ,valencia raisins was entirely due to the energetic efforts of ,english gentlemen4 ,mr4 ,george ,graham1 agent for an ,english firm1 established himself in ,valencia1 investigated the raisin business1 and1 seeing the true cause of the ruin1 set himself to work to remedy the same4 ,he introduced better methods in growing1 curing and packing2 and through his efforts a better price was paid for a better grade of raisins1 and it was not long before the raisin business was on an entirely different footing4 ,the object of the grower was from that on1 not only to increase the quantity1 but to increase the quality as well4 ,to begin with1 the raisins were shipped off-stalk or loose2 but the boxes were not faced4 ,now the raisin boxes are all faced1 and the raisins are carefully selected and assorted4 ,as a consequence1 the ,denia trade has of late years increased enormously1 until at present all the land available has been planted to raisins4 ,there is at present but little or no first-class raisin land left in ,denia1 and it looks as if the raisin production there could not be further expanded4 ,export and ,production4--,although the raisin industry had long existed in the province of ,valencia1 it was only in late years that it assumed an importance4 ,they were already known as ,duracinae by the ,romans4 ,re-introduced or improved by the ,arabs or ,moors1 it soon became a prominent industry1 and the export of raisins to ,england was already of some consequence in the time of ,william and ,mary4 ,in the year #afch1 ,lewis ,roberts1 in his merchant map of commerce1 informs us that ,denia raisins cost eighteen rials or three shillings per hundred weight4 ,in #affd1 ,gandia raisins were quite famous1 and were known as ,pasas4 ,at the end of the last century1 the raisins from ,denia and ,liria reached forty thousand quintals1 or two thousand tons1 distributed as follows3 ,spain1 six thousand2 ,france1 six thousand2 ,england1 twenty-eight thousand1--equal to one million1 four hundred and thirty thousand boxes1 forty thousand quintals1 or two thousand tons4 ,in #ahfb1 the raisin export from ,valencia had dwindled down to seven thousand tons4 ,in #ahgf1 it had again risen to nineteen thousand tons1 and in #ahhc to forty thousand tons4 ,of these1 nine hundred and seventy-nine thousand boxes were exported to the ,united ,states1 one million1 three hundred and eighty-five thousand were sent to ,england1 and four hundred and thirty-six thousand found their way to other parts of ,europe and ,spain4 ,in #ahhh1 the yield was two million1 three hundred and sixteen thousand boxes of twenty-eight pounds each1 equal to thirty-two thousand1 four hundred and twenty-four tons4 ,if packed in twenty-pound boxes1 this crop would have equaled three million1 two hundred and forty thousand1 four hundred boxes1 or four times as much as ,california produced at the same time4 ,the crop of #ahhi is calculated to have reached two million1 eight hundred thousand boxes of twenty-eight pounds each4 ,when we remember that this class of raisins is as yet hardly produced in ,california1 and that the nine hundred and seventy-nine thousand boxes or more imported could and should be supplied by us1 it would seem that our fears of overproduction will not immediately be realized4 ,the tendency of the raisin market is now to supplant these ,valencia dipped raisins with ,california undipped or sun-dried raisins1 the ,california ,sultanas being considered superior for the same purpose that ,valencias were formerly used4 ,,corinth ,,and ,,currants4 ,historical and ,geographical ,notes4--,the principal and only raisins of any great commercial importance which are produced by ,greece are the currants4 ,we have already spoken of their name1 and its supposed origin from the town of ,corinth1 and of their having been mentioned by ,pliny in the year #ge ,a4 ,d4 ,the currants must thus very early have been of considerable importance as a commercial product1 although the great increase in their production is of more recent date4 ,the crusades which brought the nations of the ,north in contact with the ,orient and the ,south also spread the knowledge of the ,grecian currants to the distant parts of ,europe4 ,after the ,latin conquest1 currants became a commercial article1 and we have every reason to suppose that1 as early as the beginning of the thirteenth century1 currants had reached the ,english shores1 and that in the middle of the fourteenth century the ,english trade was fully established4 ,raysins of ,corauntz were quoted in #acgd at two pence and three farthings per pound1 equivalent to one dollar and twenty-five cents in our money at its present value4 ,in #aeac1 the first ,english consul was appointed at ,chios1 and from that time on a direct traffic was maintained between the ,grecian ,islands and the ,north of ,europe4 ,in #aehb1 ,hakluyt writes that efforts had been made to introduce the coren plant or vine into ,england1 but that the same failed to fruit4 ,the first introduction of the ,zante vine into ,england is supposed by ,anderson to have taken place in #aecc4 ,in the end of the sixteenth century1 the currant traders were in full intercourse with the ,venetians on the ,island of ,zante1 and the ,turks on the mainland or ,morea4 ,in #aeha1 the ,levant ,company received a monopoly in the trade of the small fruits called currants1 being the raysins of ,corinth4 ,according to ,wheler1 who traveled in the ,ionian ,islands in #afge1 ,zante produced enough currants to charge five or six vessels1 ,cephalonia three or four1 and ,nathaligo1 ,missolonghi and ,patros one each4 ,some few were also brought down from the ,gulf of ,lepanto4 ,as to the native home of the currants1 opinions have considerably differed4 ,some have supposed ,zante or ,naxos to have been the original home of this grape2 while others1 with better reasons1 have held that their original home was ,corinth4 ,beaujour1 who was ,french consul in ,greece in #agij1 says3 8,the fruit is not indigenous to ,morea4 ,no writer before the sixteenth century mentions it1 and the result of my inquiries is that the currant came from ,naxos into the ,morea about #aehj4 ,it is true no such plant now exists in ,naxos1 but it has similarly disappeared from the territory of ,corinth1 though it is very certain it was cultivated there in former days1 when the ,venetians held the country40 ,this account does not agree with the statements of ,comte ,grasset ,st4 ,sauveur1 consul to the ,ionian ,islands from ,france in #agha4 ,he states1 in his ,history of the ,ionian ,islands1 that 8the first plants were imported from ,corinth to ,zante about two centuries ago0 7or about #aehj74 ,there are no exact records of the time or of the introducer2 but the date is fixed by the regulations of the ,senate of ,venice relating to custom duties4 ,it is likely this introduction took place not much before #aeec1 and was caused by the hostility of the ,turks1 who then held ,morea1 to the merchant vessels of the other nations of ,europe1 who in fact forbade them any entrance to the ,gulf of ,corinth1 the principal export place for the currants4 ,thus ,john ,locke1 who in #aeec describes ,zante1 speaks of other products of the island1 but not of currants4 ,hakluyt states that1 in #aehf1 the chief commodities of the island were 8oyle and currants40 ,the latter1 then1 must have been introduced some time in the middle of the sixteenth century4 ,lithgow1 a ,scotch traveler who in #afji visited the islands and published an account of the same in #afcc1 informs us that1 besides oyle and wine1 ,zante produced one hundred and sixty thousand chickens of currants1 each chicken of gold being equal to nine shillings of ,english money4 ,and he adds that the custom duties on those currants amounted to twenty-two thousand piasters 7one piaster is equivalent to six shillings71 a sum of money which those ,islanders could not have afforded 7they having been1 not above sixty years ago1 but a base1 beggarly people1 and in an obscure place7 if it were not that in ,england there are some who cannot digest bread1 etc41 without these currants4 ,this seems to imply that1 since the introduction of the currant culture in the ,island of ,zante about the year #aeej1 the ,zanteans had suddenly become comparatively wealthy4 ,so suddenly had this important industry spread1 that in #afaj1 according to ,sandys1 the chief export of both ,zante and ,cephalonia was currants4 ,in #afab1 ,coryat says that 8,zante is famous for its wine1 oile and currants40 ,fynes ,moryson1 in his 8,itinerary0 published in #afag1 states that 8the ,english merchant vessels exported currants from ,zante and ,cephalonia1 and from ,petrasso in the ,gulfe of ,corinth40 ,tavernier says1 in #afgh1 that1 8,corinth exports great quantities of currants4 ,patras does the same1 which is all the trade from those two places40 ,in #afhb1 ,wheler states that 8the ports of ,patros1 ,nathaligo and ,missolonghi1 all three together having enough to lade only one good ship every year40 ,randolph1 in #afhi1 mentions that currants were first planted on the plains of ,corinth1 and that the plain about ,vostizza produced corn1 currants and wine4 ,of ,zante1 he says that it produced two thousand tons of currants4 ,thus it will seem as if1 through the fostering care of the ,venetians1 the currant trade was transplanted from the mainland of ,morea to the ,islands of ,zante and ,cephalonia1 there to become of almost national importance4 ,until the ,turks were expelled from ,morea1 the latter never made any serious efforts to recover the lost trade4 ,first in later times the culture of currants has again spread on the mainland1 especially on the northern shore of the ,gulf of ,corinth1 and to-day the combined production of the ,morean vineyards is largely in excess of that of the ,ionian ,islands4 ,in our times the currants are exported either from the mainland of ,greece1 the ,morea1 the ancient ,peloponnesus1 or from the ,grecian ,islands1--,cephalonia and ,zante4 ,in ,morea1 the principal ports for the exportation of the currants are ,patras and ,vostizza1 although other ports export a few4 ,even the ,islands of ,ithaca and ,santa ,maura contribute a few4 ,efforts have been made to extend the culture of the currant vine1 and introduce it to other islands1 but not with any great degree of success4 ,this is entirely attributed to climatic conditions4 ,characteristics and ,quality4--,the currants are small1 seedless raisins produced from the currant grape1 which again is characterized by small clusters1 which1 when perfect1 are very compact like the heads of ,indian corn or maize4 ,the skin of the berries is thin1 the pulp very sweet1 with a strong flavor and aroma4 ,the raisins are similarly aromatic and very sweet1 sometimes semi-transparent1 but generally dark violet4 ,the flavor of the raisins is entirely distinct from the ,muscatel1 and is very superior to that of the also seedless ,sultana raisins4 ,soil and ,irrigation4--,the soil best suited to the currant grape is a calcareous marl1 which must be of good depth1 loose1 and easily worked4 ,such marls are also prized for their great power of retaining moisture4 ,but vineyards are planted in ,cephalonia1 ,zante and ,ithaca in the most different soils and situations4 ,they are found in gray marls1 in red clay1 on the plains and among the hills1 in fact1 in the most widely different situations4 ,the soil of ,zante contains a small percentage of sulphate of lime or gypsum1 which is by many considered indispensable for the successful and profitable culture of the currant vine4 ,the currant vine thrives especially in low and rich land which can be irrigated1 and irrigation is quite essential to the perfect development of the grapes4 ,many vineyards1 however1 are not irrigated1 the irrigation1 of course1 only being practicable on the plains4 ,this irrigation is practiced from ,october to the end of ,december1 often while the natural rainfall supplies the artificial watering4 ,the lands are generally small freeholdings1 owned by the peasants4 ,the most valuable currant vineyards are situated on the rich and level valley lands4 ,preparation of the ,land for ,irrigation4--,the preparation of the land for a currant vineyard is expensive1 as the land is hardly ever level enough to admit of the vines being immediately planted4 ,the surface is therefore first leveled and divided up in smaller cheeks or flats1 each one surrounded by a bank4 ,the whole is covered with a network of ditches1 which are necessary for the perfect irrigation of the soil4 ,where there is water enough1 the vineyards are irrigated in ,november and ,december1 and are then flooded as often as practicable1 the water sometimes standing on the ground for weeks in succession4 ,in perfectly arranged vineyards1 the irrigation is so managed that the water flows from one check to another1 and is first shut off at the advent of the ,new ,year1 when the pruning and cultivation begins4 ,by this plentiful irrigation1 the ground becomes thoroughly soaked1 and remains saturated until the next season1 when rain again sets in and fills the irrigation canals4 ,no summer irrigation is used in old vineyards1 and in young vineyards only in case of great necessity4 ,distances of the ,currant ,vines4--,the vines are set at various distances1 in some places four feet each way1 in others again six by ten1 giving a various number of from #gdj to #b1fbb to the acre4 ,in some places1 the old practice of planting the vines in groups of four still exists4 ,each group consists of four vines one and a half feet apart1 and each group distant six feet from each other either way4 ,of late1 however1 the vines are planted farther apart1 probably because the soil is becoming exhausted1 a favorite way being to have the vines closer one way than the other4 ,care of ,cuttings1 ,planting and ,grafting4--,great importance is attached to procuring cuttings from a distance1 or in getting new strains4 ,cuttings from the nearest vineyard are never used1 as they are considered to produce inferior vines1 and not do as well4 ,to procure cuttings or vines1 the old vines are sometimes cut a few inches below the surface of the soil1 causing the parent plant to throw off numerous suckers or shoots1 which the following winter are separated and used as we do rooted vines here in ,california4 ,three or four years will elapse before they come into regular bearing4 ,some vineyards are produced by grafting the black currant on the wine grape1 and many wine vineyards that do not pay are thus transformed into paying raisin vineyards4 ,the grafted vines come into bearing much sooner than those grown from cuttings4 ,the grafting is performed in ,zante as follows3 ,the soil is dug away from the main trunk of the old vine to the depth of from twelve to eighteen inches1 and the trunk cut off square at the bottom of the pit4 ,two or three scions are then inserted in the trunk1 and made to slightly project above the ground1 in no case with more than two or three eyes4 ,clay is then applied to the joint of the graft1 and the trunk slightly covered with leaves1 and the hole then filled up with soil4 ,the grafting is done in the spring1 and the cuttings must be kept dormant in dark and cool cellars4 ,pruning the ,vines4--,the pruning is done in the fall1 just as soon as the leaves have fallen1 and is performed in two parts4 ,in ,december1 the vines are cleaned of all small1 weakly or dead branches1 and at that time only the large and strong branches are left4 ,in ,february1 the regular cutting back commences1 two or three eyes being left on every spur4 ,there are as many different ideas of pruning the vines in ,greece as there are in ,california1 each one having his favorite methods and theories as to what is proper and what is not4 ,some vineyardists prefer to delay the second pruning until after the vines have started to bud out1 and1 when the young shoots are two weeks old1 the old wood is so cut that the bleeding of the vine will not run down on the bud4 ,bleeding is at any time considered injurious4 ,the principal pruning is therefore conducted in ,february1 as being the time most suitable to the currant grape and conducive to the best crops4 ,mr4 ,manoti1 a very intelligent ,zanteote currant grower1 told ,dr4 ,davy 7,ionian ,islands1 page #cdc7 that he had at one time experimented with pruning the currant vine at different times of the year4 ,those pruned in ,december yielded very few grapes1 which were large2 those pruned in ,april gave plenty1 but very small berries4 ,again1 those pruned in ,february were in every way the best4 ,mr4 ,manoti added that if he had told one of his neighbors of his experiments they would have laughed at him1 and said1 8,whoever thinks of pruning the uva passa 7or currant7 in ,december or ,april40 ,this shows how much the growers are opposed to experimenting and improving upon the methods which have been handed down to them from their forefathers4 ,as we have shown1 the currant vines are all very closely pruned1 very much in the same way as our ,muscats4 ,seldom more than three spurs are allowed to remain1 each one with two or three eyes4 ,summer pruning or topping the branches is never practiced on the currant vines1 but generally on the wine grapes4 ,on the contrary the currant branches are carefully guarded1 and in order that they may not break are tied to stakes from four to five feet high4 ,care of the ,vineyard4--,after irrigation is over1 the vineyards are dug over4 ,the soil is dug up around the vines and placed on top of the ground in small heaps1 which process is considered beneficial both to the roots of the vines and to the soil4 ,in ,april1 this soil is all put back1 and the ground leveled4 ,each vine is staked4 ,by the middle of ,april1 the vines are in leaf4 ,by the middle of ,july1 the first fruit is ripe1 and by the middle of ,august the harvest has everywhere begun4 ,the stakes for the vines are imported at a cost of #ae or #af per thousand1 and constitute the most expensive item in the construction of a currant vineyard4 ,the mildew or oidium1 which some fifty years ago spread all over the world1 destroyed many of the vineyards before the sulphuring was discovered as a sure remedy4 ,sulphuring the vines is now regularly practiced in all the vineyards2 but there is a popular belief that the raisins are no longer of the same fine and pure flavor as they used to be before the advent of the oidium and the sulphur4 ,ringing the ,branches4--,a process much used in the currant vineyards is the ringing of the branches4 ,at the time of blossoming1 some of the main branches are cut in such a way that a small ring of bark is separated from the branch near its base4 ,the sap which ascends in the interior of the branch1 but which returns by the bark1 is thus prevented from returning1 and must remain in the branch4 ,the effect is that a large number of clusters are formed with berries both larger and sweeter than those not thus treated4 ,but the practice is not without its drawbacks4 ,in the dry lands of ,cephalonia1 where it was first introduced1 it was soon discovered that the ringed vines began to fail after two or three years1 and the method had to be modified or abandoned4 ,in ,morea1 where the soil is moister and richer1 the ringing did not prove as dangerous1 and is yet practiced1 though great care is taken that the same branch is never girdled or ringed in two successive years4 ,only the strongest vines are able to resist the exhausting effects of the process2 the weaker ones should never be forced to overproduce4 ,the exhalations of fig-trees and pomegranate bushes are considered most beneficial to the currant grape1 and the former are found everywhere among the plantations1 especially along roads and ditches4 ,drying and ,curing4--,the drying and curing of the currant grapes are done on drying grounds4 ,these are simply leveled places covered with fresh cow dung1 or cow dung first mixed with water into a paste4 ,when this paste is dried1 it presents a smooth surface1 firm but elastic1 and entirely free from smell4 ,this kind of drying ground is considered the best kind4 ,inferior drying grounds are simply made of the cleared soil4 ,the currants dried on the latter are always full of sand and dirt to an alarming extent1 and bring an inferior price in the market4 ,the bunches are turned several times until dry1 when they are raked over with a wooden rake or broom1 by which process the stalks are separated from the berries4 ,the berries are now gathered1 and the better qualities are winnowed in machines like our fanning-mills4 ,the next step is to sweat the currants1 which is simply done by piling them in air-tight rooms4 ,the currants are here put in large piles1 which by sweating and pressure become so hard and solid that1 when removing the berries1 a sharp spade is used for digging4 ,the vintage begins in ,july in ,zante2 ,cephalonia grapes ripen almost one week earlier4 ,cost of ,currant ,vineyards in ,greece4--,in the ,grecian ,islands and ,morea1 the best vineyard land varies between #hj and #abe per acre for unimproved land4 ,to prepare the land for the vineyard and irrigation1 it will cost1 in extreme cases1 from #bj to #ej more4 ,the first year's cultivation and care of the young vines is1 of course1 different according to locality1 but the average is seldom less than #ej per acre4 ,the value of already planted property or a vineyard in good bearing is seldom less than #cbj per acre1 and often as high as #fej per acre1--four stremmas4 ,strange enough1 in calculating the cost of a vineyard in ,greece1 no one ever takes into consideration the price of the plantation or the capital invested4 ,the interest on the same is never considered by the natives4 ,in this respect they resemble our own farmers1 who1 in calculating the expenses of their farms1 never take into consideration the labor of themselves and family4 ,of course1 it is almost impossible to obtain exact calculations of profit4 ,the following will serve as a sample3 ,an acre of vineyard planted to currants yields #c1bjj pounds4 ,the price obtained for the same is two cents per pound1 or #fd4 ,the labor for the year on one acre is estimated at #de1 leaving a yearly profit of #ai per acre4 ,in reality1 however1 this is not a true statement1 as it does not consider the interest on the capital4 ,if the same should be added1 it is evident that there would be but little or no profit in the growing of currants4 ,the industry simply enables the peasant who pursues the work to live and support his family1 and possibly to pay his taxes4 ,only the very best land and the best vineyards can pay enough to enable its owner to save up a capital1 generally a difficult thing in ,greece for any one but a merchant or government officer4 ,as a rule1 the cost of producing one hundred pounds of currant raisins is not less than #a4ce4 ,whatever the merchant pays above this to the producer will be for the benefit of the producer4 ,but1 as a rule1 this way of buying direct is not in use4 ,the merchant sells on commission1 and what this means we who have had experience in the raisin business in this ,state all know4 ,we will see how a calculation of an acre of currants will look1 when all the expenses are taken into consideration3 ,one acre of currants equals #c1bjj pounds at three cents per pound #if4jj ------ ,expense on #c1bjj pounds at #a4ce #dc4jj ,packing and hauling #g4ej ,freight1 insurance1 duty1 etc4 #bb4ej ,interest on capital invested #ae4jj ,merchant charges say #h4jj ------ #if4jj ,in this instance the poor currant raiser has had no other profit than the five per cent interest on his capital invested2 he has1 in other words1 come out even4 ,but figures1 sometimes1 are apt to lie4 ,the profit1 no doubt1 is small to the producer1 but it must still be some4 ,he makes1 no doubt1 fair wages according to his own ideas1 and as he has paid for his capital in labor1 and probably never handled a dollar of the same1 he considers himself comparatively well-to-do4 ,but1 as currant vineyards sometimes sell1 and sell high1 too1 it is simply unaccountable that the interest is never taken into consideration in estimating the profits of the grower4 ,the currant industry is1 ,i believe1 the only one in the world in which this is not done4 ,i have thus extensively dwelt upon the profits and expenses of this industry in its native country1 on account of the many attempts to introduce the growing of currants here in ,california4 ,the question with us is1 will it pay4 ,our advantage is that our currants would be protected2 but still it is very doubtful if currant plantations would ever pay enough to warrant us to engage in the same4 ,the price paid at present is too low1 and1 as long as ,muscatels bring a higher price1 it will probably be the favorite grape with us4 ,consumption and ,production4--,the importation of currants to ,england was1 at the end of the last century1 about #c1fjj tons4 ,in #ahcb this had risen to #g1ace tons1 in #ahfd to #cg1aea tons1 and in #ahgf to #dh1eie tons4 ,as regards the production of currants in ,greece1 the average yield from #ahaf to #ahbf was1 for ,cephalonia1 #b1jjj tons1 for ,zante #c1jjj tons1 and for ,morea #d1jjj tons or over4 ,from that time on the exportations from ,zante and ,cephalonia increased1 while the export of ,morea decreased4 ,thus1 in #ahcc1 ,zante and ,cephalonia exported about #aa1jjj tons1 and ,morea only #b1jjj tons1 this principally on account of the ,greek revolution4 ,in #ahdj1 the three places exported #ad1bjf tons1 which again in #ahdi had risen to #cj1hej tons1 in #aheh to #cb1iej tons1 in #ahfh to #ee1bhc tons1 and in #ahgf to #hf1ajd tons4 ,this large crop was exported as follows3 ,england1 #fj1bfc tons2 ,germany1 #a1dge tons2 ,holland1 #d1hdg tons2 ,trieste1 #c1bda tons2 ,america1 #aa1bbe tons2 ,belgium1 #d1aje tons2 ,various1 #idh tons4 ,since that time the production of currants has increased greatly in ,greece1 especially on the mainland1 and now it reaches yearly from #abf1jjj to #acj1jjj tons4 ,during the last four years the production has been about as follows 7according to ,l4 ,c4 ,crowe in the ,california ,fruit-grower73 #ahhd1 #acj1jjj tons2 #ahhe1 #aad1jjj tons2 #ahhf1 #abf1jjj tons2 #ahhg1 #abg1jjj tons4 ,in #ahhf this crop was produced in the following places3 ,gulf of ,corinth #g1jjj tons4 ,vostizza #aj1jjj 8 ,patras #ab1jjj 8 ,gastuni1 ,pergos1 ,olympia #ch1jjj 8 ,kyparissia1 ,figliatra1 ,gargaliano #ag1jjj 8 ,ligudista1 ,pylos1 ,modone and ,corone #i1jjj 8 ,kalamata and ,nisi #ad1jjj 8 ,missolonghi1 tolico1 ,lepanto #b1ejj 8 ,nauplia and ,argos #fjj 8 ------- ,total for ,morea and ,acarnania #aaj1jjj 8 ,ionian ,islands1 ,cephalonia1 ,ithaca1 ,santa ,maura #aj1ejj 8 ,zante #f1jjj 8 ------- ,total #abf1jjj 8 ,of this crop the ,united ,states imported as follows 7the freight to ,new ,york in #ahhf ranging from #ags4 #f;d4 to #bjs4 per ton1 gross73 #ahhc1 #ac1hie tons2 #ahhd1 #aj1age tons2 #ahhe1 #h1bhc tons2 #ahhf1 #h1gee tons4 ,in the ,united ,states1 the consumption of currants has increased largely during the last twenty-five years4 ,in #ahgd1 we imported #ad1ada1gig pounds of currants2 but in #ahhh the importations had increased to #cj1fcf1dbd pounds1 valued at #a1agf1ecb4 ,the duty is now one cent per pound in this country2 while in ,england it is seven shillings per hundred pounds4 ,the currants exported to the ,united ,states are known as ,provincial currants or ,american staple1 and are not considered the best quality2 they are grown principally in ,trifylla and ,pylia and are shipped from the ports ,zante and ,patras4 ,some come also from ,vostizza1 ,catacolo1 ,kalamata1 ,nauplia and ,cephalonia4 ,the ,kalamata currants are inferior and are mostly exported to ,france for brandy and wine making4 ,the choicest currants are those grown in ,zante1 and there known as 8,cascalina40 ,they go mostly to ,england1 while the other products of the islands go to ,belgium1 ,holland and ,northern ,germany4 ,currants in ,california4--,california has so far not cut any figure as a currant-producing country1 not because the currants will not grow here1 but because no one has ever seriously engaged in their culture4 ,currant grapevines are scattered all over the ,state2 but1 to our knowledge1 no plantations are larger than an acre or two4 ,in ,fresno1 a few acres of currants are found in the ,mirabelle ,vineyard east of town1 and a few hundred vines are also grown on the ,raisina ,vineyard in the ,central ,colony4 ,outside of these we know of only scattered vines4 ,these currants are all of the white variety1 which is considered inferior to the black currant of ,zante and the mainland of ,greece4 ,when dried1 they produce a most beautiful semi-transparent raisin1 entirely seedless1 with a very thin skin and of very fine flavor4 ,the yield1 however1 has from some cause or other not been equal to expectations1 and1 the price of currants being lower than that of other raisins1 the former has not been considered as profitable as the ,muscatels4 ,until we import the true black currant from ,zante and find the most suitable locality to grow them1 it is not likely that currant culture will make much headway in this country4 ,we have1 however1 no doubt that1 with our various climates1 many places will be found in ,california where the currant will yield enough to pay1 provided our raisinmen will be satisfied with a reasonable profit4 ,,smyrna ,,raisins4 ,districts in ,smyrna3 ,their ,extent and ,climate4--,the port of ,smyrna1 so famous for its dried figs1 is hardly less renowned for the immense quantity of raisins and dried grapes of different kinds which are shipped from there to all parts of the world4 ,while ,smyrna figs are better known than ,smyrna raisins1 the latter are by far the most important industry4 ,thus from #ahhj to #ahha the raisin crop exported from ,smyrna was valued at #d1fjb1chh2 while the value of the fig crop did not exceed #a1fdf1iih1 or about three million dollars less than the former4 ,since that time the raisin trade has yet further increased1 until it to-day reaches one hundred thousand tons of raisins and dried grapes4 ,unlike the figs1 which are only grown in the interior valleys some thirty to sixty miles from ,smyrna1 the grapes which produce the raisins are grown in the immediate vicinity of the town4 ,the large territory which exports the ,smyrna raisins can1 however1 be divided into several sub-districts1 each one having some characteristics of its own1 both as regards quality of raisins1 time of ripening1 etc4 ,these districts are3 ,chesme1 ,vourla1 ,yerly and ,carabourna4 ,the principal variety of grape grown in these districts is the ,sultana1 a seedless grape with enormous bunches4 ,many other varieties are found there also1 such as 8black0 and 8red10 the latter said to be identical with the ,spanish ,muscat of ,alexandria1 which ,i doubt4 ,the ,chesme district is situated to the west on the peninsula near ,smyrna1 its principal port for exportation of the crop being the town of ,chesme4 ,the ,chesme raisins are considered inferior to those of the other districts4 ,three-fourths of the raisins from the district are exported to ,hamburg1 ,bremen1 ,stettin1 ,amsterdam1 and to ,trieste in ,austria4 ,the latter town is the main distributing point for most of the raisins grown in the eastern ,mediterranean raisin districts4 ,the ,carabourna or ,karabournou district produces the best raisins1--both of the ,sultanas1 the red and the black4 ,the district is situated to the east and north on the same peninsula as ,chesme4 ,the district is rough and hilly1 but the whole is cultivated to vines4 ,the ,carabourna 8,elems0 go about one-half to ,russia1 the balance to ,england and ,trieste4 ,the ,vourla district consists of a fertile plain lying on the isthmus between the ,bay of ,smyrna and ,scala ,nova or ,ephesus4 ,the export place is the port of ,vourla1 one of the finest harbors on the coast of ,asia ,minor1 and often the meeting place for fleets of the ,western nations of ,europe during their remonstrances in ,turkish waters4 ,the ,yerly district immediately surrounds the town of ,smyrna1 and extends from ,nymphio in the east to ,tourbali in the south and ,sivri-,hissar in the west1 thus bordering the ,vourla district4 ,yerly ,sultanas are the earliest in the market1 sometimes being ready in the first weeks of ,august4 ,small quantities of raisins also come from ,tyra1 ,bairdir1 ,aidin and other places in the fig districts in the interior4 ,the ,island of ,samos1 off the coast of ,asia ,minor1 produces raisins of several kinds1 such as ,sultanas1 black raisins1 principally for distilling abroad1 and ,muscatel raisins1 the latter reaching three thousand tons in favorable seasons4 ,the ,island of ,cos or ,stanchio is also famous for its ,sultana raisins1 said to be the finest of any produced in ,turkey4 ,the climate of the ,smyrna raisin districts is very mild1 allowing farm labor to be performed the year round4 ,the temperature seldom falls below the freezing point1 while from the middle of ,may to the middle of ,september it ranges from #gj to #ij degrees ,fahrenheit in the shade4 ,during the summer1 the ,imbat or seabreeze tempers the heat and makes the climate pleasant to live in4 ,the grapes begin to ripen about ,july first1 the ,sultana grapes being the earliest4 ,the rainfall is abundant during the rainy months of the year1 ,september to ,april1 and averages twenty-five inches1 varying from fifteen inches in dry seasons to thirty-three inches in very wet years4 ,the following table of the rainfall is taken from the consular reports published in #ahhd3 ,table showing the monthly rainfall in the city of ,smyrna1 in inches and hundredths of inches1 during the nineteen years ending with #ahhb4 ,compiled by ,w4 ,e4 ,,stevens1 ,consul at ,smyrna4 ,,year ,janu-,febru-,march4,april4 ,may4 ,june4 ary4 ary4 ---------------------------------------- - #ahfd #c4ei #a4ec 4#eh #c4ge #a4ei 4#hj #ahfe #g4jg #i4je #d4dc #a4db 4#bc 4#cd #ahff #a4dj #a4gh #a4gi 4#bj 4#ie 4#fc #ahfg #b4fc #c4ad #a4af 4#cg #a4cg 4#fg #ahfh #h4cj 4#cb #aa4bd 4#ib 4#hc 4#fg #ahfi #c4ba 4#gd #ab4jg #a4gh 4#ai 4#ei #ahgj #e4gi #b4ha #b4bi #b4bd 4#jg -- #ahga #aa4aj #a4ai #a4bi 4#ff #a4ji 4#ci #ahgb #c4ag #a4df 4#ej #d4ah #c4ji 4#fj #ahgc #b4da #e4fd #b4jh 4#ej #b4ch 4#af #ahgd 4#ad #e4hb #a4ib 4#dj 4#ae -- #ahge #d4eh #i4dh #e4gh #a4cf -- -- #ahgf #b4hh #a4de #b4ec #c4ab 4#db #a4gf #ahgg #c4jh #b4ib #d4hd #a4aa #c4dg 4#id #ahgh #f4bg #b4aj #c4jj #d4ig 4#bi 4#ac #ahgi #d4bh #b4fi #a4fa 4#ce #b4cf 4#ja #ahhj #a4fa 4#cj #b4hg #a4fi #b4fi 4#ah #ahha #f4ae #c4ib #a4gd 4#hj #a4de -- #ahhb #a4bg #a4ag #a4jd #c4de 4#ff 4#ji ---------------------------------------- - ,aver- #d4ae #c4jc #c4cj #a4ge #a4bb 4#db age ---------------------------------------- - ,,year ,july4 ,au- ,sep- ,octo- ,no- ,de- ,year- gust4 tem- ber4 vem- cem- ly ber4 ber4 ber4 total4 ---------------------------------------- ------- #ahfd #b4dj 4#ej #c4cj #c4ea #f4hj #a4di #bi4hd #ahfe 4#aj -- -- #a4bg #b4fg 4#aj #bf4fi #ahff 4#ac 4#jf 4#ci 4#jh #c4hd #c4ia #ae4af #ahfg -- -- #a4ed #e4gf #g4jh #bc4gb #ahfh 4#bg 4#jg 4#eb #a4cj #d4ib 4#hd #cj4bj #ahfi 4#jd -- 4#jh #a4ha #c4df 4#hj #bd4gg #ahgj -- 4#dg #c4ie #d4de 4#ah #f4gc #bh4ih #ahga -- -- 4#jg #a4cf #g4jd #d4eh #bh4gg #ahgb -- -- #b4hb -- #c4fe #d4gf #bd4bc #ahgc -- -- -- #b4ej #b4ib #b4fb #ba4ba #ahgd -- -- 4#jb 4#cj #aj4ca #h4ii #bh4je #ahge -- -- 4#ae #b4hg #d4hf #c4if #cc4jd #ahgf 4#ed -- 4#jh 4#id #e4ge #h4dh #bg4ie #ahgg 4#aa 4#cf 4#fa #d4jj #f4ji #e4ih #cc4ea #ahgh 4#dj 4#fc #a4bb -- 4#dd #h4ej #bg4ie #ahgi -- -- #a4ch #b4ga #d4jf #a4ha #ba4bf #ahhj 4#jd -- #a4cb 4#fj #d4ji #b4di #ag4hh #ahha 4#aj -- -- #e4dg 4#ae #d4gb #bd4ej #ahhb -- -- -- #a4jb #g4hi #d4ef #ba4be ---------------------------------------- ------- ,aver- 4#bb 4#aa 4#hd #a4hh #d4dg #d4cd #be4gc age ---------------------------------------- ------- ,as will be seen1 most of the vineyards are situated within the reach of the seabreezes1 some even being almost on the edge of the waters of the ,mediterranean4 ,the best vineyards are those which are situated inland from seven to twenty miles from the coast4 ,the vineyard districts are all rough and hilly1 except those in the ,vourla district1 which are on comparatively level ground4 ,while some vineyards stretch from the seashore1 others reach an elevation of four hundred feet or over4 ,the soil varies with the districts4 ,the best soil for the ,sultanas is considered to be hippurite limestone soil1 common in some districts4 ,this white1 marly soil is in places mixed with a yellow-ocher-colored loam1 with sand and gravel4 ,the abundance of the rainfall makes irrigation unnecessary1 and no vines are grown with irrigation4 ,care of the ,vines4--,while no general irrigation is needed1 the young vines are watered by hand in years of exceptionally light rainfall4 ,the vines are generally grown from rooted cuttings1 which have been planted in trenches the year before4 ,previous to the planting of a vineyard1 the soil is dug to the depth of three or four feet4 ,if this can be done the year before planting1 it is considered better1 as resulting in a quicker and stronger growth of the vines4 ,in older vineyards1 the vines are set in rows six or seven feet apart1 and with three or four feet between the rows4 ,the vines are not grown to standards1 but from branching stalks from one to two and a half feet high1 with an average height of one and a half feet from the ground4 ,no stakes are used1 and only occasionally is there seen a prop under heavier loaded branches4 ,the pruning is done in the winter1 when the vines are comparatively dormant4 ,the superfluous branches are then cut away1 and the remaining ones are cut to two or three eyes each4 ,the cultivation was1 until lately1 performed in the simplest way with pick and spade4 ,the first digging is done in ,january1 at which time also the ground is manured4 ,this is done by digging pits and trenches in the vineyard1 which are filled with goat and camel dung4 ,these trenches remain open for a month or more1 and are after that time filled in4 ,the first digging in the soil is done in ,november1 the second one in ,january and ,february1 when1 in leveling the ground1 it is at the same time dug over again one foot or more4 ,the third or last digging is performed in ,march1 when simply the weeds are spaded under4 ,of late years1 vineyardists from other ,mediterranean districts have settled in ,smyrna and brought with them better methods4 ,greek farmers have especially done much to improve the old ways of cultivation used by the slovenly or ignorant natives4 ,in ,may1 the young shoots are pinched back after the grapes have set well and began to develop4 ,the pinching of the ends produces a second crop1 which1 besides being later1 also consists of smaller grapes than the first4 ,all sterile and inferior shoots are then cut off1 and this is repeated during the summer in order that the vines may not be weakened unnecessarily4 ,the vines come into bearing in the third year1 begin to pay expenses in the fourth year1 and leave a profit in the fifth year after being set out4 ,in the seventh and eighth years the vines are considered in full bearing4 ,the ,sultana grapes begin to ripen in ,july4 ,the vintage begins towards the end of ,july1 and lasts until the middle of ,august4 ,other varieties of grapes are later1 lasting from the middle of ,august to the end of ,september1 their vintage seldom lasting as late as the first week of ,october4 ,the first raisins are ready about ,august #ast1 and the last ,sultanas are all in by ,september #ast1 the other varieties of raisins coming in later4 ,dipping1 ,drying and ,curing4--,the curing of the grapes into raisins requires great care1 and nowhere is any more skill shown than in ,smyrna4 ,its raisins are the most beautiful of any1 their splendid appearance and transparency being due to the process employed4 ,the drying is done on drying-floors1 which sometimes consist of the bare ground only1 at other times of elevated beds of earth a foot or so high4 ,when the soil is not naturally hard and suitable for drying-floors1 it is first prepared by cutting off the weeds1 and is then watered and packed until a smooth and hard surface is produced4 ,this hard bed is sometimes left bare1 and at other times covered with matting4 ,in other places the grapes are dried on canvas1 or on trays made of the ,italian reed1 or of grasses4 ,these trays are raised on props three or four inches above the ground1 and are loose so that they may be put on top of each other to exclude the sun1 rain or fog1 according to locality and season4 ,great stress is laid upon having the grapes fully ripe4 ,before thus exposed1 the grapes are dipped in a solution of lye and oil1 and upon the skill in this performance depends the beauty and value of the raisins4 ,a potash is made from the ashes of the vine cuttings of the previous year4 ,about one gallon of this potash solution is mixed with from twenty to twenty-five gallons of water1 making a weak lye solution of a strength of from five to six degrees in ,beaume's 8,lyeometer40 ,a similar strength would be obtained by dissolving one pound of pearl ash in ten gallons of water4 ,tubs of wood or zinc of the size of two and a half by two feet are used for dipping4 ,to every such tub of twenty-five gallons is added from one-fourth to two gallons of olive oil4 ,the latter quantity is used in the ,karabournou district1 where the finest raisins are made4 ,when of proper strength as regards both oil and lye1 the wash runs off from the bunches smoothly2 when1 again1 the wash runs off in small globules1 there is a deficiency of either oil or potash4 ,the grapes are loaded in small baskets of twenty-five pounds each1 and immersed in the wash for half a minute4 ,they are then taken out and spread either on the ground or on trays or canvas4 ,in the interior1 where the sun is hot1 the reed mats are placed on top of each other to exclude the sun4 ,the same is also done if rain or fog is feared4 ,after a few days of exposure1 and when partially dried1 the raisins are sprinkled every morning with the same lye solution1 but without oil4 ,the ,sultanas are dried in from five to eight days4 ,this dipping process is also used for the larger ,muscatels1 but the lye is made stronger1 probably reaching the proportion of about one and a half pounds of pearl ash to five gallons of water4 ,the carefully dipped raisins have a pure greenish amber color1 and a peculiar flavor4 ,they are worth twenty per cent more than undipped fruit4 ,the ,sultanas of the better grades are now sold off-stalk or loose4 ,the finest brands are the ,chesme elem1 or ,chesme select4 ,elem means choice or select1 and is used both for raisins and figs4 ,the yield of an acre of ,sultana vines varies in different vineyards1 according to the quality of the soil4 ,a good yield is considered about seven tons of fresh grapes1 or about two and a third tons of raisins4 ,the price of the ,smyrna ,sultanas fluctuates considerably2 but it may be said that the best grades are always from twenty-five to thirty per cent higher than the dipped raisins of ,valencia4 ,thus1 in #ahdc1 dipped ,valencias brought six and a quarter cents1 while the ,smyrna ,sultanas brought ten cents4 ,in #ahdd1 the ,valencias were quoted at ten cents1 while the ,sultanas brought twenty cents per pound4 ,of late years1 the ,smyrna ,sultanas have fluctuated between four and a half and twelve and a half cents per pound4 ,production and ,export4--,the production of ,smyrna raisins and dried grapes has enormously increased during the last few years4 ,in #ahdd1 the average crop was only from six to eight thousand tons4 ,in #ahfh1 this had increased to nineteen thousand tons1 and in #ahga we find the export from ,smyrna to be forty-eight thousand tons4 ,in #ahha1 this had grown to seventy-five thousand tons 7according to the consular report of ,consul-,general ,g4 ,h4 ,heap of ,constantinople74 ,of the districts already mentioned1 ,chesme and ,vourla produce about three times as much as ,yerly and ,carabourna4 ,a somewhat varied estimate of the ,smyrna raisin crop is given by ,consul ,w4 ,e4 ,stevens of ,smyrna1 in his report dated ,february #bh1 #ahhd4 ,according to him1 the raisin crop of ,smyrna should amount to one million1 nine hundred thousand hundred weight or ninety-five thousand tons4 ,these two consular estimates would give ,smyrna as follows3 #ahga1 forty-eight thousand tons2 #ahgb1 thirty-one thousand tons2 #ahgi1 seventy-five thousand tons2 #ahha1 forty-nine thousand tons2 #ahhd1 ninety-five thousand tons4 ,this1 of course1 includes all kinds of raisins4 ,as regards the ,sultana raisins1 the reports of the two consuls also differ4 ,by ,consul ,stevens1 it is estimated to be thirty-two thousand1 five hundred tons1 or sixty-five million pounds2 while ,consul ,heap puts the figures at only nineteen million1 four hundred thousand pounds1 or only nine thousand1 seven hundred tons4 ,we have no means to verify the statements1 but are inclined to think the higher figure the more correct4 ,if it is true that the raisin yield of ,smyrna to-day reaches one hundred thousand tons1 it would be absurd to think that only ten per cent should be ,sultanas1 which is the principal raisin grape of the district4 ,it is more probable that at least one-third of the whole crop consists of ,sultanas4 ,about eighty per cent of all the ,sultana raisins go to ,england1 ten per cent are consumed by ,eastern ,europe and ,russia1 a small part only going to the ,united ,states4 ,cost of ,vineyards in ,smyrna4--,the cost of vineyards in the ,smyrna district varies just as it does elsewhere4 ,bearing vineyards change hands at from three hundred to four hundred and fifty dollars per acre4 ,the yearly labor on an acre of vines1 including pruning1 cultivation and drying1 amounts to fifty dollars an acre or more4 ,the average yield per acre averages from about eighty-five to ninety dollars1 leaving a profit of from thirty to forty dollars1 equal to from about eight to ten per cent on the capital invested4 ,i believe1 however1 that these figures may be modified1 and that the profit on an acre of average vineyard often reaches from fifty to sixty dollars4 ,the fact that an acre of vineyard sells for four hundred and fifty dollars indicates that it must not only give a fair but a good interest on that sum4 ,the raisins from one acre of a ,smyrna vineyard are sold for #hh4 ,the interest on the par value of an acre 7#dej7 for one year at five per cent is #bb4ej4 ,the other expenses during the year amount to #ej1 leaving1 as net profit1 #f4ej4 ,the above is a low estimate copied from ,english statements4 ,other ,varieties of ,raisins4--,besides ,sultanas1 ,smyrna produces an enormous quantity of raisins of other kinds4 ,the demand for these has been and is constantly increasing1 the most being shipped to manufacturers of wines1 distilled liquors of all kinds1 jellies1 jams1 etc4 ,these varieties are known as ,large ,black and ,large ,red4 ,these varieties are grown in all the ,smyrna districts1 and in quantity far exceed the ,sultanas4 ,the following will give an idea of how this trade has increased of late4 ,red and ,black ,smyrna raisins in tons3 #ahfh1 #ab1gie2 #ahgf1 #ae1ejj2 #ahha1 #dj1jjj2 #ahhc1 #de1jjj2 #ahhh1 #fj1jjj4 ,the price varies from three to four cents per pound in the local market4 ,judging from the constantly increased export of these kinds of raisins1 it is not likely that the production of the same is likely to soon be overdone4 ,,italy ,,and ,,italian ,,raisins4 ,lipari and ,belvidere4--,of the ,mediterranean countries1 ,italy produces the smallest quantity of raisins4 ,we cannot imagine this to be on account of unsuitable soil and climate1 but more on account of the tardiness of its people to take kindly to new industries and improve upon their older methods4 ,in former years the raisins from ,southern ,italy were much exported to ,northern ,europe2 to-day the trade is insignificant4 ,in the sixteenth century1 the raisins from ,lipari and ,belvidere were of considerable repute1 but were1 however1 considered inferior to the ,spanish raisins4 ,the ,island of ,lipari1 to-day principally known on account of its volcanoes1 produces yet so-called ,lipari currants of larger size than those from ,morea4 ,they are of much inferior quality1 being hard and dry and of oblong shape4 ,pantellaria4--,the ,island of ,pantellaria1 between ,sicily and ,africa1 also produces raisins of somewhat better quality1 which1 if better packed1 would favorably compare with the ,lexias of ,valencia and ,denia4 ,the ,pantellarias1 or ,belvideres1 as they are known in the market1 are principally consumed in ,northern ,italy and ,southern ,france4 ,they are sweet and good raisins1 which1 if carefully and intelligently handled1 would rapidly improve in quality4 ,calabria4--,since the destruction of the ,calabrian raisins through the mildew1 the raisin production of this peninsula has largely increased4 ,in #ahgf1 it had reached eight thousand tons1 but must now probably be double that amount4 ,the ,calabrian raisins produced on the mainland of ,italy are of good quality1 and are principally exported to ,france4 ,,chile ,,and ,,huasco ,,raisins4 ,characteristics4--,the ,chile or ,huasco raisin is one of the finest raisins in the world1 and in the opinion of the author superior to both ,spanish and ,california raisins4 ,they excel in sweetness and aroma as well as flavor2 their skin is thin1 and the seeds are small4 ,the color is entirely different from sun-dried ,california or ,spanish raisins1 being yellowish amber with a fine and thin bluish bloom1 indicating that they have been dried in the shade or in partial shade without dipping in lye or other solutions4 ,location4--,the number of acres devoted to raisin culture in ,chile is not known4 ,the grapes for this purpose are grown almost exclusively in the valley of the ,huasco1 back of the port of ,huasco in the province of ,atacama4 ,there appear to be two distinct valleys of the same name1 one situated only twenty minutes' ride from the port of ,huasco on the ,pacific ,ocean1 the other farther inland about sixty miles from the coast4 ,in the former place1 the culture of the raisin grape is very limited1 the whole valley and town only containing four hundred people1 of which not all are occupied with the raisin industry4 ,the interior valley is more extensive1 and the largest quantity of the ,huasco raisins come from this place4 ,the port of ,huasco is situated in latitude twenty-seven degrees1 thirty minutes south1 longitude seventy-one degrees1 sixteen minutes west4 ,illustration3 ,muscatel or ,gordo ,blanco ,raisin ,grape1 ,second ,crop4 ,two-thirds ,natural ,size4 ,varieties4--,the grape used for raisins is a variety of the ,muscat1 very similar to the ,muscat of ,alexandria4 ,grapevines transplanted to ,california resemble this variety very much1 but1 according to ,professor ,hilgard1 set their fruit better1 and do not suffer so much from colure4 ,it is said that these grapes were imported to ,chile long ago by the ,spanish conquerors1 and it is supposed they grew the vines from seed brought from ,spain1 and selected the best of the seedlings4 ,in this way the slight difference of the ,huasco grape from the ,muscat of ,alexandria can be accounted for4 ,soils4--,the soil in the coast valley consists of a reddish1 sandy loam1 which changes to a fine yellow sand1 of great richness4 ,this sand covers the hills almost everywhere in the vicinity of the ,huasco river1 the nature of the country being a rolling one4 ,climate4--,the climate is notoriously dry1 and rain falls only very seldom between ,june and ,september1 is of short duration and very scant4 ,in the interior valley1 rain is said to be seldom known1 and the climate there can be called entirely rainless4 ,dew is abundant in the winter1 but the summers are warm and dry4 ,irrigation4--,near the coast no irrigation is required1 but in the interior valley the grapes are irrigated three times a year1 first when the buds begin to swell1 second when they begin to blossom1 and lastly when the fruit is well advanced4 ,the ,vineyard4--,the vines are planted six feet one way by eight feet the other1 and the intermediate space is often planted to alfalfa1 giving three crops of hay each year4 ,the heads are kept low1 the vines are pruned heavily1 and only two eyes left on each cane4 ,sometimes whole branches are cut away1 especially if they do not bear well4 ,the vines are grown both on hillsides and in the valleys on the bottom lands4 ,many of the vineyards are surrounded by elevated arbors or trellises1 over which the vines are trained1 to keep off the heavy spring winds which otherwise would break the branches1--windbreaks1 in fact4 ,the cultivation of the ,huasco vines is of the most primitive kind4 ,the land is poorly cultivated1 and the fact that alfalfa is grown between the rows of the vines indicates that the industry is not highly developed4 ,on the other hand1 it is not impossible that the crowding together of various things on the land may help to give the grapes a certain flavor or aroma4 ,there is said to be a great difference between the various ,huasco grapes1 some being very superior to others4 ,the inferior kinds are called simply ,muscats1 while the better kinds are the ,huascos4 ,it is not known if these varieties come from different kinds of grapes1 but it is likely that this is the case4 ,vines of the best variety transplanted to other localities than the ,huasco valley give invariably indifferent results1 and produce raisins inferior to the ,huasco4 ,drying and ,curing4--,the poorer qualities are simply dried on boards or on the roofs of the houses in the sun2 but the fine and most valuable raisins are dried in the shade4 ,when ripe1 the bunches are carefully picked and taken to open sheds with thatched roofs1 and there hung up to dry4 ,the raisins are turned at intervals1 and when ready are packed in twenty-five-pound boxes without any great care or skill4 ,the best ,huasco raisin sells at fifty cents per pound in the local market1 and is decidedly the most high-priced raisin known4 ,the best variety is scarce even in ,chile1 and in ,chilean statistics ,i could not find any quoted4 ,the following houses in ,huasco are dealers in fruits and raisins3 ,juan ,quijada1 ,ramon ,f4 ,martinez1 and ,jos ,manuel ,balmaceda4 ,the export from the port of ,huasco in #ahhe amounted only to #fhe1hec4 ,how large a portion of this was raisins is not known4 ,,california ,,raisin ,,districts4 ,a ,,general ,,review4 ,early ,history4--,while the planting of raisin grapes and the production of raisins in ,california dates back some thirty odd years1 the raisin industry cannot be said to be as yet twenty years old4 ,already1 in #ahea1 ,col4 ,agoston ,haraszthy grew ,muscatel vines from seeds of ,malaga raisins4 ,on the #beth of ,march1 #aheb1 he imported the ,muscat of ,alexandria from ,malaga1 and ten years later1 during a visit to that place on ,september #bg1 #ahfa1 he selected cuttings of the ,gordo ,blanco which afterwards were grown and propagated on his ,san ,diego county vineyard4 ,the same year he imported ,sultana vines from ,malaga1 and white and red ,corinth from ,crimea4 ,col4 ,haraszthy was thus the first one to introduce the raisin-vines in this ,state4 ,another importation of the ovoid ,muscat of ,alexandria was made in #ahee by ,a4 ,delmas and planted at ,san ,jos1 according to a statement made by his son ,d4 ,m4 ,delmas1#c the prominent ,san ,francisco lawyer4 ,g4 ,g4 ,briggs of ,davisville also imported ,muscatel grapes from ,malaga in ,spain2 while ,r4 ,b4 ,blowers of ,woodland1 ,yolo county1 started his raisin vineyard in #ahfc from ,gordo ,blanco cuttings received from ,col4 ,haraszthy4 ,in #ahgf1 ,w4 ,s4 ,chapman1 imported the best ,muscatels from ,spain for his colonists in the ,central ,california ,colony in ,fresno1 which proved in no way different from those already growing there4 ,who produced the first raisins in ,california will probably never be satisfactorily known4 ,according to page #hh of the ,report of the ,state ,agricultural ,society of ,california1 #ahfc1 cured raisins were exhibited by ,dr4 ,j4 ,strentzel at the ,state ,fair in #ahfc4d ,the first successful raisin vineyards in the ,state were those planted by ,g4 ,g4 ,briggs at ,davisville in ,solano county1 and by ,r4 ,b4 ,blowers at ,woodland in ,yolo county4 ,both these gentlemen grew the raisin grapes on a large scale1 and shipped raisins extensively4 ,the ,briggs vineyard consisted mainly of ,muscats of ,alexandria1 while the ,blowers vineyard contained the ,gordo ,blanco4 ,both these vineyards produced raisins as early as #ahfg2 but it was not until #ahgc that their raisins cut any conspicuous figure in the market4 ,that year six thousand boxes were produced in the ,state1 the majority by far coming from these two vineyards4 #c ,see also ,wickson's 8,california ,fruits10 page #ceg4 #d ,same1 page #gi4 ,later ,planting4--,in #ahgc1 in the fall1 the ,muscat vines were first brought to the ,fresno raisin district1 where twenty-five acres of ,muscat of ,alexandria were planted in the ,eisen vineyard4 ,a few years later1 or in #ahgf and #ahgg1 ,t4 ,c4 ,white planted the ,raisina ,vineyard in the ,central ,california ,colony near ,fresno from ,gordo ,blanco ,muscatels brought from ,r4 ,b4 ,blowers' vineyard at ,woodland4 ,the following year1 or in #ahgg-gh1 ,miss ,m4 ,f4 ,austin began improving her ,hedgerow ,vineyard1 also in the same colony1 with grapes of the same kind as ,messrs4 ,white and ,blowers4 ,robert ,barton had also planted some twenty-five acres of ,muscat grapes1 but did not make raisins until later4 ,the year #ahgi saw the first planting of the ,a4 ,b4 ,butler vineyard1 now the largest vineyard in the ,state4 ,j4 ,t4 ,goodman had begun improving his place at the same time2 while ,col4 ,william ,forsyth entered upon raisin-grape growing between #ahha and #ahhb1 most of his grapes1 however1 being planted a year or two later4 ,from that time the raisin vineyards in ,fresno multiplied rapidly1 and about #ahhf and #ahhg raisin production became recognized as the principal industry of the district4 ,the history of the development of the raisin industry in the other districts of the ,state runs very much the same4 ,riverside had entered the field in #ahgc1 when the founder of that colony1 ,judge ,john ,wesley ,north1 planted there the first raisin-vines of the variety ,muscat of ,alexandria4 ,but raisin-grape growing did not become general until #ahge and #ahgf1 when the largest vineyards in the colony were planted4 ,in ,el ,cajon valley in ,san ,diego county1 the first raisin vines of the ,muscat of ,alexandria variety were planted in #ahgc by ,r4 ,g4 ,clark2 but the raisin industry did not get a good start until some six or seven years ago1 while most of the vineyards were planted from #ahhd to #ahhf4 ,in ,orange county1 raisin grapes were planted at the same time as in ,riverside and ,el ,cajon by ,mac,pherson ,bros41 near ,orange1 now called ,mac,pherson4 ,the raisin industry developed rapidly1 and ,robert ,mac,pherson1 the largest grower and packer in the district1 and at one time in the ,state1 handled yearly over one hundred thousand boxes1 while the yearly crop of the district rose to one hundred and seventy thousand boxes4 ,in ,central ,california1 the raisin industry is gradually spreading from the original center around ,fresno1 the greater freedom from rain and the better facilities for irrigation being great inducements for the settlers to engage in the growing and curing of the raisin grapes4 ,the ,san ,joaquin valley is especially adapted to the production of raisins1 the ,fresno raisin district being by far the largest1 and now producing almost one-half of the raisin crop of the ,state4 ,in ,san ,bernardino county and district1 the raisins are also grown to great profit and with great facility1 and are of equal quality with those of the interior of the ,state4 ,but the raisin industry is here gradually giving way to the culture of oranges and other citrus fruits1 and the increase in the raisin acreage has therefore not been so great as in the ,san ,joaquin valley4 ,in ,el ,cajon1 irrigation is not used1 and the raisins produced there are very similar to the ,malaga raisins1 but through absence of irrigation the crops are smaller than in any of the other districts in the ,state4 ,in ,los ,angeles and ,orange county district1 the raisin industry has suffered immensely from the ravages of the vine plague1 an as yet entirely mysterious disease1 and the output of raisins there has dwindled down to almost nothing4 ,but the farmers of the district are ready to replant whenever there are any prospects that the vines will do well again4 ,in the interior of ,california1 north of ,solano and ,yolo counties1 large quantities of raisin grapes have been planted during the last few years1 both in the foothill valleys1 out on the plains1 and in the bottom lands of the ,sacramento1 ,yuba and ,feather rivers1 etc4 ,raisins of very good quality have been produced in that part of the ,state for years in limited quantities1 but it is yet a question to what extent that section can compete with the central and southern parts of the ,state4 ,in ,sutter county around ,yuba ,city the cultivation of a seedless raisin grape is advancing rapidly1 the raisins made from it being of excellent quality and finding a ready market4 ,acreage and ,crops4--,the quantity of raisin-vines planted cannot be estimated correctly2 but it is certain that at least sixty-five thousand acres of ,muscat vines are now set out in the ,state1 including grapes in bearing1 as well as vines lately set out4 ,california enjoys a climate peculiarly adapted to the culture and curing of the raisin grape4 ,the summers are warm and rainless1 the winters again moderately rainy4 ,the interior is free from injurious fogs and heavy dews1 while the most southern coast is only visited by warm fogs1 which are not greatly harmful to the grapes4 ,irrigation is practiced almost everywhere1 except in ,el ,cajon valley1 and in some of the northern districts of the ,state1 but even there it is no doubt that judicious irrigation would be beneficial and greatly increase the crop4 ,the demand for ,california raisins has kept pace with the improvements in curing and packing1 and has steadily increased from year to year4 ,what the future has in store only the future can tell1 but it is almost certain that first-class raisins will always be in demand1 while inferior grades may from time to time bring lower prices4 ,the ruling price of raisins in sweatboxes1 as they may be had from those growers who do not pack themselves1 has been from four to five cents per pound4 ,of late years1 the tendency is developing to pay according to quality1 and from three to seven cents was the ruling price for unpacked raisins in sweatboxes during last season 7#ahhi74 ,this practice will greatly promote the raisin industry and encourage growers to grow large grapes and fine bunches1 and to cure their raisins well4 ,it will also benefit the buyers1 who will know what they pay for1 and who will be able to furnish better grades1 and more of the best grades than formerly1 when good1 bad and indifferent raisins brought five cents per pound4 ,the raisin crop of #ahhi did not exceed one million boxes4 ,should we venture upon a statement as to the distribution of the same among the various counties or districts of the ,state1 the following figures would be found as near correct as it is possible to get them3 ,fresno district #dge1jjj twenty-pound boxes4 ,tulare #ae1jjj 8 8 8 ,kern #d1jjj 8 8 8 ,yolo and ,solano #abj1jjj 8 8 8 ,scattering #be1jjj 8 8 8 ,san ,bernardino #bfe1jjj 8 8 8 ,orange and ,los ,angeles #h1jjj 8 8 8 ,san ,diego #ge1jjj 8 8 8 ------- #ihg1jjj 8 8 8 ,,yolo ,,and ,,solano4 ,location and ,acreage4--,the district is situated north of ,san ,francisco ,bay1 bordering on it as well as on the ,sacramento river1 and is a part of the ,sacramento valley4 ,the number of acres overreaches seven thousand1 and is increasing yearly4 ,the principal vineyards are those of the late ,g4 ,g4 ,briggs at ,davisville1 ,solano county1 with three hundred acres1 and at ,woodland in ,yolo county1 four hundred and sixty acres2 ,e4 ,gould1 also at ,davisville1 two hundred acres2 ,h4 ,m4 ,larou1 at same place1 about fifty acres2 sundry vineyards around ,davisville1 fifty acres2 around ,woodland and ,capay valley1 some four hundred acres2--or in full bearing more than two thousand acres4 ,the district comprises the southern part of ,yolo and the northern part of ,solano counties4 ,the grape used for raisins is principally the ,muscat of ,alexandria1 except the vineyard of ,r4 ,b4 ,blowers1 which is composed exclusively of ,gordo ,blanco4 ,the ,muscat of ,alexandria is generally preferred1 as it makes a fine raisin and bears well4 ,soil and ,climate4--,the soil varies somewhat2 the best is a deep gray1 alluvial bottom-land soil2 other soils are not much thought of for ,muscatel raisin grapes4 ,the average depth of water is about eighteen feet from the surface4 ,it is not necessary1 as a rule1 to first level the land1 as the ground is very level naturally4 ,the rainfall averages thirteen inches4 ,the most rain falls in ,january and ,february2 the least falls in ,august4 ,there is seldom a shower in the summer1 but about ,november #ast rains are almost always certain to interfere with the drying of the grapes4 ,sometimes the rain comes in ,october1 when it causes considerable damage to the grapes and partially dried raisins4 ,there is very little dew in summer time1 but plenty in ,october and also some in ,september4 ,the temperature is considerably modified by the nearness of the bay4 ,it reaches in the hottest part of the summer one hundred and fourteen degrees ,fahrenheit in the shade1 but only for a day or two4 ,the average highest is about ninety degrees ,fahrenheit in the shade1 while the heat almost every day in ,july and ,august shows eighty-five degrees ,fahrenheit in the shade4 ,thus this district is considerably cooler than the ,san ,joaquin valley and ,san ,bernardino county1 but warmer than ,los ,angeles and ,san ,diego districts4 ,there are heavy frosts in winter1 when at times even the thermometer falls to eighteen degrees ,fahrenheit1 although this is the extreme low temperature1 six or seven degrees of frost being more common4 ,there is spring frost in ,april one year in every three or four1 and the vineyards are then smoked to prevent injury to the vines4 ,irrigation is not needed to produce crops1 only to produce larger crops1 as it increases the yield fifty per cent4 ,generally two irrigations a year are needed1 the first one in early summer1 the other later1 when the berries have begun to ripen4 ,water from ditches is used and carried to the vines in furrows only1 no flooding being practiced4 ,the ,vineyard4--,in planting1 cuttings are used principally1 but rooted vines are preferred by some4 ,the distances most common are ten by ten feet each way1 one vineyard being set ten feet by sixteen feet4 ,the vines bear the third year4 ,the ground is plowed and cross-plowed1 the first plowing being from the vines1 and the second to the vines4 ,harrowing and cultivating both ways are secondary operations1 continued to the middle of ,may1 but seldom later4 ,hoeing the vines finishes the work of the soil in the middle or end of ,may4 ,in pruning1 the crowns are never raised over six inches above the ground1 from seven to eight spurs are left on large vines1 and each spur is pruned to two or three eyes each4 ,formerly more eyes1 say from four to five1 were left on each cane1 but it was found that this was too many1 hence the change to two or three eyes4 ,summer pruning is practiced by some1 but not by all2 there is yet a controversy in regard to its usefulness4 ,when practiced1 the vines are cut six or eight inches from the tops1 and this is done not later than ,june4 ,sulphuring is in use everywhere2 the vines are sulphured two times1 once before and once after the bloom4 ,sulphured vines do not suffer from mildew4 ,colure1 or the dropping of the young berries1 is not common1 the ,muscat of ,alexandria even setting well4 ,the leaf-hopper 7,erythroneura comes7 is more common in some years than in others4 ,they eat the leaves and cause the grapes to sunburn4 ,grasshoppers have never caused any damage4 ,grape moths are more or less common1 but never troublesome4 ,black-knot is often seen on neglected vines1 but is rare in old vineyards well cared for4 ,the ,crop4--,the grapes ripen in ,september1 generally from the first to the tenth4 ,the drying and curing occupies three weeks4 ,the bunches are placed on trays made of pine two feet by three4 ,several growers have artificial dryers1 which are needed for curing the second crop4 ,the sweatboxes are large enough to contain seventy pounds of raisins1 and are eight inches deep4 ,in the ,briggs raisin vineyard1 the following brands are packed3 three crown ,layer ,muscatels2 two crown ,layer ,muscatels2 one and two crown ,loose ,muscatels2 ,dehesas and ,seedless ,muscatels4 ,the raisins are seldom sold in sweatboxes1 and no fixed price is known for such raisins4 ,most growers pack their own raisins4 ,the oldest raisin vineyard is that started by the late ,g4 ,g4 ,briggs1 and now owned by his widow4 ,the most renowned vineyard was that owned by ,r4 ,b4 ,blowers of ,woodland1 which has of late years been mostly replaced by other crops4 ,raisin land can be had for from one hundred to one hundred and fifty dollars per acre4 ,this is vacant land of the very best quality4 ,an average profit of fifty dollars per acre is realized1 although some have made more money out of their vines4 ,a yield of two or three tons of grapes per acre is common4 ,as regards prices of labor1 etc41 the following were those most common last season3 ,man and team1 who boards himself and animals1 three dollars and twenty-five cents per day1 can plow one and a half acres of vineyard well4 ,pruning1 one man1 one dollar per day1 can prune three hundred vines1 or three-fourths of an acre4 ,laborers generally board themselves4 ,the raisins of this district were the first ones in the ,state or on this continent to attract attention1 and they were the first which successfully competed with ,spain4 ,the crop of #ahhi reached one hundred and twenty thousand boxes4 ,,northern ,,california4 ,general ,remarks4--,the ,muscatel and ,sultana raisin grapes grow almost everywhere in the ,state1 and it is therefore natural enough that the planting of raisin-vines should have increased considerably of late years1 even in localities situated outside of those raisin districts mentioned1 which have already made a success of the raisin industry4 ,below will be found a few notices from various such places which aspire to raisin fame1 some of which have yet to make their reputation in this line4 ,these notices are partly taken from the ,san ,francisco ,chronicle1 which paper went to the trouble and expense of collecting such statistics at the beginning of the year4 ,it must be remembered1 however1 that these statements are more or less approximate4 ,as will be seen1 all these localities here mentioned lie in the interior or the ,sacramento valley proper1 enjoying an inland climate4 ,the climate in this valley is somewhat like that of the ,san ,joaquin valley1 of which it is an extension4 ,only the heat in summer is less1 the rain in winter is more profuse1 the showers in the spring of the year are later and those of the fall are earlier4 ,placer ,county4--,at ,rocklin ,j4 ,p4 ,whitney has two hundred and fifty acres of raisin grapes1 and is the largest raisin-maker in the county4 ,there are not over three hundred and fifty acres of ,muscats devoted to raisin-making in the county1 and the total output this year was about four hundred tons1 most of which was shipped directly ,east4 ,the first carload of ,muscat raisins sent ,east was shipped from the ,whitney vineyard about ten years ago4 ,a large area of ,muscat and other vineyards will be planted this season1 but none for raisin-making4 ,yuba ,county4--,the raisin industry has received but little attention in ,yuba county1 although it has long been known that raisins of superior quality can be produced here4 ,the area in raisin-vines is about three hundred acres1 which will probably be increased by several hundred acres this season4 ,less than a hundred acres are in bearing4 ,the raisin vineyards planted last season are chiefly at ,colmena1 midway between ,marysville and ,wheatland4 ,the ,muscatel grape is planted to some extent1 but the favorite grape is the ,thompson ,seedless1 a new variety of great promise4 ,sutter ,county4--,the raisin industry of ,sutter county dates back to the year #ahgf1 and the venture was first made by the late ,dr4 ,s4 ,r4 ,chandler three miles south of this city4 ,the area now in raisin vineyard is about six hundred acres1 three-fourths of which are in bearing4 ,the crops marketed and prices received are about as follows3 ,three thousand twenty-pound boxes at #a4fe per box2 eight hundred sacks of one hundred pounds each1 at five cents a pound2 five hundred and twenty-five sacks of dried grapes of one hundred pounds each1 at three cents a pound4 ,the home consumption is extensive1 but is not estimated4 ,the county is well adapted to raisin growing and curing1 and received the second prize at the late ,oroville ,state ,citrus ,exposition4 ,muscatel and ,thompson ,seedless are the favorite grapes4 ,the soil of this county is very rich and warm1 and no irrigation has been practiced4 ,colusa ,county4--,in the immediate vicinity of ,colusa there are about one hundred and fifty acres in bearing1 and fully one hundred acres more will be set out the coming season4 ,the crop of raisins in #ahhh was very insignificant2 but in #ahhi the ,colusa canneries packed forty tons in boxes4 ,the prices ranged from #a4ge to #b4be per box1 according to quality4 ,these figures refer only to the territory lying within a radius of eight miles of ,colusa4 ,some of the finest raisin grapes in the county are grown near ,college ,city1 and the entire output was at least eighty tons of raisins4 ,many of the people around ,orland are reported as going into the business on a large scale4 ,the ranchers in and near the foothills are also producing raisins of excellent quality4 ,a single vineyard of fifteen hundred acres is being planted in one place in the foothills4 ,butte ,county4--,while ,butte produces a fair quality of raisins1 her vineyards are yet young and are just coming into bearing4 ,the older vines are those of ,general ,bidwell1 at ,chico1 covering about one hundred acres1 and those of ,oroville and ,mesilla valley1 embracing about the same area4 ,a large number of young vines have been set out during the past two years1 and these number #eb1bjj near ,oroville1 #gg1dhj at ,palermo1 #fg1bjj at ,thermalito1 #bj1egj at ,wyandotte1 #be1jjj at ,central ,house1 #ej1ejj at ,gridley1 and something over #ej1jjj near ,chico4 ,these have nearly all been planted within the past two years1 but a limited number are three years old4 ,in the foothills are a number of small vineyards1 but it is impossible to ascertain the acreage and product1 though the total of each is not large4 ,practically the bearing vines of ,butte number between #cjj and #djj acres4 ,the one and two year old vineyards embrace about #cej acres1 so that a conservative estimate for the total raisin vineyards of the county1 young and old1 would be #gjj acres4 ,the raisins are all boxed and sold directly by the vineyardists1 the local demand taking nearly the whole crop4 ,the area to be planted this year will not exceed #bej acres4 ,tehama ,county4--,the area planted to grapes in ,tehama county is over ten thousand acres4 ,the greater part of the fruit grown is used for wine1 and probably one-third for raisins4 ,all the raisins produced here are packed in boxes1 and a large portion is used in home consumption1 while the remainder is shipped4 ,probably about ten thousand boxes in bulk and packed will cover the yield4 ,shasta ,county4--,the raisin industry of ,shasta county is only in its infancy4 ,there are #adg acres planted to raisin grapes within a radius of fifteen miles from ,redding4 ,the largest acreage of raisin grapes is in ,happy valley4 ,there are patches of grapes all through the foothills4 ,probably not over one thousand boxes of raisins were shipped4 ,the planting of raisin grapes continues every year4 ,raisins are made by many small growers1 and sold here at an average of six cents per pound4 ,,fresno ,,and ,,san ,,joaquin ,,valley4 ,general ,remarks4--,the ,san ,joaquin valley is well adapted to raisins along its whole length almost1 but especially in its central and southern parts4 ,the farther we go south in the valley1 the drier is the climate1 and the less is the rainfall in the autumn of the year1 both conditions favoring the curing of the grapes4 ,the present raisin center is around ,fresno ,city1 where over twenty-five thousand acres are planted to raisin grapes1 principally ,muscatels2 but from this locality the industry has been constantly spreading1 until at present the other counties in the valley1 viz41 ,merced1 ,tulare and ,kern1 can show a good acreage of young vines4 ,next after ,fresno1 ,tulare county produces the largest quantity of raisin grapes1 and produces raisins of the very highest quality4 ,the principal raisin vineyards in that county are situated in the ,mussel ,slough district1 on the rich bottom lands formed by the former delta of ,kings river2 of late1 the planting of raisin grapes has extended to other parts of the county as well4 ,in ,kern county few old raisin vineyards exist1 the oldest one being situated on the ,livermore ranch1 being a part of the ,haggin and ,carr tract4 ,several hundred new acres have been planted there this spring1 especially in the ,rosedale1 ,lerdo and ,virginia ,colonies1 as well as on the plains near ,delano4 ,i need here hardly say that the raisins of ,fresno1 ,tulare1 ,kern and ,merced counties should be all classed together1 as the climate in these various localities is one and the same1 with only a slight and gradual change as to rainfall as we go south in the valley4 ,if there will1 in the course of time1 be found some difference as regards quality in the raisins of these various localities in the ,san ,joaquin valley1 this difference will not be due to any great difference in the climate1 but to the variety of soil on which the grapes are grown4 ,the raisins are only grown on the level lands1 situated from three to four hundred feet above the sea4 ,extent and ,location4--,the ,fresno district contains about thirty thousand acres1 out of which about twelve thousand are in good or full bearing4 ,merced county has about two thousand acres1 nearly all very young vines4 ,kern county has probably about one thousand acres1 also very young vines1 and some thirty acres of old vines4 ,tulare county has about seven thousand acres of ,muscats1 a large part of which is in full or good bearing4 ,many vineyards1 large and small1 are being planted in these counties this year1 but enough attention is not paid to proper soil and to locality1 and here1 as elsewhere in the ,state1 many of these vineyards will not turn out as the owners expect they will4 ,in ,fresno county1 the old vineyards are planted principally around ,fresno ,city1 while in late years other raisin districts or sub-districts are growing into prominence around ,malaga1 ,sanger1 ,selma1 ,fowler and ,madera4 ,the varieties used are principally the ,gordo ,blanco ,muscatel1 much mixed with the ,muscat of ,alexandria4 ,there are some few acres of ,sultanas and ,white ,corinths1 and of late many ,malagas have been planted4 ,soils and ,climate4--,there are several different varieties of soils in the district1--the red or chocolate-colored sandy loam principally east of the railroad1 the white1 ashy soil west of the railroad1 and the very sandy soil1 generally occurring in elevated ridges4 ,we have also the deep1 gray-colored bottom land in the river bottoms or along the rivers and creeks4 ,the best grades of the chocolate and reddish loams1 and of the river bottom soil1 is considered the best for raisins4 ,the very sandy soil and the alkali soil should not be used for raisin purposes4 ,the climate is warm and dry during the summer1 while the winters are not very rainy4 ,from seven to ten inches of rain are an average in ,fresno2 south to ,kern the rainfall decreases1 five and a half inches being an average around ,delano4 ,towards the northern end of the valley1 the rainfall increases1 and in ,merced county varies between ten and twenty inches1 fifteen inches being a high average4 ,in no portion of the raisin-producing portion of the valley can raisin grapes be grown without irrigation1 the natural rainfall being entirely insufficient4 ,the lowest temperature is about eighteen degrees ,fahrenheit in ,fresno1 generally in ,january1 while the highest is one hundred and eighteen degrees ,fahrenheit in the shade in ,july and ,august4 ,the lowest temperature is reached once in from three to five years1 and the highest quoted is similarly scarce4 ,the high average in summer time is one hundred and ten in the shade1 and for three months of the year the thermometer every day can be counted on to vary between one hundred and one hundred and ten in the shade4 ,in the winter1 twenty degrees ,fahrenheit is often reached1 and the end of ,december and ,january may be counted on as being cold and frosty4 ,these figures all refer to the level plain land1 where the most of the vineyards are planted1 and not to the foothills or the thermal belt1 nor to the high ,sierra ,nevada1 where snow and ice are common1 and where glaciers cover many of the highest mountain peaks4 ,the most rainfall occurs from ,december to ,february1 and the rain continues more or less scattering to ,april and ,may4 ,there is only very seldom a shower in the summer1 one perhaps in three years4 ,in the mountains1 the fall rains commence about the middle of ,august1 on the plains again in ,october and ,november1 sometimes even later4 ,dew is rare in summer time1 but common from the beginning of ,october4 ,fog is rare1 sometimes an unwelcome visitor in ,november1 but never known at any other time of the year4 ,spring frosts are almost unknown1 and occur only once in from five to eight years4 ,irrigation4--,irrigation is practiced wherever raisins are grown4 ,the water is taken from the rivers1--from ,kings river in the ,fresno district1 and from the ,merced1 ,kaweah and ,kern rivers1 etc41 in the other districts4 ,before irrigation was begun in the ,fresno districts1 there were from fifty to sixty feet of dry soil before the natural water level was reached2 but this has been so changed through a few years of constant irrigation1 that now in places the land is subirrigated or moist to the surface1 while in places even the soil requires to be drained1 and no other irrigation is now needed except to allow the water to flow in the main or secondary canals1 from which it seeps and keeps the soil filled with water1 the moisture rising from below4 ,the irrigation when practiced is done by flooding or by irrigating in furrows4 ,new land must be irrigated until it becomes subirrigated2 but1 when once this is done1 no separate irrigation becomes necessary4 ,many vineyards planted on subirrigated land which was once dry land have never since been irrigated4 ,the ,vineyard4--,the general distance of the vines is eight by eight or ten by ten feet1 varying in different vineyards4 ,of late1 there have been some efforts made to improve upon these distances1 and to have them planted closer one way than the other1 say five by ten or six by twelve feet4 ,the vines begin to bear the second and third years1 and if planted on proper soil should pay the fourth year and give an income the fifth year4 ,some vines have been known to pay the third year1 there being much difference in this respect4 ,both cuttings and rooted vines are used1 rooted vines having been preferred during the last few years4 ,the ground is plowed in various ways in the winter time1 according to the ideas of the owner4 ,cross-plowing is sometimes practiced4 ,the general rule is to first plow one way1 and then to cross-cultivate repeatedly until the soil is level and the weeds are destroyed4 ,in wet places1 the cultivation is kept up until ,july1 but in proper places the working of the soil is finished in the early part of ,june4 ,pruning and ,other ,operations4--,the heads of the vines are kept low1--from six to sixteen inches above the ground4 ,the canes are cut to two or three eyes1 and the number of canes left vary from five to fifteen or more4 ,the pruning is done between ,december and ,february4 ,summer pruning is practiced by some1 but not by all growers1 there being considerable difference of opinion as to the value of this operation4 ,sulphuring is practiced by all growers1 some sulphuring only once1 but the best vineyards are sulphured three or more times4 ,oidium or mildew never appears in sulphured vineyards4 ,some few growers sulphur with great success against the colure or dropping of the grapes4 ,leaf-hoppers are common1 but do no great harm4 ,grasshoppers and grape caterpillars were troublesome one or two seasons1 but have not reappeared of late4 ,black-knot is common in many places4 ,the ,crop4--,the grapes begin to ripen in the middle of ,august1 or from the middle of ,august to the first of ,september1 and at the latter date the first boxes of cured and packed raisins are generally heralded through the press4 ,the first grapes dry in from seven to ten days1 but the later grapes require three weeks or more4 ,the drying continues through ,september1 and for the second crop through ,october and even in ,november1 or until the rains set in4 ,the grapes are dried on trays two by three or three by three feet4 ,the sweatboxes are generally two by three feet and from six to eight inches high4 ,a large number of brands are packed1 such as ,imperial ,clusters1 ,dehesas1 ,layers1 ,loose and ,seedless4 ,the common price for raisins in sweatboxes is from three and a half to six cents1 five and five and a half cents being the average for good layers4 ,good land for raisin purposes can be had for one hundred dollars per acre1 but nearer the town of ,fresno is held higher4 ,bearing raisin vineyards have changed hands at as high as #a1jjj per acre4 ,from one hundred to two hundred and fifty boxes of raisins are realized per acre1 and the profits vary from seventy-five to two hundred and fifty dollars per acre1 according to location1 soil1 management1 etc4 ,from thirty to fifty dollars per acre is spent yearly in many vineyards4 ,few dipped raisins are produced4 ,some dipped ,sultanas have brought seven cents in the ,san ,francisco market4 ,last season about four hundred and seventy-five thousand boxes were produced in the ,fresno district1 and some twenty thousand boxes more in the other parts of the ,san ,joaquin valley4 ,,san ,,bernardino ,,county ,,and ,,riverside4 ,location and ,acreage4--,san ,bernardino county1 ,california1 is entirely an inland county1 sheltered by low and high hills from the ocean4 ,fogs and dew are rare1 in places unknown1 and the county offers unusual advantages for raisin-growing4 ,the vineyards are widely distributed through the county in different localities or raisin centers1 all of which are greatly similar as to climatic conditions1 except as regards altitude4 ,the ,san ,bernardino vineyards are the highest elevated above the sea of any in ,california4 ,below will be found a list of the raisin centers in the county1 with the number of acres and their altitude above the sea4 ,it must be understood that each locality has a large extension as regards altitude1 and varies in many instances several hundred feet2 this fact being indeed a characteristic of the ,san ,bernardino county vineyards4 ,the raisin centers in ,san ,bernardino county are3 ,riverside1 #a1ejj acres4 ,altitude above sea1 #ijj to #a1jjj feet4 ,redlands1 #hjj 8 8 8 8 #a1bjj 8 #a1fjj feet4 ,highlands1 #djj 8 8 8 8 #a1ejj feet4 ,ontario1 #ejj 8 8 8 8 #ihc 8 #b1cej feet4 ,cucamonga1 ---- 8 8 8 8 #ijj 8 #a1ejj feet4 ,etiwanda1 #gjj 8 8 8 8 #a1bjj feet4 ,there are several other localities where raisin vineyards are found in smaller quantities1 and it is safe to estimate the number of acres in the county at over five thousand4 ,nearly all these vineyards are situated on mesa lands1 by which is meant the lands situated between the river bottoms and the foothills4 ,as a consequence1 the surface water is never near the top1 but generally far down1 and even continued irrigation would not be liable to raise it much higher1 as the water will as rapidly drain off through the substrata1 which generally consists of sandy soil and gravel4 ,the land is in fact well drained1 and differs in this respect from the plains of the ,san ,joaquin valley4 ,in ,riverside1 the surface water is from thirty to fifty feet down1 and only in one or two vineyards situated deep down in the arroyo is the surface water as shallow as ten feet4 ,these latter vineyards are never irrigated4 ,in ,redlands the surface water is at an average of thirty feet on the mesa lands4 ,in ,ontario the surface water is even deeper1 and found at from seventy to eight hundred feet1 and the shallowest water in the district is1 according to ,mr4 ,w4 ,e4 ,collins1 twenty-five feet below the surface4 ,it is the general belief in the ,san ,bernardino district that deep water is necessary for1 or at least beneficial to1 raisin grapes1 and that shallow surface water is conducive to all kinds of diseases4 ,in this ,i cannot agree1 as contrary to my own experiences and to the experiences of the ,spanish growers4 ,climate4--,as regards temperature1 there is some difference in the various districts4 ,a true comparison between them and other districts is almost impossible1 as the signal service thermometers are placed at unequal heights above the ground1 and in localities with very different characteristics4 ,it can1 however1 be said that the winter climate of the district is much milder during the winter than that of the plains of the ,san ,joaquin valley1 and very similar to the ,orange county and the ,san ,diego districts4 ,in ,riverside and ,redlands1 the thermometer seldom reaches one hundred and nine degrees ,fahrenheit in the shade during the summer1 and in winter seldom goes below twenty-four degrees ,fahrenheit1 while twenty-eight or twenty-seven degrees ,fahrenheit is no unusual occurrence once every year1 but is considered the extreme of the season4 ,it may thus be seen that raisin vineyards and orange orchards may be and actually are grown side by side in every part of ,san ,bernardino county1 and this is a distinct characteristic of the district1 which1 however1 it shares with ,orange and ,san ,diego counties4 ,the warmest months are ,august and ,september1 and ,october is generally fine for drying4 ,so is ,november1 and only twice 7in #ahhe and #ahhi7 has there been any serious difficulty in drying the grapes4 ,in two other years the crop has suffered slightly1 but during the majority of seasons in the months of ,november there has not been any rain on the mesa lands1 and it is this absence of fall rains which makes it possible for the raisin-grower to dry his crop without any other appliances than raisin-trays4 ,dew and fogs are very rare1 and occur only very seldom during the summer months4 ,when they do occur at this time1 they are of but short duration1 and last perhaps only from five to seven o'clock in the morning4 ,in the fall of the year1 in ,october and ,november1 the desert wind blows warm and dry1 and hastens the drying of the raisins4 ,it may blow three or four times during the season1 but has also been known to be entirely absent4 ,the rain in the winter season is light1 in ,riverside twelve inches being an exceptionally wet season4 ,from six to eight inches are the usual rainfall1 while again the actual average for ,riverside is six and one-fourth inches4 ,in ,ontario the rainfall in #ahhg was #h4ba inches1 and in #ahhh #i4bc inches4 ,irrigation4--,in ,riverside grapes cannot be grown without irrigation on the mesa lands1 with the exception of one or two localities in the arroyo4 ,in the ,ontario district1 raisin grapes may be grown without irrigation in the center of the valley1 but on the mesas1 higher on the sides1 they must be irrigated1 and even in localities where they could be grown without artificial irrigation the same is always practiced whenever it can be obtained4 ,less water is1 however1 needed than in the ,san ,joaquin valley1 but more than would suffice in ,el ,cajon4 ,through the nature of the gravelly subsoil1 the raisin land cannot fill up with water4 ,seepage is only possible to a limited degree2 summer irrigation is always required4 ,the vines are irrigated three times a year1 in ,april1 ,june and ,august4 ,the system of furrows is used1 and a ten-inch flow is considered enough to irrigate one acre of grapes during one day and night each time4 ,in ,ontario the raisin grapes are irrigated every five weeks1 not1 however1 while they are in bloom1 as it is considered best to wait until the berries are well set4 ,in ,redlands1 one irrigation after the winter rain ceases is considered enough1 even on soil with thirty feet to water4 ,soils4--,the soil in ,san ,bernardino county varies considerably4 ,in ,riverside and ,redlands the best soil is a reddish loam1 with some sand and gravel4 ,but in ,riverside we also find sandy soil of lighter color and strength1 which1 however1 is less suited to grapes4 ,in ,ontario the soil varies from a heavy clayey adobe to a lighter but very rich sandy loam of a grayish color4 ,the very sandy soil in some river bottoms1 especially around ,lugonia1 has1 through experience1 been found to be entirely unsuited to the raisin grapes4 ,the ,vineyards4--,the variety used for raisins is nearly entirely the ,muscat of ,alexandria1 although several vineyardists call these grapes incorrectly the ,gordo ,blanco4 ,i saw nowhere this variety1 but ,i suppose some must have been imported there4 ,in planting1 cuttings have been preferred1 probably because they are the cheapest1 and because the value of rooted vines has not been properly understood4 ,the vines are set1 almost everywhere1 eight by eight1 only in a few vineyards nine by nine feet4 ,there is1 however1 a growing belief that eight by ten feet or eight by twelve feet is better than the old accepted eight by eight feet4 ,but ,i believe that this tendency to give the vines greater room will1 in course of time1 be followed by the opposite tendency to plant them closer1 at least one way1 and give more room the other way4 ,the ,muscat of ,alexandria begins to bear in three years1 and in four years will pay fifty dollars per acre4 ,the practice of plowing is1 in ,riverside1 to first plow towards the vines in the fall1 and then1 when the vegetation has begun in the spring1 the soil is turned back towards the center of the space between the rows1 or from the vines4 ,then the soil is cultivated with chisel-tooth cultivators1 both crosswise and lengthwise1 also similarly after every irrigation4 ,but this practice is not entirely the same everywhere1 and the different vineyardists have here as elsewhere different ideas1 even in regard to the most common farm or vineyard practices4 ,pruning was formerly done much closer than now1 but it was found that by close pruning the vines bore less4 ,to-day from fifteen to twenty spurs are left on the strongest vines1 and on every spur about two eyes4 ,from twenty to twenty-five spurs were found to be too much2 with such quantity of spurs the vines produce smaller and inferior grapes4 ,some vines which were pruned with twenty-five spurs last year have this year been given nine or ten spurs only1 so as to enable them again to recover and grow strong1 when the quantity of spurs will again be increased to fifteen4 ,summer pruning is used by some1 but not by others4 ,it does not1 according to observation1 injure the vine1 but produces always a second crop1 which is difficult to cure4 ,sulphuring the vines is practiced by some1 but not by all1 growers4 ,a great many cannot see the use and value of sulphur4 ,no one sulphurs for colure or the dropping of the grape1 which is quite a common occurrence4 ,the vines1 however1 never suffered from the leaf-hopper nor the grape caterpillars1 but sunscald is not uncommon1 nor is black-knot4 ,the ,crop4--,the ,muscat grapes begin to ripen in ,riverside later than in the ,san ,joaquin valley1 and picking commences between the #ajth and the #cjth of ,september4 ,highlands is said to be two weeks later than ,riverside4 ,the first crop is ready to turn in two weeks1 and is ready for the sweatbox in three weeks' time4 ,for drying1 trays are used1 and about twenty pounds are placed on each tray4 ,these trays are all made of pine or fir4 ,redwood has been found unsuitable1 as imparting both a color and a taste to the raisins if accidentally wet by early showers in the fall4 ,size of trays1 two by three feet1 with a cleat nailed at the short ends1 but none at the long ends of the trays4 ,sweatboxes receive the raisins when they leave the trays4 ,formerly the sweatboxes were much larger and deeper than now1 eight or even twelve inches in depth not being unknown4 ,of late sweatboxes are made two by three feet1 or of the exact size of the trays1 and not over six inches in depth4 ,a greater depth makes the boxes too heavy to handle1 and also causes the bunches to break4 ,the packing of the raisins in ,riverside and in the ,southern ,california raisin districts generally is done by the method known as 8top up40 ,that is1 the first raisins are placed in the bottom of the box and successive layers are placed on top1 until finally the top layer is put on the last4 ,the lever press for the compression of the layers is a ,riverside invention4 ,a modification of this press is now in use in nearly all districts where the 8top-up0 method of packing is practiced4 ,the brands packed are as follows3 ,three ,crown ,london ,layers1 ,two ,crown ,london ,layers1 ,three ,crown ,loose ,muscatels1 ,two ,crown ,loose ,muscatels1 and ,muscatels in sixty-pound sacks2 also ,seedless ,muscatels in sacks of sixty and thirty pounds respectively4 ,cotton sacks are commonly used for the two latter brands4 ,the brands are apt to vary from year to year1 according to the fancy or ideas of the packers1 new ones of which are in the field every year4 ,only those who both produce and pack have anything like established brands4 ,the prices paid for raisins in sweatboxes have varied in different years4 ,in #ahhg and #ahhh1 the price was from four and one-half to five cents per pound4 ,in #ahhi1 the price rose to five and five and three-fourths cents1 and in one or two instances six cents were paid4 ,the ,profits and ,other ,items4--,the profit varies1 of course1 greatly1 but an average profit may be considered to be from about #abe to #aej per acre4 ,the yield of an acre is variable1 but from eight to ten tons of fresh grapes is said not to have been uncommon4 ,in some cases the yield has been much higher and the profit larger4 ,i have from trustworthy source the statement that one vineyardist who owns only a few acres1 ,i believe only five1 and who has given all his time and attention to these vines1 has realized as much as #dcj per acre4 ,this ,i quote only as an instance of what might be done with care and expense in an exceptionally favored locality4 ,some few growers have realized #bej profit on each of a few acres1 which also is to be considered exceptional4 ,i believe my former statement of #aej per acre as being reliable and attainable by all ,san ,bernardino county raisin-growers who have good land1 and who give their vines sufficient care4 ,as another instance of a high yield1 ,i copy below an account of the vintage of ,c4 ,newton ,ross of ,etiwanda1 ,san ,bernardino county1 ,california4 ,the article appeared in the ,press and ,horticulturist of ,riverside1 ,september #bgth1 and ,i have every reason to consider it trustworthy4 ,the writer adds that the yield is extraordinary4 8,mr4 ,ross has seventeen acres of #h1jjj vines five years old from which he picked #h1fdh trays of grapes that average twenty-five pounds to the tray1 or a total of #ajh tons of grapes1 which will make thirty-six tons of raisins1--equal to #c1fjj boxes1--over #bjj boxes to the acre4 ,this is the first picking only1 and it is estimated that the second crop will be half as large as the first1 which will give a total yield of #cah boxes to the acre4 ,mr4 ,ross has sold his first crop at five and one-half cents per pound in the sweatbox1 which will give him an income of #bdb an acre on the first crop1 and half as much more on the second crop if he succeeds in saving it in good shape1 or a total income of #cfc per acre on his crop4 ,mr4 ,ross estimates that #ej an acre will cover the entire cost of taking care of the vineyard and putting the crop in the sweatbox1 and this would leave him a net income of #cac an acre for his vineyard1 which is ten per cent on #c1acj per acre40 ,but1 ,i may add1 it is not likely that such a profit can be realized year after year4 ,as regards care of the vineyard and expenses of running the same1 they vary1 of course1 and are estimated at from twenty dollars upwards4 ,but the best vineyardists spend from thirty to forty dollars per acre in the care of an acre1 but in this do not include interest1 trays bought1 etc41 nothing in fact but 8care40 ,vines were first planted in ,riverside by ,judge ,john ,wesley ,north in #ahgc4 ,vacant land that is suitable for raisins may be had with water for #bej per acre4 ,some land with choice locations is held at higher prices4 ,the highest yield of raisins in ,san ,bernardino has been #bij1jjj boxes in #ahhh4 ,of this ,riverside produced #aej1jjj boxes1 ,etiwanda #cj1jjj boxes1 and ,ontario #ae1jjj boxes4 ,the raisin shipments from ,riverside during the fall of #ahhi1 up to ,december #abth1 amounted1 according to the ,daily ,press1 to #baf1jjj boxes4 ,there was a balance on hand of #g1jjj boxes1 making the total production #bbc1jjj boxes4 ,it is estimated that the value of this crop was #c1ejj1jjj at wholesale4 ,later advices give to the county #bfe1jjj boxes as last season's crop4 ,the ,san ,bernardino raisins are superior both as regards quality and size1 and raisin growing and curing is a profitable business1 eminently suited to the settler with small means1 who cannot invest large capital1 nor can afford to wait long for a return4 ,no dipped or sulphured raisins have ever been produced in the district1 although dipped raisins would prove profitable4 ,especially does this refer to the second crop1 which ripens enough to make good raisins1 but which cannot be cured when the early rains set in4 ,,orange ,,county ,,and ,,santa ,,ana4 ,general ,remarks4--,on account of the vine disease which has been injuring the ,orange county raisin and wine vineyards1 this district has a special interest to every one engaged in grape-growing4 ,while the country has received a hard blow through the injury and destruction of so many of its vineyards1 still it is likely that it will recover and rise as soon as the vine disease leaves4 ,location4--,the ,orange county raisin district lies close to the sea4 ,of all raisin districts1 it is nearest the ocean1 the average distance of the raisin vineyards from the latter being eight to twelve miles1 some few perhaps a little more4 ,as will be seen1 the district resembles in this respect some of the ,mediterranean districts1 such as ,malaga and ,smyrna1 where the vineyards come within actual reach of the sea fogs4 ,on one side of the ,orange county district we have the ocean1 on the opposite side it is bordered by rather high foothills1 beyond which are the ,san ,bernardino county vineyards1 some forty to sixty miles away4 ,illustration3 ,a ,raisin-grower's ,residence at ,fresno4 ,climate4--,the nearness to the ocean modifies the climate much4 ,the temperature is more even all the year round than anywhere else on the coast where raisins are grown4 ,the extreme of heat is #aje degrees2 in fact1 ,july #bg1 #ahhi1 it was #ajd degrees ,fahrenheit in the shade1 while in the winter it seldom goes lower than #bh degrees ,fahrenheit1 and indeed very1 very rarely as low as that4 ,in many places there is no frost at all1 except1 perhaps1 one in ,april1 which1 of course1 cannot but prove damaging to the vines4 ,this absence of heavy frost1 which is beneficial to every other semi-tropical product1 is not favorable to the vine4 ,the grape requires heavy frost to become dormant4 ,the farther south we go the less frost and the less grapes1 at least of the ,asiatic kind4 ,there are1 as we know1 native grapes even in tropical countries1 but they are adapted to their surroundings and cannot be considered here4 ,the proximity to the coast modifies the air considerably4 ,with #ajj degrees ,fahrenheit in the shade1 which is an exception here1 ,i felt as warm as ,i do in the ,san ,joaquin valley with the mercury at #aad2--the two extremes in both places affect us just the same4 ,the air here is certainly much more moist1 which again must have a marked effect upon the vine1 and in no small degree promote fungoid growths1 or parasites generally4 ,in this respect1 then1 the coast vineyard must certainly be at a disadvantage4 ,the fog is not an unusual visitor in the district between the coast and the foothills1 which1 in fact1 covers the whole area ever planted in raisin grapes4 ,for days in succession every morning is foggy1 and the fog condenses on the leaves of the trees and falls under them in real showers1 making the adjoining and underlying road wet4 ,for a few days again the sun will rise bright1 again to be followed by foggy mornings4 ,by from nine to eleven o'clock the fog is again gone and the sun shines brightly4 ,every evening and morning there is a heavy dew1 and every branch1 leaf or grass is then dripping wet4 ,several mornings when the fog was in ,i found the thermometer at #fb degrees ,fahrenheit1 while at noon it rose to over #ajj4 ,soils and ,ripening4--,the soil here is the very best1 and ,i doubt if the same fine quality of soil is found anywhere else in ,california over the same extended territory4 ,i ride for miles and miles1 everywhere the finest and richest loam of a gray color1 sometimes a little drawing towards slate blue1 sometimes again towards yellowish4 ,it is immensely rich1 and can hardly be improved4 ,there is1 however1 especially near ,orange1 a different kind of soil consisting of the sand loam1 but intermixed with very coarse gravel4 ,this soil is warmer but consequently not so rich4 ,the grapes ripen on it two weeks earlier1 but yield only one-half as much as those on the richest loam along the creeks4 ,the vines planted here were alone the ,muscat of ,alexandria4 ,strangely enough ,i find no traces of ,sultanas or currant1 which latter1 it seems1 should be especially adapted to the coast climate4 ,the ,vineyards4--,in planting a vineyard1 rooted vines were seldom used4 ,cuttings grew so readily and so well that they were much preferred4 ,i am told that five per cent loss was unusual4 ,it must be remarked that the moister is the air the better it is for any kind of cuttings4 ,the moisture sustains and nourishes the wood while it is making roots4 ,as to distances1 ,i remarked nothing new4 ,eight by eight or eight by ten feet seems the generally adopted way4 ,the nature of the soil and climate make higher cultivation a necessity4 ,mc,pherson ,bros41 who packed the largest quantity of raisins and owned the finest vineyards1 told me that they plowed and cross-plowed and cultivated from fourteen to sixteen times every season2 in fact they never ceased working the ground4 ,the pruning was begun in ,december1 or as soon as the leaves began to turn and fall4 ,to begin with1 only a few spurs were left on every vine1 and on every spur three eyes1 including the bottom eyes1 but experience taught that that way was not the very best4 ,gradually more space was given the vines1 and now from fifteen to twenty spurs to a vine in full bearing is considered proper4 ,summer pruning is only practiced in some of the vineyards where the ground is quite wet4 ,the most profitable vineyards were irrigated4 ,the nearer the coast the more moisture there is in the soil4 ,thus three miles west of ,santa ,ana the ground is always moist enough to grow grapes1 but as we come nearer the foothills to the east1 the moisture is farther down4 ,at ,tustin1 ,orange1 and especially at ,mc,pherson1 irrigation was practiced in all first-class vineyards4 ,some were irrigated in the winter only1 and this was considered the best2 others again were irrigated also once in summer1--a practice the best vineyardmen considered unnecessary and even injurious4 ,i found land near the town of ,santa ,ana moist one inch below the surface1 where no irrigation had even been practiced4 ,sulphuring was used everywhere to counteract the oidium4 ,for this purpose powdered sulphur was dusted through the vines as soon as the grapes were as large as small shot4 ,from three to four sulphurings were used every year with a week between each4 ,sulphuring for the colure or dropping of grapes was not known2 in fact ,i am informed that this colure was seldom known4 ,besides mildew1 there are few enemies to the vine here4 ,grasshoppers1 leaf-hoppers and grape moths have never been known to molest the vines4 ,when the late vine-plague struck the country the vineyardists were entirely unused to fight any enemy of the vines besides the oidium4 ,sunscald of the berries was not known4 ,the ,crop and its ,curing4--,the grapes begin to ripen in the end of ,august1 say about the twenty-fifth1 on the gravelly soil1 but on the cooler and richer bottom land very much later1 or about the middle of ,september4 ,the harvest then begins2 the grapes are picked on trays two and a half by three feet and placed to dry in the sun2 the drying takes two or three weeks or more1 and is accomplished with some difficulty4 ,two years the grapes had to be carried out to the ,mojave desert1 to be dried there4 ,the trays are placed among the vines in such a way that the trays from three rows are placed in one4 ,to protect them from the fog and dew1 they are covered with canvas4 ,this is done in two ways4 ,one way is to put small pegs on one side of the trays4 ,the long canvas is furnished at intervals with rings1 which are slipped over the pegs and thus held steady on one side4 ,in the daytime the other end of the canvas is simply thrown back over the pegs2 in the night-time the canvas is again turned over the trays1 resting directly on the grapes4 ,the other and better way is to run three wires along the row of trays1 one on each side of the trays4 ,the canvas is furnished with rings on each long side1 which are made to run on the wire4 ,the center wire is run a little higher up1 and here and there simply supported by posts4 ,it takes comparatively little time every evening to run the canvas along the wires and cover the trays4 ,the expense is considerable1 both in furnishing and preparing the canvas1 and in maintaining and operating it4 ,the peculiar climatic conditions of the district1 however1 necessitate some such contrivance for the drying of the grapes4 ,the vines seldom bear a second crop of any importance4 ,sometimes in ,october the district is visited by a warm and dry desert wind called the ,santa ,ana wind4 ,it comes from the caon of the ,santa ,ana river1 and originates1 no doubt1 in the ,mojave desert1 and rising high up in the air is again precipitated over the hills on the lowlands towards the ocean4 ,this ,santa ,ana wind is always welcome4 ,it hastens the drying of the grapes just as the ,terral or land winds from the plains of ,la ,mancha hasten the drying of the grapes of ,malaga in ,spain4 ,yield and ,profits4--,the yield is quite small on the gravelly soil1 at the most being three tons of green grapes to the acre1 on richer land from six to seven tons1 and in rare instances ten tons to the acre4 ,i heard of one vineyard where the owner had sold from twenty acres of ,muscatels thirty-three tons of raisins and fifty-six tons of green grapes1 equal to about #aee tons from the lot4 ,another lot of three-year ,muscatels bore ten tons to the acre1--indeed a very unusual yield anywhere for ,muscatels4 ,i hear reports of some wonderful yields and high profits1 but am informed by the most experienced and trustworthy that #abe per acre is an average profit which can be relied upon year after year4 ,the first ,muscat vines were planted near ,orange1 now the station of ,mc,pherson1 about #ahgc1 by ,mc,pherson ,bros4 ,the acreage in grapevines in the ,orange county district was about #h1jjj acres2 but probably over half of it is wine grapes4 ,the highest output of raisins was #agj1jjj boxes of twenty-pounds each4 ,,san ,,diego ,,and ,,el ,,cajon4 ,location and ,acreage4--,the ,el ,cajon and ,sweetwater valleys are the raisin centers of ,san ,diego county4 ,the former contains about four thousand acres of ,muscat vines1 the latter about five hundred acres4 ,magnificent-looking ,muscat grapes are also grown within three miles of ,san ,diego4 ,escondido is by many pronounced superior for raisin grapes to any of the other places2 but ,el ,cajon is the present center of the raisin industry1 and is likely to remain so for years4 ,the raisin-growing section of the two valleys lies from about fifteen to seventeen miles from the coast line1 and at an altitude of from #dej to #ejj feet4 ,the arable land in ,el ,cajon valley contains #ej1jjj acres1 or perhaps less1 and consists of the rolling bottom of the valley1 but which can in no way be classed as bottom land4 ,the land partakes more of the characteristics of mesa or upland1 and extends on all sides1 slightly undulating upon the sides of the hills4 ,lower hills and behind them1 again1 higher hills surround the valley1 and the high peaks beyond the ,cuyamaca ,mountains reach #d1ejj feet or more4 ,none of these hills or mountains in sight are covered with timber of any kind1 and even the valleys are without the usual sycamores4 ,only in the very narrow bottom of the creek is there a vegetation of willows and shrubbery4 ,climate and ,rainfall4--,the rainfall of the valley varies considerably4 ,it has been known to be as little as six inches and as much as twenty1 the average probably being about twelve inches1 distributed as generally elsewhere in ,california1--during the winter months4 ,in summer time it seldom rains1--perhaps a shower in two or three years4 ,september is the warmest month1 or at least the month with the greatest number of warm days4 ,the highest temperature reached in the shade in ,el ,cajon is #aje degrees ,fahrenheit1 and in ,sweetwater valley #ajh1 and the coldest in the winter twenty-four degrees ,fahrenheit on the upper mesa land1 while on the lower land1 close to the river1 the temperature falls low enough to kill orange trees1 probably somewhere about eighteen degrees ,fahrenheit4 ,september is freer from fog than any other month4 ,during the other summer months there is fog in the morning two days out of three4 ,the fog1 however1 is warm and pleasant to all but consumptives1 but1 nevertheless1 leaves behind a soaking dew on all vegetation1 and is even heavy enough to moisten the dust on the roads4 ,the moisture on this mesa land--by which is meant all the land between the hills1 which are too steep to be plowed1 and the actual river bottom lands--is near the surface4 ,in the ,el ,cajon and ,sweetwater valleys1 the water is found on this mesa at from eight to twenty feet1 or at an average of from twelve to fifteen feet4 ,on little hills or knobs in the valley the water is found at about the same depth4 ,it is strange that with the water so near the surface no perennial vegetation of either shrubbery or trees should be found on this land4 ,the grapevines will grow on it without irrigation2 in fact none is used anywhere now1 but no doubt it would prove profitable to irrigate somewhat1 so as to increase the crops of grapes4 ,water can be had through the ,cuyamaca flume1 but has so far not been used4 ,the vines do not grow after ,august #ast1 and may stop growing sooner4 ,soils4--,the soils of the district are of four kinds3 ,first1 reddish clay mixed with gravel1 the color changing between light chocolate and deep reddish4 ,this soil is considered by many the most desirable4 ,second1 a steel or slate gray adobe with much gravel of a coarse nature4 ,third1 black adobe with little gravel4 ,fourth1 alluvial sandy soil1 apparently consisting of decomposed granite mixed with much vegetable matter4 ,this soil is coarse1 of a dark steel-gray color1 very easily worked2 it is considered the best for raisins1 but it contains streaks where they will not grow and prove profitable4 ,the last-named soil goes gradually over into common alluvial soil of a sandy nature4 ,the two last-named soils are found principally in the ,sweetwater valley4 ,the ,vines and the ,vineyard4--,in planting1 cuttings are generally used1 not because they are most preferred1 but because good rooted vines cannot be obtained4 ,the distance to1 and the difficulty of reaching1 this district was formerly such that roots would suffer in transit and would rapidly dry1 while cuttings could be had handy and fresh4 ,the vines1 originally planted eight by eight feet1 have been given more distance of late1 some vineyardists planting them eight by twelve feet1 while others prefer twelve by twelve or ten by twelve feet4 ,the varieties used are the ,muscat of ,alexandria only4 ,this variety happened to be the one that was imported first from ,riverside1 ,i believe1 and it was afterwards propagated by every one4 ,the variety as grown in ,el ,cajon is the type of ,muscat of ,alexandria with oblong berries1 large clusters with loosely hanging berries and large strong stems4 ,the shape of the vines is erect1 with a few center shoots1 strong and upright4 ,the vines commence bearing the second year1 and are said to pay expenses of caring for in the third year1 but ,i think it would be safer to say in the fourth year4 ,as regards cultivation and plowing1 many plow both ways and harrow and cultivate crosswise several times until the #ast of ,june1 when1 on account of the dryness of the soil1 no more weeds start and no cultivation of any kind is needed4 ,the large majority of the vineyards are splendidly kept1 not a weed being seen anywhere for miles around4 ,winter pruning commences as soon as the leaves fall4 ,in former years from five to nine spurs were left in pruning and two or three eyes on each spur1 but it has been found profitable and judicious to leave more spurs1 so as to take the sap in the spring1 and now from twelve to fifteen spurs with two or three eyes each are left every winter4 ,spring or summer pruning has only been practiced the last two seasons1 and being found very profitable is now adopted by everybody4 ,the vines are not pinched1 but headed well back as soon as the grapes are well set4 ,this method has in this district the following advantages3 ,it gives better shade to the bunches on account of the production of a strong second growth2 it causes the bunches to fill better1 and1 finally1 it leaves more room between the rows of the vines4 ,i was told that any of these three advantages would warrant the system of summer pruning to be generally adopted4 ,the valley has been unusually free from any insect pest1 such as leaf-hoppers 7,erythroneura comes7 caterpillars1 grasshoppers1 etc41 but suffers from mildew1 not1 however1 to the extent that the presence of almost daily fogs would lead us to suppose4 ,sulphuring is now practiced to some extent1 but not as much as it should be4 ,the sulphur is applied with bellows as soon as the berries are the size of shot1 but not before4 ,sulphuring for colure1 or the dropping of the grapes when very small1 is not practiced1 nor was it ever suspected that it would help4 ,colure is quite common1 much more so on sandy soil4 ,sunscald is frequent but not bad4 ,i saw quite a number of grapes scalded on every vine1 but not enough to warrant any special measures to be taken as a protection4 ,the grapes have during this and last year ripened by the first days of ,september1 but it is generally much later1 or at about the #ajth of ,september1 when the vintage usually commences4 ,the picking was1 until last year1 done by white labor1 but the same was so very difficult to obtain that ,chinese were then employed4 ,they gave satisfaction to some1 while to others not4 ,some of the principal growers are this year 7#ahhi7 going to employ ,chinese help at #a4be per day1 at which price they board themselves4 ,the ,crop4--,the grapes are dried on redwood trays made of sawed redwood shingles1 three-eighths of an inch thick4 ,the trays are made two by three feet4 ,the best growers are this year going to assort the grapes when putting them on the trays4 ,this was never done before1 but will be of great advantage4 ,a tray will average eighteen pounds of fresh grapes1 which will take about one month to dry1--never less than three weeks4 ,there is but little second crop1 generally none that can be saved4 ,september is the warmest month1 or else the grapes could not be dried4 ,at a temperature of #ajc degrees ,fahrenheit1 it was found that grapes scalded or cooked while on the trays4 ,this is1 however1 very rarely the case4 ,from ninety-five to one hundred degrees is considered the best temperature at which the best raisins are made4 ,the sweatboxes used formerly were two by three feet and ten inches deep2 but of late eight inches and six inches in depth is considered the best1 on account of the facility with which they can be handled4 ,as to packing1 many advocate twenty-pound boxes1 that are only four and one-half inches deep1 contending that they will hold twenty pounds of loose raisins4 ,few ,dehesas are put up1 the general brands being three crown ,london layers1 and three crown loose ,muscats4 ,some are also put up in fancy paper boxes4 ,this year the valley has two packing companies1 who buy raisins in sweatboxes1 and pay from four to five and a half cents per pound4 ,the yield per acre is from two to three tons of green grapes1 ,i should say this year nearer two than three tons4 ,i saw1 however1 some that would average five tons per acre1 but this land was favorably situated in a moister place than is generally found in ,sweetwater valley1 and the vines were yet growing on ,august #bast4 ,i heard of much greater yields1 so extraordinary indeed that they are not likely to return again4 ,from five to seven tons to the acre is a really rare yield1 even on the best land1 where the water is within six or seven feet of the surface4 ,this shows me conclusively that judicious irrigation would materially increase the crop1 and greatly improve the uniform size of the berries4 ,the profit on an acre of bearing ,muscat vines is from fifty to one hundred and twenty-five dollars per acre4 ,the latter is the most any one realized1 and thirty-five dollars is considered a good profit4 ,the expense of running a vineyard is hard to ascertain1 but those best informed told me that forty dollars per acre would be an average2 this of course includes everything4 ,the small amount of weeds and the absence of irrigation materially lessens the expenses of the ,el ,cajon vineyards4 ,good vineyard or raisin land can be had for seventy-five dollars per acre4 ,no vineyards in bearing have changed hands4 ,last year's 7#ahhh7 pack of the whole of ,san ,diego county was variously estimated at from twenty to thirty thousand boxes1 and this year at sixty thousand boxes of twenty pounds each4 ,the unanimous verdict of the best growers in ,el ,cajon is that want of moisture is the greatest drawback to raisin culture there4 ,and ,i agree with them in this1 but also think it might to some extent be remedied1 as water for irrigation is close at hand4 ,at last ,i must say a few words as to the quality of the ,el ,cajon and ,sweetwater valley raisins4 ,they are very sweet1 highly flavored1 the skin is thin1 and the seeds are small and few4 ,but while some of the berries are of very large size1 there are comparatively few which would be considered large1 and even the best bunches have too many small berries4 ,the grapes that had plenty of water were simply magnificent1 and a general irrigation system would greatly improve the size of the grapes1 as well as the quality of the crop4 ,the best selected raisins from this valley must be counted as among the very best4 ,the constant fog injures the bloom on the raisins to some extent1 and most raisins that ,i saw were in this respect deficient2 but their color generally was very good4 ,the ,sweetwater valley raisins are in this respect finer than those of ,el ,cajon2 they are also farther inland1 and have less fog4 ,the ,escondido raisins are said to be superior1 but ,i saw none of them4 ,while many vines have been planted in this locality of late1 only one or two small vineyards are in bearing4 ,,other ,,raisin ,,districts4 ,of late raisin grapes have been planted in considerable quantities in ,salt river valley and in ,gila river valley in ,arizona1 but the outcome of the venture is yet unknown1 at least to us4 ,the growers of ,arizona claim for their localities the advantage of great earliness1 as the grapes ripen there in ,july1 or a month earlier than in ,california4 ,in the ,argentine ,republic in ,south ,america it is said that the ,spanish immigrants have planted many raisin grapes during the last few years4 ,in ,australia we are also informed that dipped raisins1 and perhaps even sun-dried ones1 have been produced1 but even there the result is unknown to us4 ,so far these raisins have cut no figure in the general market1 but it is not improbable that many localities in those vast countries will be found where ,muscat grapes can be profitably grown and cured4 ,,climatic ,,conditions1 ,,soils1 ,,location ,,and ,,irrigation4 ,,climatic ,,conditions ,,favorable ,,and ,,unfavorable ,,to ,,the ,,raisin ,,industry4 ,limits of the ,raisin ,districts4--,it is an interesting fact1 and by no means a coincidence1 that the raisin districts of the world are found on or between the same latitudes4 ,thus we find the ,california districts between latitudes #cb1 #ge and #ch1 #ge4 ,the latitude of ,smyrna is #ch1 #bh1 #g1 that of ,malaga in ,spain #cf1 #ge1 ,valencia #ci1 #be1 ,denia #ch1 #ej1 the ,grecian ,islands and ,morea #cg and #ch1 and finally ,huasco in ,chile #bh south latitude4 ,that the latter place is situated so much farther south or so much nearer the equator cannot exactly be considered exceptional1 as it conforms with the general characteristics of the ,southern hemispheres as compared with those on the northern half of the globe4 ,in ,europe the ,muscat grape for raisin purposes is not a success north of the fortieth degree of latitude4 ,while the limits in ,california and ,chile are not yet fully ascertained1 it may be presumed that1 as far as regards this country1 these limits will not differ very much from those of ,spain and ,asia ,minor4 ,only years if not centuries of experience will finally decide where and where not raisin grapes can be grown and cured to perfection4 ,while the vines and the grapes can be grown in many places1 the proper curing of the raisins is attended with more or less difficulty in the various districts4 ,with proper modes of curing the grapes1 and by protecting them from the inclemencies of the weather1 the limits of the successful raisin districts may be extended considerably both north and south4 ,dry ,seasons1 ,spring and ,fall ,rains4--,the climate of the ,mediterranean basin1 as well as of the raisin districts of the ,new ,world1 present the peculiarity of having only two distinct seasons1 one dry and warm1 and one cold and wet4 ,there are other parts of the world also characterized by a dry and a wet season1 for instance ,mexico and ,central ,america1 etc41 but they differ in the important point1 that whereas the climate of the raisin districts is dry during the growing or summer season1 ,mexico has then its greatest rainfall4 ,while grape-growing may not be impossible under such circumstances1 the curing and drying of raisins is impossible1 except with the aid of costly and burdensome appliances1 the expense of which will very much increase the cost of producing the raisins4 ,the climate of the raisin centers is by no means uniform4 ,as a rule1 the farther north we go the less is the distinction between the dry and the wet season1 the shorter is the former and the longer the season of rain4 ,experience shows that the less this distinction between the seasons is marked1 and the shorter the rainless season1 the less favorable is the climate for the raisin industry4 ,the longer the dry season1 and the less rain during the same1 the more favorable is the locality for raisin drying and curing1 supposing1 of course1 other necessary conditions are not absent4 ,this absence of summer rains and cold fog is the most important climatic condition1 and the one that more than any other decides upon the advantages of any certain locality for the industry under our consideration4 ,a perusal of the reports from the different raisin districts will convince us of this4 ,for ,california we need not refer to any special reports1 as the newspapers are full of them every year from ,may to ,november1 and it will suffice to state that any large amount of rain after the beginning of ,june1 and especially in ,september1 ,october and ,november1 when the raisins are curing1 is considered very detrimental1 and sure to cause much loss4 ,heavy and continued rainfall during the drying season would not only injure the raisins1 but might even totally ruin the crop4 ,any district where year after year such showers occur1 would not be considered favorable for the raisin industry1 and would no doubt be given up to something else4 ,to show that these same conditions also exist in the ,mediterranean raisin districts1 we will here quote a few extracts from the ,united ,states consular reports from there4 ,consul ,w4 ,e4 ,stevens1 ,united ,states consul at ,smyrna1 writes3#e 8,it happens occasionally that rain falls during the vintage time1 causing heavy loss to growers through the inevitable deterioration in quality4 ,this was the case last season 7#ahhc71 and large quantities of raisins were in consequence shipped to ,france to be made into spirits40 ,from ,valencia another consul writes3 8,in the event of wet and damp weather1 the hurdles 7or grape mats7 are piled up in sheds covered with mats or painted canvas4 ,of course in this case the drying is retarded1 the quality of the fruit deteriorates1 and the expense and labor of curing are considerably increased40 ,two years ago ten thousand tons were thus damaged in the ,denia district4 ,while the ,mediterranean districts are comparatively rainless during the summer time1 still they are far less so than ,california4 ,the rainy and dry seasons there are less distinct than with us4 #e ,consular ,reports1 ,no4 #da1 ,june1 #ahhd1 page #gde4 ,among the ,grecian ,islands1 the production of currants is confined to only a few localities1 principally on account of the untimely rainfall on the other islands4 ,dr4 ,davy 7,ionian ,islands1 page #cbj7 tells us3 8,the attempts to extend the culture of the currant to some other islands have been only partial1 and attended with doubtful success4 ,this1 it is to be understood1 is not owing1 as has been asserted1 to any unfitness of the soil on other islands1 as it is analogous on them all1 but rather to some difference of climate1 especially about the times of ripening1 gathering and drying of the fruit1 consisting in greater liability to rain1 a heavy fall of which is ruinous to the crop1 and which1 during the period of gathering in the currant islands1 is considered a great calamity40 ,but even in ,zante and ,cephalonia in ,greece1 the crop is sometimes greatly injured on account of rain4 ,thus in #aheg a crop of fifty thousand tons was expected1 but disastrous rains in ,august injured the raisin grapes to such an extent that seventeen thousand tons were totally destroyed1 and twelve thousand tons became unfit for anything else than distilling4 ,malaga in ,spain1 which of all the districts most resembles ,california1 has undergone similar experiences1 both damaging and ruinous4 ,it is thus that the fall rains are everywhere feared the most1 the more so where they may be expected with regularity1 and where the district is so situated that the heat of the sun is not powerful enough to rapidly dry the injured crop4 ,thus in ,valencia the rains are feared more than at ,malaga4 ,in the latter place the sun is powerful enough to dry the raisins1 and only repeated showers would injure the crop4 ,our experience is very much the same1 and the early fall rains in the northern part of the ,state are to be feared much more than rains at the same time farther south1 where a few showers would soon be succeeded by warm weather1 and a hot sun powerful enough to dry the partially cured grapes4 ,on account of local conditions1 certain parts of ,central ,california are freer from these fall rains than the more southern districts1 but this disadvantage is counteracted by the greater amount of warm weather and drying winds just at a time when they are most needed4 ,but while the southern part of the ,state is in this respect not as favorably situated as some other parts1 the disadvantage is greatly counteracted by the warmer and drier fall weather in ,october and ,november1 and by drying winds which are often able to desiccate the moistened raisins in a very few days4 ,spring rains in ,may or even in the early part of ,june cannot be considered greatly detrimental to the vines4 ,on the contrary1 if only occurring at long intervals1 one or two showers say during the season1 they are rather beneficial than otherwise4 ,in ,california ,i have never known them to injure the crop1 except if accompanied by heavy hail4 ,much alarm is regularly felt every time such a shower happens to come1 but after it is well over it will generally be found that the vines look fresher and better1 the ozone and ammonia which was brought down by the rain having acted as powerful fertilizers for the grape-leaves1 and increased their vigor and growth4 ,the only thing that might prove injurious at this or any other time of the growing season would be continued cloudy weather before or after such showers1 which would cause mildew4 ,such weather has to my knowledge never been experienced4 ,occasionally spring rains also bring frost1 and this of course is one of the greatest enemies of the raisin-vines4 ,winter ,rains4--,in order that the raisin grapes may develop and mature without the aid of irrigation1 the winter rains should be sufficient to keep the soil moist during the dry months4 ,the absolute quantity of rain thus necessary varies in different localities4 ,in ,california1 generally1 we would say that from twenty to twenty-four inches of rain would be required every year to keep the soil sufficiently moist to grow ,muscatel grapes without irrigation4 ,the nearer we go to the coast the less rainfall is required to supply this moisture1 and the farther we go inland1 the more elevated the land1 the less rain is needed4 ,thus a regular rainfall of twenty-four inches would possibly not suffice on the low plains of the ,san ,joaquin valley1 while in ,el ,cajon in ,san ,diego county one-half of this rainfall is enough to grow the vines and mature small crops of very good and superior grapes4 ,it matters not from where the moisture comes1--from rain1 seepage1 moist air or irrigation1--as long as it is not present in excess nor too scant4 ,in ,el ,cajon valley the moisture appears to be held in suspense in impervious strata1 or perhaps in strata which contain and preserve the moisture as does a sponge4 ,in parts of ,chile1 as well as in ,malaga and ,smyrna1 the winter rainfall is sufficient to grow crops of fair size and good quality1 but it is almost certain that judicious irrigation in any of these places proves beneficial and remunerative4 ,of all the present raisin districts1 ,smyrna enjoys the greatest rainfall1 often as much as thirty odd inches of rain4 ,of localities which grow raisins profitably with the least possible amount of rain1 and without irrigation1 ,huasco and ,el ,cajon take the lead4 ,in ,central ,california1 as well as in ,san ,bernardino county1 no raisin culture would be possible with the natural rainfall4 ,in foreign countries1 ,valencia and the ,grecian ,islands1 as well as ,morea1 are similarly situated in not having sufficient rainfall to produce paying crops4 ,as a rule it may be said that1 where the rainfall is sufficient to grow the ,muscats without irrigation and cause them to bear good crops1 the fall rains are also too frequent and too injurious to the drying grapes to allow a profitable raisin cult4 ,the proper amount of moisture necessary to perfect the grapes cannot be ascertained by the aid of the rain gauge4 ,while1 as we have said1 from twenty to thirty inches may be enough in ,smyrna1 from seven to ten inches suffice in ,el ,cajon1 and in ,chile even less is required4 ,the proper amount of moisture can best be told by the state of growth of the vines4 ,the vines must have moisture enough to be kept growing up to the very time of the maturity of the grapes4 ,the proper sign of this is the green and fresh color of the young shoots or the tips1 combined with a certain vigor of the tendrils4 ,when the tips cease to grow1 and the tendrils begin to dry up1 then the moisture has begun to give out1 and irrigation should have been resorted to2 the winter rains were not sufficient4 ,frosts in ,spring and ,winter4--,one of the frequent effects of spring showers is spring frosts4 ,they are always injurious to the tender ,muscat vine1 and if occurring more than once during the same spring may entirely ruin the crop4 ,in ,california such frosts occur sometimes in ,april1 and observations inform us that they are most to be feared between the tenth and fifteenth of that month1 while sometimes they come even later4 ,the young buds are then either opening or fully developed into shoots1 which the lightest frost will blacken and cause to dry up4 ,where the vines are irrigated and strong1 one such frost may not ruin the crop1 as new buds will start out in place of the old ones destroyed1 and new shoots and new blossoms will come out4 ,i have seen as many as three such crops of shoots develop from the winter buds1 but each succeeding crop of such shoots is weaker than the preceding one1 and bears less and later grapes4 ,happily1 these frosts occur but very seldom in the ,central and ,southern ,california raisin districts1 and during fifteen years of observation ,i have seen only three such frost years in which the branches were partially injured4 ,in neither of these seasons was the crop materially injured as to quantity1 the principal effect of the frost being a retarding of the crop for a week or more4 ,smoking of vineyards can only be successfully carried out in small valleys sheltered from heavy winds1 but on the open plains such smoking is accompanied with difficulties1 and its effect is uncertain4 ,the growing of a limited number of windbreaks has in the ,fresno district no doubt modified the climate1 and made spring frosts rarer and less to be feared4 ,while the spring frosts are injurious to the grapes1 winter frosts are on the other hand most beneficial1 if not necessary to a continued raisin cult4 ,the raisin grape must have a season of recuperation1 and winter frost is the only climatic phenomenon which1 without injury to the vine1 can procure it that rest which is so necessary for all deciduous trees1 by nature destined to enjoy alternate periods of growth and sleep4 ,the absence of frost causes the sap of the vine to circulate more or less in the wood1 and the vine never ceases to grow4 ,this is one of the reasons why our deciduous vines do not succeed well in the tropics1 where there are no cold seasons to cause the leaves to fall and the sap to become dormant4 ,in the tropics1 therefore1 our deciduous vines keep on growing1 set little or no fruit1 and prove unprofitable4 ,this phenomenon is shared there with other trees1 and peaches1 pears and apples act in the same manner4 ,they all appear to need the rest afforded them by the winter frosts4 ,it is also a question of very great importance1 whether the continued and unnatural activity of the vine1 at a time when it should be dormant1 does not invite diseases of various kinds1 which find the exhausted vines unfit to withstand their ravages4 ,it may be possible that mal nero1 the vine plague and other similar and as yet insufficiently understood diseases1 are especially destructive to vines growing in frost-free climates1 while in colder climates they make but little headway1 the vines as it were being protected by the heavy frosts1 which either kill the enemies of the vine or enable the latter to gather the necessary strength to battle with them through the growing season4 ,there can be little doubt that at present the healthiest vineyards are those growing in countries where winter frosts are severe1 but on the other hand we know that grapevines have been growing for ages in temperate climates1 where the frosts1 even if not entirely unknown1 are still of very rare occurrence4 ,summer ,temperature4--,the temperature in summer time must be sufficient to properly ripen the grapes1 but must not be so great as to injure them either while they hang on the vines1 or while they are exposed to dry on the trays4 ,the average heat required to do the work of maturing is not exactly known1 but it is certain that a very high degree is not absolutely needed to produce sweet grapes4 ,as far as our experience goes1 it seems that cool weather1 with the average temperature of ninety degrees ,fahrenheit1 would be most beneficial in the fore part of the season1 while when the grapes begin to ripen a greater heat is desirable4 ,it is not the warmest countries nor the warmest seasons which produce the earliest grapes4 ,thus while the season of #ahhh was in ,california unusually cool1 with the thermometer seldom reaching one hundred degrees in ,june and ,july1 the raisin season was nevertheless a very early one1 and much earlier than seasons remarkable for their early high temperature4 ,in ,malaga and ,smyrna1 the heat seldom reaches one hundred degrees1 and the grapes ripen several weeks earlier than in ,fresno1 where the summer temperature averages ten degrees higher4 ,in ,fresno1 on the contrary1 the season is earlier than in ,southern ,california1 where probably the seabreezes retard the ripening of the grapes4 ,a temperature of over one hundred and five degrees proves injurious to unprotected or exposed grapes in the central region of ,california1 but in ,san ,diego county several degrees less is sufficient to scald the grapes or give them a cooked flavor if they are already exposed on the trays to dry4 ,it is certain that with an average highest temperature of ninety degrees1 the grapes develop better and become larger and sweeter than where the heat is excessive and reaches one hundred and ten degrees or more4#f #f ,whenever the temperature is referred to it means the degree of heat 7,fahrenheit7 in the shade1 and not in the sun except when so expressly stated4 ,the time when the greatest temperature occurs is of practical importance4 ,excessive heat can be tolerated by grapes protected by leaves and branches or otherwise sheltered1 but if it happens at a time when the bunches are exposed to dry on the trays1 the injury to the berries will be great or even ruinous4 ,early localities are especially apt to suffer in this way1 and it is well to experiment before too much confidence is placed in very early regions4 ,to such places1 however1 there remains the possibility of curing the raisins in partial shade1 as is done in ,chile1 thus producing raisins of an entirely different type from the ,malaga or ,california product4 ,winds1 ,injurious or ,beneficial4--,in the ,california raisin districts hot1 electrical winds are much feared in the months of ,june and ,july1 or before the grapes have begun to ripen4 ,in the ,san ,joaquin valley these winds come from the northwest and sweep down over the vines1 often scorching the leaves and frequently drying the berries on the exposed side4 ,in the course of a few days the berries dry up entirely1 and the whole bunch is lost4 ,these drying winds are not peculiar to any certain part of ,california1 but occur from time to time in every raisin district on the coast1 in the south as well as in the center1 on the coast as well as inland4 ,the remedy is to grow the vines low and to keep the berries well covered4 ,the planting of windbreaks will also modify these winds1 and in places where they formerly were common they have now entirely ceased or become so modified that they cause no injury to the grapes1 but prove even beneficial on account of the quicker and better maturing of the fruit4 ,in certain districts1 especially in ,san ,bernardino and in ,orange1 some very drying winds are experienced late in the season1--in ,september and ,october4 ,for the raisin-growers these winds are a blessing4 ,they quickly dry the exposed grapes1 which have been retarded in drying1 or perhaps even injured by a previous shower of rain or by continued heavy dews4 ,these winds are undoubtedly desert winds1 and similar to the ,terral of ,malaga1 which1 sweeping over the inland plains of ,la ,mancha1 reach the coast vineyards and quickly mature the grapes4 ,in ,malaga there is also a moist southern wind1 the ,levante1 which retards the ripening and the curing of the grapes1 and which must be considered as our southwesterly fall winds1 which1 saturated with moisture1 swell the overdried raisins as well as prevent the yet green grapes from drying4 ,they are precursors of the rainy season1 and warn the grower to prepare his dryer if he possess one4 ,in ,greece and ,smyrna such hot or moist winds are also known and feared1 and cause at times much damage in one way or another4 ,we might here also mention the cold 8northers0 which are common in the ,california raisin districts in springtime1 and which sometimes both cause the young shoots to break off from the old wood and make it easy for the mildew to attack the flowers or the young berries of the vines4 ,against these northwest winds we have two remedies1 summer pruning and sulphuring1 which1 if applied in time1 are both quite effective4 ,fogs and ,moisture in the ,air4--,it is certain that the air in the ,california raisin districts is much drier than that of the ,spanish or ,mediterranean districts generally4 ,the night air is1 in these districts1 loaded with moisture1 and dew is heavy and frequent1 even in the middle of the summer4 ,the air in ,malaga and ,smyrna feels quite moist1 and without this moisture in the air the vines would grow less and require irrigation4 ,in these places the raisin grapes grow on the steep hillsides without irrigation1 but in ,california this could not be done anywhere except in ,el ,cajon or in other parts of the ,san ,diego district1 where the air is considerably moister than elsewhere4 ,this increased moisture is partly caused by the increased rainfall in these districts1 and partly by their nearness to the sea and fogs4 ,this moisture in the air will1 when other conditions are equal1 greatly benefit the grapes1 causing them to grow larger1 and the thickness of the skin is materially diminished4 ,combined with this moisture in the air1 fogs are injurious or indifferent4 ,there is always a great difference between warm fogs and cold fogs1 and now ,i speak principally of fogs from the ocean4 ,warm fogs are not particularly injurious to the grapes1 generally indifferent and sometimes even considerable of a benefit to the proper development of the grapes4 ,in ,malaga1 ,san ,diego and in ,chile the ,muscat grapes grow and thrive actually within the reach of the spray of the waves1 and fogs are there not uncommon1 but they are warm4 ,it would seem that such a climate would cause mildew or oidium1 but ,i cannot find that these fungi are particularly frequent in ,san ,diego county1 while in ,malaga they are but little more common than in the inland districts of our ,state4 ,but as we go north the cold fogs become more common1 and the vines thrive less under their influence4 ,north of ,los ,angeles county the ,muscat vines do not enjoy the coast air1 while even in ,orange county the interior vineyards are preferred to those closer to the coast4 ,but anywhere1 even in the best situated districts1 protection from the direct influence of the sea fogs is appreciated1 and the best localities are those in which low hills afford this protection by modifying and increasing the temperature of the fog or sea air4 ,in ,central1 and in the larger part of ,southern1 ,california1 the inland valleys are the most successful raisin-producing districts1 while even in ,san ,diego county1 where the ,muscats seem to thrive at the very seashore1 the interior valleys alone afford the necessary heat and dry air for curing the grapes and transforming them into raisins4 ,according to ,consul ,g4 ,h4 ,heap of ,constantinople1 the positions preferred for vineyards in ,turkey are the slopes of elevated and sheltered undulating lands1 or on the sunny hills that do not lie too near the coast1 or are naturally protected from the cold winds and fogs of the sea4 ,the ,island of ,cos or ,zea is called the paradise of the ,sultana grape1 because ,nature has given the cultivable land there the best possible protection from the direct influence of the fogs4 ,in ,malaga1 according to ,consul ,marston1 eighty per cent of the vineyards are situated on the hills and inland1 ten per cent on the valley lands or plains1 and ten per cent on the coast4 ,with the exception of some of the ,san ,diego vineyards1 ,california cannot show any raisin vineyards as close to the coast as those found in ,malaga4 ,the main ,el ,cajon vineyards are from ten to fifteen miles inland1 while the former ,santa ,ana vineyards were situated from eight to twelve miles from the coast4 ,the ,san ,bernardino raisin vineyards are from twenty to thirty miles inland1 while in the ,san ,joaquin valley the raisin districts are more than a hundred miles from the coast1 while the sea wind1 before it reaches any of the vines1 has been modified by passing over from two to three hundred miles of dry country4 ,ideal ,conditions of ,climate4--,there remains only to draw some conclusions from the above facts4 ,we are often asked what are the ideal conditions1 as far as climate is concerned1 for the proper development of the raisin grape1 and for the proper curing of the raisins4 ,could we select such an ideal spot1 where all the requirements for the raisin industry could be found in their highest perfection1 with as few of the drawbacks as possible1 our choice would be as follows3 ,a moderately dry air1 a frostless spring1 a rainy winter and a rainless autumn4 ,the temperature in the summer should vary between ninety and one hundred degrees1 the fall months should now and then be visited by drying winds1 while the winter frosts should be heavy and regular1 but not below twelve degrees4 ,some have suggested that absolute freedom from any rain would be very desirable1 as then no interference would be experienced with the cultivation of the grapes1 but ,i doubt if the soil in such districts would not be rapidly exhausted through the want of weeds1 the plowing under of which enriches the ground and enables it better to preserve the moisture provided for it by irrigation4 ,,soils4 ,general ,remarks4--,no one certain variety of soil can be said to be the best for raisin purposes1 and both in different countries1 as well as in the same district1 various varieties of soils are valued equally4 ,every raisin district has1 however1 its favorite soil1 which is supposed to have some peculiar advantages for the raisin grapes1 but upon closer investigation we generally find other varieties of soils which are not inferior4 ,growers who have succeeded with raisin grapes on one variety of soil are only too apt to consider this kind preferable to any other4 ,this is especially the case in ,california1 where soils vary so much and where in some districts it is difficult to find forty acres with a uniform soil4 ,whether the soil is black1 red or gray1 it makes but very little difference1 as long as it is rich and susceptible of the highest state of cultivation and has the faculty of retaining moisture4 ,the deeper and richer the soil the better the ,muscatel grape will thrive and produce1 and as such soils are most generally found along the banks of creeks and rivers1 or in their bottoms and sinks1 we might conclude that in such localities the best soils for the ,muscat grape may be found4 ,other varieties of raisin grapes1 such as the ,malaga 7,california7 and the ,sultana1 do well in less rich soil2 indeed1 they bear profitably in places where the ,muscat would be a failure4 ,it is therefore important for every vineyardist to carefully select his soil and then plant on it the proper variety of vine4 ,malaga4--,the soils of ,malaga are of various kinds4 ,the best is a reddish loam containing much gravel1 both coarse and fine4 ,this soil is very stiff and hard1 and when dry is as solid as a brick4 ,the red color is derived from oxide of iron or other iron compounds1 which many of the best vineyardists consider a most desirable element in any raisin soil4 ,the upland vineyards1 or those on the slope of the hills1 contain soils of decomposed clay and slate mixed with more or less gravel and sand4 ,the ,dehesa lands contain alluvial deposits of a black or gray color4 ,valencia and ,denia4--,in this district we find soils of many different grades and colors4 ,the sandy and gravelly soils are considered as producing the finest flavored raisins1 and those having the best keeping qualities1 while the rich1 loamy soils of the valleys produce raisins of inferior flavor and keeping qualities1 but of larger size and more per acre4 ,for economical reasons1 the latter soils are preferred1 as they alone can be irrigated and made to produce large crops4 ,some of the best vineyards in this district contain a gray1 ashy soil1 quite similar to the white ash of the ,kings river lands1 while others are growing on a red clayey loam similar to the ,california red soil4 ,smyrna4--,the raisin-grapes of ,smyrna in ,asia ,minor are almost exclusively grown on a white limestone soil1 which consists of decomposed white rocks mixed with a stiff ocher-colored loam4 ,this soil is so rocky that it must first be cleared1 and the large rocks are carried away and used for boundary walls4 ,this is the soil in the coast districts4 ,in the interior the ,sultana vines1 as well as the ,muscats1 are replaced by fig orchards and other trees which delight in sandy soil1--too sandy to produce profitable raisin crops4 ,zante4--,the soils of ,zante1 the home of the ,currant grape1 are of various kinds4 ,the heavy marl of the plains1 which contains a large percentage of gypsum or sulphate of lime1 is considered the best2 indeed the gypsum is by many considered indispensable1 or at least highly beneficial1 to the above variety of grape4 ,other soils are red clay1 gray marl and gravelly loam1 all containing an abundance of lime4 ,the ,currant grape grows well and produces well on all these different soils1 but does the best on the gypsum soil1 which is therefore the most valued4 ,on other soils the bunches are less solid1 and the quantity of grapes produced is somewhat less1 while their quality is inferior4 ,illustration3 ,scene in a ,fresno ,raisin ,vineyard3 ,raisin ,trays ,exposed for ,drying4 ,chile4--,the ,huasco grape grows in the valley of ,huasco1 on the coast of ,chile1 in a soil that is very light and red1 containing a great quantity of sand4 ,while very light in weight1 this soil is said to be very rich in plant food1 and yields good crops4 ,fresno4--,the ,fresno soils are of several kinds1 but the three principal varieties are red or chocolate-colored loam1 white or gray ashy soil1 and a light1 very sandy1 loam4 ,to this may be added the deeper gray bottom soils or alluvial deposits of the ,kings river4 ,each one of these varieties have different grades more or less suitable to the ,muscatel grape4 ,the best grades of each are equally valuable1 while again the poorer grades are not to be recommended4 ,the deep chocolate-colored loam is by many preferred1 and the largest and most successful raisin vineyards are now located on this soil4 ,but even in the best districts the soil varies to such an extent1 that while one twenty-acre field will yield #bej boxes of raisins to the acre1 the adjoining field1 with only a slight change in the soil1 will yield only seventy-five boxes to the acre4 ,the best grades of the white ashy soil are also very good1 and almost identical with the gray bottom-land deposits of ,kings river4 ,the light sandy soil should be avoided for ,muscat grapes1 but may do for ,malaga and ,sultanas1 especially if judiciously fertilized4 ,other ,soils in ,san ,joaquin ,valley4--,in ,merced the best soil is heavy chocolate-colored loam1 in places redder1 in others darker1 almost blackish4 ,it is generally mixed with some gravel4 ,as a rule1 all the red soil in the ,san ,joaquin valley is of the same characteristics1 and well suited to the ,muscat grape1 provided the ground is sufficiently level4 ,in ,tulare county the proper soil for the ,muscat is found to be the bottom lands of ,kings and ,kaweah rivers1 as well as the deposits of the smaller creeks4 ,this variety of gray alluvial loam is exceedingly fertile1 and there is none superior for the ,muscat grape4 ,but an admixture of alkali often spoils soils which otherwise would be considered the very best4 ,a similar soil is found in ,kern county1 especially near ,kern ,lake1 and which must be rated among the best in the ,state1 its color being a deep bluish gray4 ,the vineyards of ,yolo and ,solano counties are located on a very similar soil1 rich in humus1 lime and phosphates1 but more yellowish or pale chocolate colored4 ,orange ,county4--,a similar rich alluvial deposit is found in ,orange county in the fertile district known as ,santa ,ana valley4 ,the soil around ,anaheim1 ,santa ,ana1 ,orange and ,tustin consists of a more or less dark alluvial loam of unsurpassed fertility1 and especially adapted to the ,muscat grape4 ,it varies as to the percentage of sand and gravel4 ,the sandiest soil in this district1 while less rich1 brings the earliest grapes1 which come to perfect ripeness several weeks before those grown on the heavier soils1 but the latter produce the best raisins4 ,redlands and ,riverside4--,the ,redlands soil of the mesa lands is reddish1 rather darker than the same quality of soil in ,riverside and ,fresno4 ,it is mixed with sand and gravel1 and partakes strongly of the nature of the red or chocolate-colored loams of the ,state4 ,the ,lugonia bottom soil consists of a very sandy loam1 on which the ,muscat grape has proved a failure4 ,the best ,riverside soil is red or chocolate-colored sandy loam1 so often spoken of4 ,towards ,rincon we find alluvial bottom soils producing grapes of superb quality and size4 ,the soil of the ,san ,bernardino district resemble the red ,fresno soils1 while the white ashy soil is not found there4 ,el ,cajon4--,the ,el ,cajon valley soils are of three or more kinds3 ,rich red clay mixed with gravel1 with the color changing from lighter chocolate to deeper reddish4 ,this is a very desirable soil1--a steel gray or slate gray adobe with much gravel of a coarse nature2 a black adobe with some gravel2 an alluvial sandy loam consisting of decomposed granite mixed with much vegetable matter and humus4 ,the ,el ,cajon soils1 while sandy and gravelly1 produce exceedingly sweet and highly flavored grapes but comparatively small crops4 ,subsoils4--,the subsoil in a raisin vineyard is of great importance4 ,properly irrigated soils1 if they are sufficiently rich1 need not necessarily be very deep1 as the raisin grapes1 especially the ,muscat1 seldom extend deeper than eight feet below the surface4 ,even from four to five feet of rich soil may be considered as enough in irrigated vineyards1 where the water is abundant4 ,in poorer soils1 or in districts with less irrigation1 the roots of the vines penetrate much deeper1 and the importance of the subsoil in such cases is apparent4 ,any rich subsoil will serve our purpose4 ,it is always best to thoroughly investigate the subsoil before the vineyard is planted1 and in doing this the following points must be considered3 ,the subsoil should be as rich as possible1 and there should1 in no instance1 be less than four feet of rich top soil4 ,very sandy soil or pure sand is not a proper subsoil for raisin grapes4 ,such soil will cause the top soil to dry too quickly after each irrigation1 and will cause the top soil to leach out1 while it besides gives no nourishment to the vines4 ,hardpan is not desirable1 not even admissible1 except in places that are or will become subirrigated4 ,alkali or salty subsoils will soon spoil the quality of even the best top soil4 ,this especially is the case in irrigated districts1 where the salts of the subsoil are carried to the top by the rising waters or by the continued irrigation4 ,hardpan which readily dissolves when wet is not injurious4 ,hardpan ,soils4--,while ,i have alluded to them already1 a few more remarks on these soils are here in place4 ,the hardpan consists of a stratum of hard soil or hard rocky substance below the top soil4 ,the depth at which the hardpan is found varies4 ,in places where it is situated eight or ten feet below the top surface it does but very little harm1 and may even prove beneficial in localities where water for irrigation is scarce1 as it checks too rapid drainage4 ,if the hardpan is situated closer to the top soil1 it may seriously interfere with the vines1 and if too close1 or say within two or three feet from the top1 it makes such soils entirely unfit for raisin grapes4 ,if situated somewhat lower down1 say from four to six feet1 the hardpan does no great harm in subirrigated districts1 while1 in places where irrigation is not used1 it leaves the top soil too shallow and too dry4 ,but allowance must always be made as to the nature of the hardpan4 ,some varieties of hardpan are so hard that they can best be compared to regular stratified rocks1 impenetrable to the roots of the vines1 and impervious to water4 ,other hardpans again are softer1 and allow the vine roots to penetrate more or less readily1 while some again are so soft that they dissolve in water and make good soil for the vines4 ,if the hardpan is very shallow1 it may pay to blast holes through it1 in order to allow the roots of the vines to penetrate to lower soils4 ,but if the hardpan is thick and hard1 and if there is no immediate prospect of subirrigation1 it is better to use such land for some other purpose than for raisin-vines1 which will only pay properly if grown under the most favorable circumstances1 and on the best and deepest soils4 ,as to the nature of the hardpan1 a few remarks may prove of interest4 ,the hardpan can best be compared to a stalactite formation similar to those found in various caves4 ,it has been formed very much in the same way as they were4 ,in caves the rainwater1 that seeps down from the top surface1 dissolves various substances1 especially carbonates 7and silicates even7 which again are deposited on the underside of the cave roof4 ,this precipitation of hard material is caused both by evaporation of the water1 as well as by attraction and adhesion4 ,such redeposition of dissolved minerals is seen for instance if solutions of salt in water are passed through tasteless and clean sand4 ,the water will come through sweet and tasteless1 the salt having adhered to the surface of the sand grains4 ,similarly1 if a hole is dug near the seashore in the sand1 the salt water will seep through1 and form a well of more or less tasteless drinking water4 ,in the formation of hardpan1 this is exactly what has taken place4 ,the rainwater has dissolved certain elements1 such as carbonates of lime1 or carbonates of sodium and various other salts1 and in its way through the lower strata of the soil these dissolved elements have again been taken up by the sand and cemented it together4 ,thus it is explained why hardpan upon examination is so often found to resemble sand or sandstone3 the lower sandy strata of the soil have been especially effective in causing the lime in the water to adhere to the numerous surfaces of every individual grain of sand4 ,in hog-wallow districts the hardpan is found principally between the individual hog-wallows1 but rarely in or under them4 ,the rainwater has here carried the minerals in the soil to the deeper places between the hog-wallows1 in which it has accumulated to a greater extent than anywhere else1 and thus formed a heavier hardpan4 ,in flooding the hog-wallows1 the top of every hog-wallow is seen to settle and fall in1 there being no hardpan below it1 if the sides of the hog-wallow are steep4 ,where the hardpan consists principally of lime compounds1 its chemical composition is not detrimental to the vines4 ,but where the hardpan is cemented by alkalies more or less soluble in water1 these deleterious substances will dissolve and rise to the surface to the great detriment or even to the total destruction of the vineyard4 ,comparative ,value of ,soils4--,the river bottom soils1 or soils formed by the deposit of creeks1 are with few exceptions rich and deep1 and contain in abundance all the elements necessary to produce a superior ,muscat grape4 ,such soils are1 however1 often injured by subsoils containing mineral deposits1 which will injure the vines1 or by hardpans1 which will cause the soil to dry out4 ,poor soils will not prove profitable1 and rather than plant vines on such soils it would be better to plant no vines at all4 ,the rich soils are not only the heaviest producers1 but the vines grown on them are stronger and healthier and in every way better able to resist the attacks of insects and fungi and the ravages of other inexplicable diseases4 ,but regardless of these advantages the various soils leave their effects on the grapes1 some of them producing sweet and very keeping raisins1 while others cause large berries and bunches1 which bring the highest market price4 ,thus the lighter and drier soils produce richer flavored and sweeter raisins than the wet and rich soils1 which again produce the largest and handsomest grapes4 ,on the latter soils the raisins when cured will be found to be dark and covered with a heavy bloom1 while the raisins from the sandier or gravelly soils are lighter in color and with less pronounced bloom4 ,the keeping quality of the raisins from gravelly soils is well known4 ,in ,california the keeping quality of the raisins is seldom inquired into1 as our raisins keep remarkably well and are in this respect superior to those grown in ,spain4 ,this may be from the effect of our drier climate more than from any certain quality in our soils4 ,as a rule it may be said that poor soil causes the raisins to mature earlier than the rich1 heavy loams1 and on this account the latter are to be greatly preferred1 as the earliest raisins in any district are never as good as the bulk of the crop1 and are in demand rather as a curiosity1 and for the purpose of supplying an early market1 than through any superior qualities4 ,in some districts there is such a great difference in the time of ripening upon the various soils that the grapes grown on the earliest soils are used only as table grapes fresh4 ,in planting a raisin vineyard1 the future profits depend upon the choice of land1 and it is far better to pay a high price for the best land than to take the inferior land as a gift4 ,few of those who now enter upon raisin culture take the proper care in selecting the land1 neither do they sufficiently1 if at all1 realize the advantages of the rich soil1 nor the disadvantages of the poor land4 ,alkali ,soils4--,while nothing but first-class land is to be recommended for raisin vineyards1 and alkali lands are of all soils those least suitable for our purpose1 still a consideration of these lands will interest many raisin-grape growers4 ,the best lands for raisin purposes in ,california are often contiguous to alkali lands1 or to land containing more or less traces of alkali4 ,a vineyard on the best soil contains often spots charged with alkali1 and it may be inconvenient for the grower to allow these spots to lie idle1 and he would prefer to fill them up with vines4 ,the first work must then be to get rid of the alkali or reduce it to such an extent that it will not prove injurious4 ,the general alkali lands are classed in three kinds1 according to the quality of the alkali4 #ast4 ,alkali salts1 such as carbonates and borates4 ,these are greatly detrimental to the vines1 and no vines could be expected to do well in such soils1 as even the smallest percentage of this alkali is injurious or even ruinous to the crop4 ,in clayey soils these alkalies cause the clay to harden in such a way that no good tilth can be obtained4 ,the land may be plowed ever so much1 it will only turn up in chunks and never become properly pulverized4 ,these true alkali salts consist principally of carbonate of sodium 7sal-soda7 or of carbonate of potassium 7saleratus74 ,remedies3 ,gypsum1 land-plaster or leaching with water4 #b;d4 ,a second class of alkalies are the sulphates and chlorides1 all soluble in water4 ,such salts are3 ,magnesium chloride 7bittern71 magnesium sulphate 7,epsom salt71 calcium chloride1 etc4 ,these salts1 when not present in too large quantities1 are easily counteracted by lime4 #c;d4 ,a third class of alkalies is composed of neutral salts1 such as chloride of sodium 7common salt71 sulphate of sodium 7,glauber salt71 sulphate of potassium1 all soluble in water1 but not convertible into less injurious substances by lime or gypsum4 ,these salts do not bake the soil1 but rather contribute towards keeping it loose and mellow4 ,the remedies which are practical and not too expensive may be divided into several classes1 which1 if used in combination1 may prove effective1 while each one of them used separately would fail4 #ast4 ,leaching with water4 ,all soluble salts may be leached with water4 ,the alkali land should be checked and so ditched that the water from each check can be drained into a waste ditch4 ,but1 besides these waste ditches1 drain ditches should be made for the purpose of draining off the water1 say to a depth of four feet below the surface4 ,the modus operandi consists in first flooding the soil1 and while the check is yet full the floodgates are opened and the water drawn off into the waste ditch1 when the water will carry off the salts which have been dissolved in it4 ,a second or third flooding should be allowed to settle in the soil and be drained off below into the drain ditches4 ,the drawback to common leaching is that under certain circumstances the water may deposit its alkali in lower strata1 especially if they are sandy1 and there form hardpan or alkali accumulations4 ,a much better method is under-drainage by means of pipes or gravel drains constructed all through the tract at certain regular distances4 ,this under-drainage1 if properly constructed under conditions favorable for its perfect working1 is by far the best method of freeing alkali soils from their superfluous salts4 ,to what extent this system is practical depends upon circumstances4 ,to reclaim large districts by this method may not prove economical as long as good land is plentiful and cheap1 but where smaller alkali tracts are surrounded by soil1 and where it is of importance to get a uniform plantation1 under-drainage by pipes or common drains is both the surest and most practical solution of the alkali problem4 ,under-drainage is strongly recommended by ,prof4 ,e4 ,w4 ,hilgard1 who has repeatedly pointed out its value1 and who has called the author's special attention to this as yet little understood remedy4 #b;d4 ,deep and constant plowing4 ,deep and frequent plowing acts in various ways4 ,by being mixed with a larger quantity of soil1 the alkali is diluted sufficiently to not cause any serious injury to the crops1 the damage generally being done near the surface4 ,constant plowing also prevents evaporation1 which carries the alkali to the surface and deposits it there4 ,this method can only be successful when the alkali salts are limited in quantity1 and no one need expect to be able to rid badly charged lands from their alkali by plowing it under4 #c;d4 ,by plowing under green or dry crops4 ,if grain can be made to grow on the alkali land at all the turning under of it1 either green or dry1 will in course of time greatly reduce the alkali4 ,the turned-under stubble or straw forms in decaying an acid1 which in many instances will combine with and counteract the effects of the alkali4 ,similarly1 straw stacks spread on alkali spots and plowed under will considerably reduce the alkali4 ,but manure containing ammonia and other salts should not be used1 as it will1 on the contrary1 only increase the alkali by adding other or similar salts to those already in the soil4 #dth4 ,cropping4 ,if water1 either in the form of sufficient rain or as irrigation can be had1 alkali lands can be reclaimed by cropping4 ,it is amply proved that beets and carrots1 as well as other plants1 such as salt-bush 7,chenopodium71 take up large quantities of alkali salts1 and in the course of a few years render alkali soils available for grain4 ,wheat also extracts alkalies1 and repeated croppings with grain will in the course of time prepare the soil for vines and trees4 ,bermuda grass will completely remove the alkali from soils to the depth at which the roots can penetrate1 and must be recommended for the worst places4 ,afterwards1 cropping with annual crops may be advisable before vines are finally planted on such reclaimed lands4 ,the ,australian salt-bushes1 or ,chenopodium1 extract alkalies1 and are besides liked by stock4 ,they should be introduced to alkali lands and take the place of the ,california native salt-bushes1 which are not eaten by stock4 ,while being real desert plants1 they yet require some moisture in the soil1 but they could probably be grown anywhere on the alkali lands in this ,state where the rainfall is over three or four inches4 #eth4 ,by chemicals4 ,the use of chemicals of various kinds in counteracting the alkali is not resorted to by our farmers as it should be4 ,the principle upon which chemicals can be used is that obnoxious or greatly injurious alkalies may be changed into less obnoxious and less injurious salts1 or even into fertilizers4 ,the most available of these chemical compounds are gypsum 7sulphate of lime7 and lime 7carbonate of lime74 ,when the alkali consists mainly of carbonates1 such as carbonate of sodium 7sal-soda7 or potassium carbonate 7saleratus71 in other words of the class which we have designated as class number one1 the most dangerous and worst class of alkalies to combat1 gypsum may be used as an antidote or rather as a means to convert these alkalies into alkalies of the second class1 or the sulphates4 ,the principle upon which this is done is to displace the sulphate in the gypsum and force it to combine with the alkali 7sodium carbonate7 and form sulphate of sodium 7,glauber salt71 an alkali belonging to the third class of alkalies1 and which is twenty times less injurious to vegetation than is class number one4 ,the change is made on the following principle1 and might be thus illustrated3 ,to the alkali in the soil 7carbonate of sodium71 add sulphate of lime4 ,as soon as the mixture is made with sufficient water1 a change will take place1 and the substances 7carbonate of sodium and sulphate of lime7 will form new compounds4 ,thus we will get1 out of those two substances1 two new compounds1 viz41 carbonate of lime and sulphate of sodium4 ,of these1 carbonate of lime is not injurious to vegetable life1 and sulphate of sodium 7,glauber salt7 is only injurious when present in large quantities4 ,the carbonate of lime is not soluble in water1 but the sulphate of sodium is1 and can consequently be eliminated by underdraining or by flooding1 as we have previously described4 ,to know when gypsum can be used is not necessarily a scientific matter4 ,mix some of the alkali in a tumbler with water1 and allow the mixture to settle4 ,in another tumbler mix some gypsum and water1 and allow it to settle4 ,then mix the two clear liquids1 which1 if gypsum is an antidote and the proper thing to use1 will be turbid or milky through the chemical combinations which take place4 ,if the water remains clear1 gypsum will not prove an antidote to the alkali under consideration4 ,the use of lime is based very much on the same principle4 ,if the second class of alkalies are present1 and lime is added1 the changes that take place may be illustrated as follows3 ,epsom salt 7magnesium sulphate7 combined with calcium carbonate1 will form two new compounds1 viz41 gypsum 7calcium sulphate7 and magnesium carbonate1 both of which substances are less injurious to crops4 ,but1 as ,i have already stated1 raisin-vines prefer soils which are naturally free from alkali1 and should never be planted on soils which cannot readily be reclaimed4 ,chemical antidotes may do where the alkali occurs in a few spots mixed in among tracts of good soil1 but where the whole field must be reclaimed some other crop than vines had better be first attempted4 ,there is too much good and suitable soil in ,california1 and until all this is occupied the alkali soils had better be given up to other crops than vines4 ,fertilizing4--,to this date but few grape-growers manure their soil4 ,california has not yet been engaged in the raisin business twenty years1 and her vineyards are comparatively virgin4 ,the first raisin vineyards were planted on the deepest and richest soil1 the soil which would naturally hold out the longest1 but the croppings of a raisin vineyard are enormous1 and when from eight to ten tons of green grapes have been taken from the soil year after year1 it is but natural that the land should become gradually exhausted4 ,in ,spain it is considered that even the richest soils require manuring after ten years of constant cropping with ,muscats1 and the same experience is likely to become ours in ,california4 ,so far1 ,i know of not one vineyard which has yielded ,muscat grapes for ten continuous years and still keeps yielding as much as formerly4 ,yearly the crop must become less1 and finally will not be large enough to pay4 ,the manuring of the ,muscatel vines is fully understood in ,spain1 where all kinds of manures are used4 ,when home manures fail in supply1 the ,spaniards use imported fertilizers1 such as ,mexican phosphates1 etc4 ,this fertilizer brings in ,spain sixty-five dollars per ton1 and is brought there from our very doors1--the ,gulf of ,lower ,california4 ,it could be laid down here for1 and is actually sold here now at1 forty dollars per ton1 or twenty-five dollars less than in ,spain2 still to my knowledge only very few raisin-growers in ,fresno use it for their vines4 ,in one year one of these succeeded1 with the aid of this phosphate1 in raising the crop of an acre of ,sultana grapes from a very poor yield to over eight tons4 ,the grapes were grown on a piece of sandy soil of the kind well known to ,fresno vine-growers1 and which is generally considered as less suited to raisins1 lacking in fact in more than one of the necessary qualities of a good raisin soil4 ,it is certainly a wrong policy to crop the soil until the grape crops begin to fail4 ,the soil will then be so exhausted of several of its ingredients1 that it will take the most scientific treatment to bring it back again to what it was formerly1 and it is even questionable if this could be done in a way that would prove profitable4 ,experience in ,spain teaches that vineyards which formerly used to yield from eight to ten tons of green grapes to the acre now1 after years of neglect1 only yield two tons to the acre1 and even with expensive manuring can in no way be brought back to their former fertility4 ,on the other hand1 we know that vineyards which have been fertilized from the beginning have for fifty years been kept up in apparently as good condition as at first2 it is accordingly this method that must be recommended4 ,the manure or fertilizer must be varied occasionally4 ,in rotation1 phosphates1 bone dust1 guano1 stable manure1 sheep manure1 lime and plaster of ,paris or gypsum may be used1 but it is best to have every variety of soil in the vineyard analyzed1 and to apply from year to year that kind of fertilizer which is particularly needed4 ,the phosphates are those which will first give out in our ,california soils4 ,phosphates must therefore be considered as the best fertilizers we can use1 but the quantity to be used must always be determined by a practical chemist4 ,of these chemical fertilizers1 it is dangerous to use too much1 as they might injure the vines1 and from fifty to a few hundred pounds to the acre may in some instances suffice and produce better crops than would four or five times as much4 ,but1 regardless of chemical fertilizers1 the cautious raisin-grower should endeavor to return to the soil as much as he possibly can out of the wastes of his crop4 ,the refuse of stems and berries1 which are wasted at the stemmer and in the packing-house1 should not be burned1 as is generally the case1 but returned to the vineyard1 and applied one year on one piece of ground1 and another year on some other piece4 ,if1 however1 these wastes must be used as fuel in the dryer1 etc41 the ashes should be carefully collected and spread over the soil1 and kept dry and shaded until thus used4 ,another most valuable fertilizer generally wasted is the trimmings4 ,in our careless ,california farming1 these trimmings of the vines are put in piles on the roads1 outside of the vineyards1 and there burned4 ,thus the ground loses the most powerful soluble salt1 which would greatly increase the yield of grapes and the profits to the farmer4 ,where the vines are planted far enough apart1 the trimmings may be burned between the rows of the vines without injury to them1 but1 when the vines are set close1 there is no other way than to carefully collect the ashes and spread them evenly over the soil4 ,some vineyardists use large troughs made of galvanized iron and perforated with holes4 ,these vats are drawn through the vineyard by a team1 and scatter the ashes evenly over the soil4 ,the vats may be so constructed that the cuttings are burned in them directly as they are being pulled along1 thus saving much labor as well as ashes4 ,such contrivances will probably only prove profitable in large vineyards1 where there are long rows and few turnings for the teams4 ,even the stable manure in our ,state is not used as it should be4 ,it is hardly possible to understand how vineyardists can be thoughtless enough to haul loads upon loads of stable manure on their roads or in holes and waste places1 while their vines adjoining are suffering from the want of sufficient nourishment4 ,in the irrigated districts1 this is a very common sight1 and the wet places on the road are often deep with manure and strongly smelling of ammonia4 ,if the manure had been placed around the vines1 the increase in crops would probably have been sufficient to enable the owner to macadamize or otherwise permanently fix the roads4 ,,irrigation4 ,introductory ,notes4--,the irrigation of the raisin grapes was1 for several years1 considered as a practice entirely peculiar to ,california1 but as our knowledge extended it was found that1 far from being anything at all new1 it had been practiced successfully for centuries in some of the ,mediterranean countries4 ,we have already mentioned how irrigation is customary both in the ,valencia and ,denia districts1 as well as in ,greece4 ,it is evident that irrigation there is only limited by the supply of water1 and that there is no question about its usefulness4 ,as regards the methods of irrigation in these foreign countries1 we beg to refer to the chapters treating of these countries4 ,here our efforts shall be to consider irrigation in its relation to the following points1 which are of more general interest to the ,californian growers3 ,necessity of irrigating the raisin-vines2 the health of irrigated vines2 the bearing quality of irrigated vines2 the quality of the irrigated grape2 supposed unhealthiness of irrigated vineyards2 irrigation by flooding2 irrigation by furrowing2 subirrigation2 seepage2 drainage2 irrigation and its influence on the soil4 ,the ,necessity of ,irrigating the ,raisin-vines4--,when the irrigation of raisin grapes was first attempted in ,fresno and ,riverside1 hardly any one was acquainted with or knew that irrigation had ever been used for such a purpose before1 and irrigation was considered as a venture which did not promise well for the future4 ,later on it was found that the raisin grape really would grow and do well in some localities without irrigation1 and the latter practice was accordingly condemned4 ,to-day1 however1 the practical knowledge of irrigation is greater and more generally distributed1 and it is now fully understood that irrigation is not only not injurious1 but beneficial and necessary in localities where the raisin-vine will not grow or bear sufficiently without it4 ,the questions then arose1 ,when is irrigation necessary1 and how much irrigation is required8 ,the first object in raisin-growing is the profit2 a secondary object is how to so treat the vines that they will last as long as possible4 ,to attain the first object1 we must raise plenty of grapes1 and when a larger quantity of good raisin grapes can be grown with irrigation than without it1 irrigation is justifiable and necessary4 ,in ,spain1 especially in the ,denia district1 irrigation of the raisin grapes is practiced wherever water can be had1 and the same is the case in ,greece and ,italy4 ,in ,california the tendency is now to irrigate wherever water can be had1 and wherever it is profitable to procure it4 ,in ,fresno1 ,tulare and ,kern counties1 raisin grapes could not be grown without irrigation4 ,these same conditions are also found in ,san ,bernardino county1 while in ,los ,angeles and ,orange counties all the best vineyards are irrigated1 and only occasionally do we find the conditions such that irrigation is not absolutely necessary4 ,in ,northern ,california1 raisin-vines may be grown without irrigation1 but the latter is considered of such advantage that expensive pumping works have been erected in places where no other means were had for irrigating the vines4 ,in ,san ,diego county1 especially in ,el ,cajon and ,sweetwater valleys1 irrigation is not absolutely necessary1 in fact it is not practiced there at all1 although water could be had1 but as a consequence the crops there are not as large4 ,in ,smyrna1 in ,asia ,minor1 the largest raisin center in the world1 the raisin-vines receive no irrigation1 but the unusually heavy rainfall of this section makes the want of irrigation less felt4 ,of course1 outside of the raisin districts proper1 ,muscatels or other raisin-vines may be grown1 and are grown to good advantage without irrigation1 but the climate in those places is generally unsuited to the drying of the grapes4 ,should we inquire into the reasons why raisin grapes may in some localities be grown and actually prove profitable without irrigation2 we find the same to depend not alone upon the rainfall of the locality1 but principally upon such other circumstances as dew1 fog1 the nature of the subsoil1 and the moisture of the air4 ,in ,smyrna the rainfall of the wet season is from twenty-four to thirty-six inches annually1 and greater than in any other raisin district4 ,in ,el ,cajon the rainfall is only half that much1 and the moisture in this case must be sought partly in the subsoil1 which is especially retentive of moisture1 as well as in the dew1 and the warm fogs from the ocean4 ,the subsoil has the greatest possible influence1 as in other valleys near by1 where the fog and the dew are the same1 but1 where the subsoil is different1 no raisin grapes can be grown without irrigation4 ,malaga is in this respect very similar to ,el ,cajon and ,sweetwater valleys1 but it enjoys more rainfall than the latter places1 while probably the dew and fog is about the same4 ,still in ,malaga irrigation is used in a few isolated localities where it can be obtained1 the nature of that country being such1 that no general irrigation system is possible1 and this is probably1 more than anything else1 the reason why the vines are not more generally irrigated there4 ,in ,chile1 in the valley of the ,huasco1 the ,muscat vines are grown both with and without irrigation1 the conditions there appearing to be very similar to those of ,el ,cajon valley in ,san ,diego county4 ,from the above we might draw a general conclusion1 that wherever the raisin-vines cannot grow without irrigation1 and wherever water can be had in sufficient quantities1 irrigation is practiced in order to increase the crops and to make the business more profitable4 ,health and ,longevity of ,irrigated ,vines4--,as regards the health of the vines1 the old idea in this country that vines would suffer from irrigation is decidedly erroneous4 ,the vines of ,denia in ,spain have been irrigated for eighty years or more1 and are to-day the healthiest vines in ,spain4 ,similarly1 the ,fresno vines1 where the water level1 as in ,denia1 is only from five to ten feet below the surface1 show no signs of decay1 while many of the raisin-vines in other parts of the ,state1 especially where planted on the hillsides1 show diseases which baffle the cultivator4 ,i do not1 of course1 mean to say that irrigated raisin-vines are entirely free from diseases1 but only that1 so far1 the healthiest and strongest raisin-vines of the world are those which are irrigated1 and which have always been irrigated4 ,of course in this respect the ,muscat grapes1 as well as the currant vines1 differ materially from certain wine grapes1 which as a rule have originated on drier soils1 and which1 if grown with irrigation1 deteriorate and yield inferior fruit4 ,the raisin-vines require much moisture1 and1 if this is not supplied in one way or another1 they will suffer and prove unprofitable4 ,the same is observed in soils which rapidly lose their moisture4 ,in such soils the ,muscat is not at home1 and its health and vigor is seriously impaired4 ,the ,bearing ,quality of ,irrigated ,vines4--,in regard to the bearing quality of the raisin grapes under irrigation1 we know with certainty that the irrigated raisin-vines yield by far the most4 ,in ,valencia and ,denia1 the vines yield from five to ten tons to the acre1 and so do those of ,riverside and ,fresno1 while the ,el ,cajon unirrigated vines yield only from one to two tons per acre4 ,if the latter place would irrigate judiciously1 its ,muscat vines would no doubt bear as well as those of any other locality4 ,i am led to this belief from what ,i have seen of irrigated grapes elsewhere in ,san ,diego county1 which were fully as well loaded as the heaviest vines in ,san ,bernardino county or ,fresno4 ,quality of ,irrigated ,grapes4--,that the quality of the irrigated raisin grape is increased by judicious irrigation is readily seen in all irrigated districts1 where those vines which receive their proper share of water produce the largest bunches and berries4 ,but it is also evident that too much water will cause a deficiency of sugar in the grapes1 as well as a lack of flavor1 by which the irrigated grapes can always be distinguished from those grown with natural moisture4 ,grapes too freely irrigated are not alone wanting in sugar1 but also in color4 ,such grapes remain green to the end of the season1 and never assume that amber color so valued in grapes1 and which always indicates beforehand what raisins they will produce when properly dried4 ,in our interior valleys1 where the sun and the wind sometimes produce sunscald of the berries1 which again causes them to fall off or dry up long before they are properly ripe1 this defect is much more frequent on vines which suffer from want of water than on those which have had enough4 ,when the soil is not subirrigated1 it is therefore advisable to irrigate the vines at the end of ,june1 just before the hottest part of the summer arrives4 ,similarly1 irrigation will help to swell out the berries if applied just before they commence to ripen4 ,in conclusion we might with truth say that the raisin grapes may in many localities be grown without irrigation1 but that in ,california1 in ,greece and in ,spain1 the largest and most prosperous districts are those where the raisin-vines are liberally irrigated4 ,the ,muscat grape seems especially to love water1 and1 in the real raisin districts1 the healthiest vineyards are those that are best irrigated4 ,the berries and bunches are also increased in size1 but not in flavor and aroma1 by irrigation4 ,in places where the raisin grapes will not bear without irrigation1 the latter1 of course1 is a necessity4 ,there are always naturally subirrigated parts1 in every county or district1 where artificial irrigation is not required4 ,but these parts are generally confined to river bottoms or to natural sinks1 which1 so far1 have played no important part in the raisin industry4 ,considered from a practical standpoint1 irrigation of the raisin-vines is necessary in ,california1 and1 should it from some reason or other be made impossible1 the raisin industry would not prove profitable or even possible1 except in a few very limited localities4 ,much has been written in regard to the supposed unhealthiness of the irrigated vineyards4 ,the malaria prevalent in some vineyards is no doubt caused by irrigation2 but it has been amply proved in ,fresno and elsewhere that if the grower would know from the beginning how to so prepare his land that there would be no stagnant pools1 no waste water1 and no swampy grounds1 the so much talked of malaria would be as rare in the irrigated vineyards as anywhere else4 ,it is not the irrigation that causes malaria1 but the waste of the water1 the carelessness of the irrigator and the faultiness of the badly constructed irrigation works4 ,after the vineyard has been irrigated a few years1 the malaria leaves it entirely4 ,this is the experience in ,fresno where the vineyards1 after years of irrigation1 have become perfectly healthy4 ,various ,methods of ,irrigation4--,there are several methods of irrigation now practiced in the irrigated vineyard districts4 ,we may irrigate by flooding the land or by leading the water in furrows between the vines4 ,both ways1 but especially the former1 may1 if continued long enough1 cause subirrigation1 the most desirable state of irrigation4 ,the choice of methods of irrigating does not always lie with ourselves1 but depends upon the quantity of water at our command1 the lay of the land1 etc4 ,sometimes one method will in course of time give room to another1 and again1 after the lapse of a few years1 continued irrigation may not be necessary or desirable4 ,irrigation by ,flooding4--,this method consists of flooding the land either by means of checks and banks1 which must have been constructed before the vines were planted1 or in simply flooding ground which is naturally level4 ,in either case the land must naturally not be too rough1 and the water must be abundant1 else this method cannot be used4 ,it will always pay to engage the services of an engineer in preparing such ground for vines4 ,the extra cost will be more than paid for in the first few years1 when frequent irrigations of the vineyard are as necessary as they are expensive4 ,the ditch supplying the vineyard should always run on the highest ground1 and in no instance should it be run through low ground when high ground can be had1 as the low ground may in the future have to be used for drainage1 about which we will treat further on4 ,from the main canal1 branch ditches should run out at right angles if possible1 or if the ground is very uneven they may follow the highest parts4 ,the ground between these ditches should be properly leveled into checks4 ,with checks the irrigator simply measures a piece of ground of any size which is surrounded by a levee or bank4 ,this bank must be high enough to allow the water to cover all of the ground as soon as the check is filled with water from the ditch4 ,to make the ground level enough1 it is generally necessary to level it with scrapers4 ,the more level is the surface the better1 cheaper and quicker will be the irrigation1 and no small amount of trouble will be avoided if this work is properly done before the vines are planted4 ,too little of this leveling is done in some places1 and ,i have seen thousands of acres planted in ,muscat vines which were so improperly leveled that the profits of the vineyard in after years would be seriously interfered with4 ,to understand how this can be possible1 we must remember what takes place when we irrigate and after we have irrigated4 ,the gate in the ditch is opened1 the water flows out and runs immediately down to the lowest part of the check4 ,when this part is reached1 the check begins to fill up4 ,if the ground is very uneven1 it may take days to fill the check1 and the lower part will require to be covered several feet with water before it will reach the higher parts1 which always need irrigation the most4 ,to back it up so high requires also a correspondingly high levee1 which again is more apt to break and cause trouble and expense the higher it is4 ,after the water has reached the highest possible point1 the flow is shut off1 and the water begins to subside4 ,the highest part of the land becomes dry the first1 and quickly1 while it may take days or even weeks to dry up the lowest part of the check4 ,when at last the check is all dry it may be found that the lowest vines have been injured or entirely drowned out4 ,when summer irrigation is used1 it is absolutely necessary to have the ground level1 so that when it is flooded the water will not reach up to the grapes1 as they spoil when coming in contact with the water4 ,the time when flooding should be used must depend upon circumstances4 ,as a rule1 flooding is especially adapted to winter irrigation1 as1 when the vines are entirely dormant1 they may be submerged for months without suffering any harm4 ,young vineyards may also be flooded in summer time1 but1 when the grapes begin to appear1 flooding can only be done in the winter or when the land is absolutely level1 but even under the most favorable circumstances many grapes are always lost4 ,some have so prepared their vineyards that a check1 when flooded1 can be drained into a lower check or into a ditch4 ,this is a very good arrangement where the land is not entirely level1 as it will cause the low places to dry up as quickly as possible4 ,but a better way is to have the ground so level that the water will sink evenly and leave no sinks nor any high and prematurely dry places4 ,there are1 however1 soils so composed that the water cannot sink through them in any reasonably short time4 ,such heavy soils must be surface drained after every flooding1 or perhaps had best be given up to some other method of irrigation4 ,but such hard or impervious soils are frequently improved by irrigation1 and in course of time lose their impervious nature and become subirrigated4 ,if the land is tolerably level by nature1 and there are prospects of subirrigation soon appearing1 it may be unnecessary to level the land1 and flooding with temporary checks may be used with advantage for the first few seasons4 ,furrowing will generally assist this mode of irrigation4 ,irrigation by ,furrowing4--,this method of irrigation is practiced where the land is not sufficiently level to be flooded1 or when the water is not sufficient to enable the irrigator in a short time to flood the land4 ,the practice of furrowing simply consists in plowing furrows alongside of the vines1 and then to lead the water in the furrows4 ,this system is by far the one that is most practiced in ,southern ,california1 as it has some advantages over the flooding2 it is1 however1 not so effective and cannot supply the vineyard with as much water as flooding4 ,to use the furrowing system to advantage1 the land must have been previously leveled1 but not necessarily graded to an absolute level4 ,it is enough to have the surface smooth and on an even grade1 in order that the water may run from a higher point to a lower one without spreading or breaking out4 ,especially all knolls in the vineyard must be leveled off1 and care must be taken to fill all hollows or sinks in which the water would otherwise collect4 ,after the vines are planted1 or when irrigation is necessary1 one or more furrows are plowed on each side of the vine1 and the water is allowed to run in them for several hours1 or even days1 until the soil is sufficiently soaked4 ,in many places three furrows are made between the rows of vines1 and the water is allowed to run in at one end and out through the other in a stream only sufficiently large to cause all the water to sink4 ,where particular nicety is required1 the waste water which runs out at the farther end may be collected in a trough with perforated holes1 through which it is conducted to a ditch or lower check4 ,similarly1 a long trough may be used for conducting the water to the land in the first instance1 and allow it to run out through a number of small holes1 one of which is situated in front of every furrow4 ,when the ground is well prepared1 level and with an even slope1 this system of irrigation is very perfect1 and causes but little expense and trouble in management4 ,in ,riverside the vines are irrigated thus every three or five weeks1 while in ,redlands less irrigation is used on old vines4 ,as a rule1 in ,southern ,california the furrowing system is the accepted one as being best adapted to the nature of the country4 ,the water is conducted both in open ditches and in pipes1 and when under pressure saves much labor and expense which would otherwise be required for the continued construction and repair of ditches4 ,the furrowing system has1 however1 its disadvantages4 ,it requires a longer time to fill the soil sufficiently1 and accordingly it takes many more irrigations to accomplish as much as with flooding4 ,as advantages of this system1 we might state that it requires no banks or levees to back up the water1 and a vineyard irrigated this way can be kept entirely free from weeds by a few cultivations1 while a checked vineyard must besides be cleared with hand labor1 as the banks and checks are apt to be destroyed by cultivation4 ,subirrigation4--,subirrigation may be either artificial or natural4 ,the artificial subirrigation has1 as far as ,i know1 only been used in a few vineyards in ,yolo and ,solano counties1 the report1 shortly after it had been established1 being very flattering as regards its success4 ,but of late years we have heard nothing about this kind of irrigation1 and it is likely that some practical difficulty was encountered which could not be fully overcome4 ,the artificial subirrigation consists in laying larger and smaller cement pipes between the rows of the vines4 ,these pipes are perforated in various places1 and1 when filled with water under pressure1 the water runs through the perforated holes and keeps the ground outside the pipes constantly moist1 without causing the surface of the soil to get wet and weedy1 and herein consist the principal advantages of the system1 as well as in the fact that rolling ground can be irrigated thus without being previously leveled and without being cut up with open ditches4 ,the difficulty of keeping the holes open and of preventing the roots of the vines from entering the pipes is1 ,i understand1 very great and probably impossible to overcome4 ,both irrigation water and liquid manures could by this system be supplied to the roots of the vines directly without any waste1 and1 in cases of diseases or attacks by underground pests1 medicines or insecticides could be brought to the soil with the least possible cost4 ,the natural subirrigation is caused either by the whole soil filling up with water from the natural and original water level to the very top or to the roots of the vines1 or from an impervious hardpan or clay1 as subsoil1 up towards the surface4 ,as an example of the former we might cite the country around the irrigated plains of the ,san ,joaquin valley1 especially around ,fresno and in ,mussel ,slough4 ,before irrigation was begun there in #ahgb1 the surface water was from sixty to seventy feet from the top east of the railroad1 and from forty to fifty feet west of the railroad1 lower down in the valley4 ,after five years of irrigation it began to be noticed that the soil required less water4 ,the water in the wells began to rise1 and the following year the water stood in many places near or on the top of the surface4 ,now the whole irrigated district around ,fresno has filled up with water to such an extent that drainage ditches have become necessary in some places in order to lower the water in the wet season some four or five feet from the surface4 ,many more drainage ditches will be required1 as in wet winters the surface water in places is not only very near the top1 but actually forms ponds or swamps where formerly the ground was entirely dry4 ,in the old irrigated districts1 water can now be found at from six to ten feet in the driest season1 while formerly the wells had to be from fifty to seventy feet deep4 ,in the older vineyards1 and even in many of the younger ones1 no more surface irrigation is used2 all that is now required is to allow the water to run in the main ditches1 in which the water sinks sufficiently to keep up the supply of the evaporation of the ground outside4 ,large tracts of land which have never been surface irrigated are now sufficiently moist to grow vines to the greatest perfection1 and many of the best vineyards have never been irrigated at all2 in fact1 nothing but drainage ditches have ever been made on the land4 ,whenever such subirrigation exists1 the water level will be found higher in the winter than in the summer1 and drainage should accompany subirrigation in nearly every instance4 ,a subirrigation like the above exists in ,denia and other of the ,spanish districts4 ,subirrigation may be also caused by either impervious subsoils1 such as hardpan and clay1 or by spongy subsoils1 which keep the water like a sponge4 ,such is the case to a limited extent in parts of ,san ,bernardino county4 ,at ,redlands1 for instance1 much less irrigation is now used than when the vines were first planted1 and this fact is attributed to a spongy subsoil peculiarly retentive of water4 ,a similar subirrigation exists in the ,mussel ,slough country1 where the water rapidly fills the land and keeps it moist throughout the summer4 ,the phenomenal moisture of the ,el ,cajon land is probably also produced by some kind of subirrigation1 either on impervious or through retentive strata2 the waste water from the surrounding hills no doubt supplies much of the water appearing in the lower lands of the valley4 ,other valleys close by do not show this moisture1 the underlying strata probably making subirrigation impossible with the present amount of rainfall4 ,seepage4--,seepage is the quality of the soil to attract moisture and retain it4 ,seepage soils attract the water from a ditch run through the land1 the water spreading all through the soil towards all sides instead of sinking only vertically down4 ,there is a distinct difference between such seepage soils and those that do not seep1 although there is a gradation in the degree of the seepage1 some soils seeping more than others4 ,thus the ,fresno soil1 or the soils on the ,fresno plains1 especially the red and sandy soils1 do not seep or percolate4 ,vines planted on the sides of the ditches1 or a foot or two from their banks1 will die and dry up if not specially irrigated by bringing water to their very roots4 ,other soils1 especially the river-bottom soils or the alluvial soils1 seep or percolate in a great or less degree4 ,they act like a sponge1 attract water and give it away slowly1 and the soil will be found wet for long distances from the ditch4 ,this seepage capacity of the soil is partly caused by an abundance of humus or vegetable matter4 ,the seepage capacity of the soil greatly increases by admixtures of green vegetable matters through the plowing under of green crops1 such as alfalfa1 peas1 beans1 grain1 etc4 ,the value of seepage soils is seen especially where some uneven ground is scraped off and the top soil removed to low places4 ,such ground often becomes useless for years afterwards1 especially if the quantity of humus in the lower soils is small4 ,frequent irrigations will not serve to keep such soils moist1 as the water sinks rapidly down1 leaving the poor top soil dry4 ,vines planted in such places never do well1 and even heavy manuring will not suffice to bring on a strong1 healthy growth4 ,such humus-wanting soils must be treated with green crops1 as stated above1 in order to become fertile and moist4 ,thus seepage and subirrigation are often confounded4 ,the former is caused by the retentive and communicative quality of the soil1 while the latter is caused by the natural or artificial distribution of the underground water4 ,subirrigation and seepage combined make the most perfect irrigation for a raisin vineyard1 with advantages that can in no other way be attained3 absence of distribution ditches1 which take up valuable land and which cost money to keep clean from weeds2 less growth of weeds on the surface of the ground2 greater mellowness of the top soil and less work in plowing generally2 a greater and more uniform supply of moisture1 which1 instead of being near the top of the ground1 is accumulated deeper down1 thus causing the roots to go down instead of spreading near the surface2 no expensive irrigation1 which will require plowing every time after the water is spread on the surface2 a greater coolness of the ground and a lower temperature generally1 which shows itself in a more vigorous growth of the vines1 a greater supply of grapes and less danger from sunburn4 ,these and many more are the advantages of subirrigation and seepage combined4 ,to attain them in a raisin vineyard1 no labor and reasonable cost should be spared4 ,illustration3 ,raisin-grape ,picking at ,riverside4 ,drainage4--,drainage is necessary in all vineyards where large quantities of water are used for irrigation1 and principally at the very time that subirrigation begins4 ,thus in ,fresno county the best raisin vineyards are those in which the land is both subirrigated and drained4 ,when irrigation commences in any certain district1 no one thinks of drainage as a possibility1 and great carelessness is shown in locating ditches and other irrigation works4 ,but in a few years1 when the soil is full of water which finds no outlet1 drainage becomes both necessary and desirable4 ,a very successful and highly necessary drain has been constructed through a part of the ,fresno district1 which so filled up with water during the rainy winter of #ahhc-hd that much of the ground could not be plowed until late in the spring4 ,the drain remedied the evil and drained the soil1 and the vineyards grown there are now counted among the best and most profitable4 ,the water thus drained off lowered the water level from six to seven feet4 ,in very dry seasons this ditch is filled with water1 and serves then to keep the soil moist through seepage or subirrigation4 ,the ,influence of ,irrigation on the ,soil4--,it is by many considered that irrigation helps to fertilize the soil4 ,the spring and flood water contain great quantities of mud and humus1 which when spread over the land will greatly increase its fertility4 ,even ordinary river water contains salts and other ingredients1 which will fertilize the soil to no small degree4 ,another cause of the increased fertility of subirrigated soils is that the water which constantly evaporates carries with it salts1 etc41 from the lower strata up towards the surface1 and makes them accessible to the roots of the vines4 ,but1 on the other hand1 if the water or the soils contain alkalies or other destructive substances1 these also are deposited on the surface to the great detriment of the vines1 and often to such an extent that the vines will die or become sickly4 ,too abundant flooding may also leach out of the soil its soluble salts1 and carry them deeper down in the ground4 ,but if this soil after a while fills up with water and becomes subirrigated1 the evaporation of water from the surface will gradually carry these salts back to the surface1 when they will increase the fertility of the soil4 ,where drainage is very perfect1 constant irrigation will gradually rob the soil of many of its soluble salts1 and carry them to places where they will forever be out of the reach of the vines4 ,to ascertain these facts and conditions1 every vineyardist should have the soil analyzed about every five years1 and too great care cannot be taken to keep the soil of proper strength4 ,another influence of irrigation on the soil may also be mentioned here4 ,some of the soils in the irrigated districts which were formerly very hard and difficult to work have in course of time changed and become mellow4 ,the water has undoubtedly caused a chemical and mechanical decomposition of the components of the soil1 which has caused it to continually improve4 ,even certain kinds of hardpan have been known to dissolve when irrigated1 and to change into useful and mellow soil1 in which the vines can find nutriment4 ,such hardpans are those which are generally found in very dark red soils2 those in lighter soils are not so readily dissolved4 ,,the ,,raisin ,,grapes4 ,introductory ,notes4--,the raisin grapes might be divided into two classes1--proper and genuine1 such as ,muscats1 ,sultanas and ,currants1 and irregular or inferior raisin grapes1 such as ,malagas and ,feher ,szagos4 ,now-a-days almost any kind of grapes are dried and sometimes called raisins1 but the proper name for them should be dried grapes4 ,with these we need not here busy ourselves1 as with a few exceptions they are of little value1 and cannot be compared with the regular raisin grapes1 either as regards quality1 demand or price4 ,muscatel or ,gordo ,blanco4--,this variety is the best type of the raisin grape of ,malaga4 ,its growth is low and spreading1 with no upright branches in the center4 ,its bunches are heavy1 and1 when perfect1 close and shouldered4 ,its berries are round and large1 the greatest circumference being at the center4 ,a crease is often found at the apex of the berry4 ,the color is green1 or1 when fully ripe1 amber green or yellow4 ,as compared with the ,muscat of ,alexandria1 this variety is distinguished1 when perfect1 by its low1 depressed growth1 without any upright branches in the center of the vine2 by a closer bunch2 by rounder berries1 and by a thicker and firmer bloom4 ,the berries set better than those of the ,muscat of ,alexandria1 although both varieties suffer from the early stages of oidium or colure4 ,the ,gordo ,blanco is the choice raisin grape for the ,san ,joaquin valley1 and for the interior generally4 ,it is the raisin grape of ,malaga in ,spain1 where it is probable the variety originated4 ,importations of this variety have been made to ,california at various times by ,a4 ,haraszthy in #ahfa1 and by ,w4 ,s4 ,chapman in #ahgf4 ,muscat of ,alexandria4--,the growth of this variety is upright in the center4 ,its clusters1 even when perfect1 are never close4 ,its berries are oblong and tapering1 the largest circumference being near the apex4 ,the color when fully ripe is amber green or yellowish green4 ,the leaves of both varieties of ,muscats are five-pointed1 light green1 lighter below1 and do not differ materially from each other4 ,both ,muscats are remarkable for their second and third growths1 and for the large second crop on the laterals4 ,the ,muscat of ,alexandria1 as compared with the ,gordo ,blanco1 is characterized by its oblong berries1 and by its more upright branches in the center of the vine4 ,its growth is more straggling than that of the ,gordo ,blanco1 and1 planted side by side1 the two varieties are distinctly characteristic4 ,the ,muscat of ,alexandria is the favorite raisin grape in ,southern ,california1 where it seems eminently adapted4 ,i found no other ,muscat in ,san ,bernardino and ,san ,diego counties4 ,the most magnificent bunches of this variety which ,i have ever seen were grown there only a few miles from the ocean1--bunches that could not be surpassed1 and which certainly were equal in weight to any ,gordo ,blanco that have ever come under my notice4 ,a4 ,b4 ,butler considers that the ,muscat of ,alexandria does equally as well as the ,gordo ,blanco in ,fresno1 but most growers are not ready to agree with him4 ,illustration3 #b4--,planting ,bar 7,fresno74 #c4--;,fresno 8,sheep's-foot40 #d4--,muscat of ,alexandria 7,n4 ,s474 #e4--,muscatel ,gordo ,blanco4 ,the raisin made from the ,muscat of ,alexandria looks smaller on account of its oblong form1 and is less suited for facing the boxes1 but as to other qualities1 such as taste1 sweetness and color1 there is no marked difference between these two varieties of ,muscats4 ,all varieties of ,muscats set better in moist air than where the air is very dry1 and the moister air tends to better develop the bunches4 ,this explains why1 in isolated vineyards in the interior1 the bunches are never so large as where a large number of acres of vines have modified the often excessive dryness of the atmosphere4 ,as to the relative distribution of these two varieties of ,muscats in our ,state1 it may be stated that the former is not based upon any particular adaptability of the respective varieties to the localities where they are grown4 ,the ,muscat of ,alexandria is the older variety of the two1 probably both in ,spain as well as in ,california4 ,to ,valencia in ,spain it was brought by the ,moors from ,africa1 or possibly from ,alexandria in ,egypt4 ,the ,gordo ,blanco again appears to be a native ,spanish variety1 especially adapted to the warmer region of ,malaga or ,southern ,spain4 ,the ,gordo ,blanco is the principal grape of ,malaga2 the ,muscat of ,alexandria is the one grown in ,valencia and ,denia and also in ,smyrna in ,asia ,minor4 ,in ,california the ,gordo ,blanco is found around ,woodland in ,yolo county1 throughout the ,san ,joaquin valley1 and in ,fresno it is the favorite and almost exclusive ,muscat grape4 ,the ,muscat of ,alexandria is grown in ,solano county and elsewhere in ,northern ,california1 while it is the exclusive grape in ,riverside1 ,redlands1 ,orange county and ,el ,cajon1 and probably elsewhere in ,san ,diego county or ,southern ,california generally4 ,the ,muscat of ,alexandria was imported by ,colonel ,agoston ,haraszthy in #aheb from ,malaga1 and by ,d4 ,m4 ,delmas some thirty-eight years ago from ,france4 ,huasco ,muscat4--,this variety 7pronounced ,uasco7 resembles very much the ,muscat of ,alexandria1 of which it is probably a seedling1 and was introduced into ,chile by the ,spaniards soon after the conquest4 ,according to ,professor ,e4 ,w4 ,hilgard1 this variety sets better than the ,alexandria1 and on that account deserves to be cultivated4 ,it is strange that no attempts have been made in this country to grow it on a larger scale4 ,the ,huasco is undoubtedly one of the most interesting grapes1 and the fact that it produces the most expensive raisins in the world should be a sufficient inducement to our ,california growers to at least study the variety closely4 ,i should think that ,el ,cajon valley would be the proper locality for it in this ,state4 ,other ,varieties of ,muscats4--,a variety of ,muscatel resembling the ,gordo ,blanco1 but with more erect growth1 is said to have been imported by ,g4 ,g4 ,briggs of ,davisville1 ,solano county4 ,i have seen it growing in the vineyard of ,george ,a4 ,freeman of ,fresno1 but cannot distinguish its berries from those of the ,gordo ,blanco4 ,the growth of the vine is more erect1 and leaves the center of the vine rather uncovered and exposed4 ,i would decidedly prefer the ,gordo ,blanco4 ,a seedling of the ,gordo ,blanco originated by the author is now growing on the ,floreal vineyard1 owned by ,j4 ,t4 ,goodman1 near ,fresno4 ,this variety promised a great deal the first season4 ,i have no doubt that1 with some selection of berries and bunches1 many new and valuable raisin grapes could be originated in this ,state1 varieties which would be especially adapted to our soil and climate4 ,while our fruit-growers have produced a number of new fruits of various kinds1 we have yet to hear of the first superior grape seedlings4 ,according to the ,rural ,press of ,may #e1 #ahgg1 ,c4 ,t4 ,ward of ,haywards1 ,alameda county1 raised some seedlings from ,huasco seed1 but what has become of them ,i do not know4 ,haywards would not be likely to be a proper place for raisin grapes1 and even the best variety could not possibly be a success there4 ,j4 ,t4 ,goodman of ,fresno has a ,muscatel vine in his vineyard which ripens ten days earlier than the ,gordo ,blanco1 but whether it is a seedling is not known4 ,it may prove a most valuable variety if extensively grown4 ,b4 ,g4 ,stabler of ,yuba ,city tells me that ,ch4 ,e4 ,swezy1 near ,marysville1 has raised a seedling from an imported ,dehesa raisin1 which in size1 flavor and all other qualities excels any other table grape known1 but the flavor of the grape does not resemble that of the ,muscatel4 ,i have seen raisins made from this grape1 but they were not desirable2 but as a table grape this variety is said to be superior4 ,if so1 this grape should be tried in different localities1 and may prove a real acquisition4 ,there is no doubt that other seedling raisin grapes have been raised in this ,state1 and we hope in course of time to know all about them4 ,seedless ,sultana4--,this grape is decidedly one of the most important raisin grapes known4 ,its bunches are very large1 sometimes weighing five pounds each4 ,the berries are round and seedless1 the size of large peas1 of a green color1 which1 when the grape ripens1 turns bright amber yellow1 with small brown spots4 ,the leaves are large and very entire1 and more yellowish than those of the ,muscat4 ,the growth of the vine is upright1 with erect or climbing branches4 ,this grapevine in order to bear must be pruned long1 and should properly be staked from four to five feet high4 ,the yield of the ,sultana is very heavy1 and as much as sixteen tons of fresh grapes are frequently harvested from an acre1 provided the soil is the very best possible4 ,the grapes begin to color and sweeten several weeks before the ,muscat1 but they become fully ripe later than this variety1 and are on that account not as extensively grown as they certainly deserve to be4 ,for districts with long summers and autumns the ,sultana will prove a very profitable and desirable grape4 ,the native home of the ,sultana is ,asia ,minor4 ,there it is grown principally around ,smyrna and in several of the islands in the ,archipelago4 ,in ,california only few ,sultana vineyards are planted2 still there is undoubtedly a great field for this grape where the seasons are long enough to allow of its perfect ripening4 ,the raisins are light in color and somewhat acid1 but with no particular flavor1 and in this respect are inferior to the ,muscats and the ,currants4 ,they are produced either by dipping1 as is done in ,smyrna1 or by sun-drying1 as we do in this ,state4 ,if the dipping process is used1 the grapes must be very ripe1 else they will turn reddish and dark and lose quality4 ,in ,california the ,sultana grape does well1 and only seldom produces seeds4 ,in ,eastern ,mediterranean countries1 except in the few favored spots of ,smyrna1 or in some of the ,islands1 this variety rapidly deteriorates and becomes seed-bearing1 which of course entirely ruins its usefulness4 ,the ,seedless ,sultana was first brought to ,california by ,colonel ,agoston ,haraszthy in #ahfa4 ,black ,currant4--,this variety is but little known in this ,state4 ,the growth is erect and climbing4 ,the bunches are long1 narrow and cylindrical1 with heavy shoulders4 ,the berries are small1 of the size of peas1 seedless and black1 very sweet and with a peculiar aroma not found in any other variety4 ,the ,black ,currant should be pruned short1 and the young branches require staking in order to bear well4 ,the home of the ,black ,currant is the ,grecian ,islands as well as ,morea1 especially around ,patras4 ,zante1 ,cephalonia and ,ithaca all produce ,currants of the highest quality4 ,other ,varieties of ,currants4--,the ,white ,currant grown in ,california is not the true raisin grape which produces the ,currant of commerce4 ,the bunch and berry resemble the ,black ,currant1 but differ in not being black1 and in lacking the peculiar aroma and flavor alone possessed by the ,black and true ,currant4 ,there are in ,greece several other varieties of ,currants1 such as red and gray1 but these are used for wine and not for raisins4 ,the ,white and ,red ,currants were introduced from ,crimea in #ahfa by ,colonel ,agoston ,haraszthy4 ,thompson ,seedless4--,this variety has been growing in ,california for many years1 but has only lately come into notice4 ,it was imported from ,rochester1 ,new ,york1 from the establishment of ,elwanger ,barry1 about #ahgb1 and was by them described as a grape from ,constantinople under the name of ,lady ,decoverly4 ,thompson ,seedless is the name given this grape by the local growers around ,yuba ,city1 and not the original name4 ,i am inclined to believe that this grape is related to1 but not identical with1 the oblong1 seedless grape which is grown around ,damascus in ,asia ,minor1 and there dried into a raisin of very good quality4 ,this ,damascus grape is brownish when ripe4 ,thompson ,seedless is an oval grape1 greenish yellow1 as large as a ,sultana1 seedless1 with thin skin1 good but not strong flavor1 and without that acid which characterizes the ,sultana grape and raisin4 ,the bunches are large1 or very large1 and the vine is an enormous bearer4 ,as yet it is principally grown around ,yuba ,city and ,marysville in limited quantities1 but the raisins are in good demand4 ,when sun-dried and cured1 these raisins are bluish and dark like ,muscats1 but narrower and more tapering1 and only a quarter the size4 ,their sweetness and taste commend them for cooking purposes1 and the bearing quality of the vine will no doubt make their growing profitable in all places where the seasons are too short to thoroughly ripen the ,sultana4 ,in ,yuba this grape ripens early in ,august4 ,other ,seedless ,grapes4--,in the ,islands of ,lipari and ,pantelleria a coarse but seedless grape is grown1 out of which a variety of ,sultana raisin is made4 ,we have no further notices and description of this variety4 ,malaga4--,this is not a real raisin grape1 but of late years raisins have been made from it and found both fair in quality and profitable to the grower4 ,the ,malaga is a heavy bearer of one crop of very large but loose bunches4 ,there is no second crop4 ,the berries are large1 oval1 not tapering1 the flesh is meaty and solid1 very sweet1 but with no decided flavor4 ,the skin is thick and green1 when ripe amber yellow1 with thick bloom4 ,raisins made of this grape are very large1 and the bunches are also large and solid1 and the berries are not easily torn off4 ,when sweated1 the skin becomes thinner1 and the quality improves generally4 ,the ,malaga is a very hardy vine1 not particular about soil1 a strong grower1 bears well1 and its grapes ripen at the time of the ,muscats4 ,but1 as there is no second crop1 the vintage of the ,malaga will be over long before that of the ,muscats1 and out of the way of rain or fog4 ,this is what makes this grape so valuable4 ,four cents per pound has been paid for these raisins in sweatboxes for the past two years1 and at that price this grape pays better than the ,muscats4 ,the ,malaga raisins are also very heavy and solid4 ,i am satisfied that there will be a good demand for this raisin1 especially among consumers1 who prefer a bunch raisin1 but who do not care to pay for the expensive packing which is necessary to preserve the ,muscat bunches4 ,the ,malaga raisin could be sold in bulk1 and still would not break up4 ,the ,malaga grape is grown in many places in ,california1 and is used principally as a table grape2 it has only been cured and dried into raisins in ,fresno4 ,according to ,a4 ,b4 ,butler1 this grape is grown in ,malaga for table purposes4 ,feher ,szagos4--,feher ,szagos raisins have been in the market for several years1 and have brought in sweatboxes from three to three and a half cents per pound4 ,this grape is a heavy bearer and grower1 branches erect but slender1 leaves glossy1 entire1 bunches medium to small1 pointed and solid4 ,the berries are greenish amber1 medium1 oval1 pointed1 with thin skin1 and few and small seeds4 ,the flesh is not firm1 but dries well1 and when dried the raisin is very good1 with a peculiar flavor of its own4 ,they are only used for cooking1 but are nevertheless rather good raisins to eat1 and their seeds are so soft that they are not objectionable4 ,the bearing quality of the ,feher ,szagos is very heavy1 as much as sixteen tons of green grapes having been raised to the acre1 and from ten to twelve tons is a common yield4 ,it ripens with the ,muscat1 and the vine bears only one crop4 ,at three cents per pound1 the ,feher ,szagos is a profitable grape4 ,the native home of this variety is ,hungary or ,southern ,austria1 the name meaning1 in ,hungarian1 ,white ,jack4 ,in ,fresno it is grown quite extensively1 having originally been planted as a wine grape4 ,as such it is highly valued1 producing an abundance of highly flavored sherry4 ,other ,raisin ,grapes4--,in ,asia ,minor1 the ,grecian ,islands1 ,morea1 ,italy1 ,spain and ,morocco1 there are grown a number of varieties of grapes which are cured into raisins and sold as such4 ,many of these are little1 if any1 better than our dried grapes1 while others again are superior1 more resembling the regular raisins4 ,among the latter we have the ,spanish ,black and ,red1 and the ,smyrna and ,turkish ,black and ,red4 ,some of them belong to the ,muscat family1 probably resembling ,black and ,red ,muscats1 but of these varieties we have no particular information1 and our growers will probably not lose much by avoiding a more intimate acquaintance with them4 ,,diseases ,,and ,,insect ,,pests4 ,the following short account of the diseases and insect pests is not intended to be exhaustive1 and is only intended to refer to the raisin districts of our ,state4 ,i have not included accounts of the phylloxera nor of other insects or fungi which do not exist in these districts1 but which may be troublesome in other parts of the ,state4 ,strictly scientific descriptions have purposely been left out1 but ,i have endeavored to make the popular account as correct and as condensed as possible4 ,of insects and fungi ,i have only enumerated those which are of importance through the damage they occasion from time to time4 ,those which prey on the vines1 but which cause no great damage1 and which the grower need not prepare himself to fight1 have here been left out4 ,,powdery ,,mildew ,,or ,,uncinula4 ,general ,notes4--,this disease of the grapevine is caused by the growth of parasitic fungus known in ,europe as ,oidium ,tuckeri1 and in this country as ,uncinula spiralis or powdery mildew4 ,i am satisfied the two names signify the same fungus1 only the ,european form has never been found as highly developed as the ,american one1 which has on that account received a name of its own4 ,if the two are identical1 then the ,european ,oidium1 which for many years caused the destruction of the transatlantic vineyards1 was imported to that country from this4 ,the ,uncinula spiralis is undoubtedly native on our indigenous vines4 ,characteristics4--,the mildew appears in two different stages1 one in the spring when the vines are in blossom1 the other again later in the summer when the fruit is more advanced4 ,the first stage of the mildew resembles a fine cobweb spun between the flowers of the bunch4 ,if allowed unrestricted sway1 the flowers will drop off1 the fruit will never set1 or set only imperfectly1 and the crop will be a great loss or even a total failure4 ,generally the inexperienced vineyardist does not perceive the mildew until too late4 ,a slight touch to the vine will then bring down all the young fruit or blossoms like a shower1 and the stem of the bunch will be seen to be entirely bare1 or with only a few scattered berries4 ,this form of the ,uncinula mildew has not been as scientifically investigated as would be desirable1 and nothing is known as regards its development4 ,it is possibly a primary generation and early stage of the later ,uncinula4 ,i believe this form of the mildew is identical with the disease which is called ,colure by the ,french1 and which is characterized by the dropping of the young1 undeveloped grapes4 ,the first appearance of this mildew is always accompanied by white1 salty excrescences on the edges of the grape leaves4 ,whether they are directly or indirectly connected with the fungus is not known4 ,the later form1 the powdery mildew1 and the form which has given this mildew its name1 appears later in the season1 when the grapes are half grown or more4 ,it then takes the shape of fine powder-like patches or blotches on the upper side of the leaves1 stems or berries4 ,these spots are of a dull gray or whitish gray color1 and smell strongly of mold or mushrooms4 ,if these mildew spots when young are rubbed smooth1 especially on the green stems or berries1 we see below them1 in the epidermis of the vine1 the mycelium or stem of the fungus spreading in all directions from a central point1 like the roots of a tree or plant4 ,this part of the mildew corresponds with the stem and root of a plant1 while the upper1 powdery part is the one which produces the spores or the seed1 conidia and peritheca1 all of which are reproductive organs4 ,the grapes thus attacked gradually dry up or crack open4 ,the leaves are eaten through and dry up1 and the whole plant becomes badly diseased1 and may even die4 ,illustration3 ,powdery ,mildew 7,oidium ,form71 ,greatly ,magnified4 ,history and ,distribution4--,the powdery mildew or ,oidium was observed for the first time in the year #ahde in hothouses in ,england4 ,it immediately began to spread1 and in a few years infested all the vine districts of the ,old ,world4 ,before any remedy had been discovered1 many vine districts were so injured that they have not since been able to recover4 ,thus in #ahej and #ahea ,france suffered greatly from this mildew1 and the ,island of ,madeira1 which for three hundred years had produced the finest wines1 had its grapevines so injured that they up to this time have not again produced as good a quality of grapes as before the advent of the disease4 ,the ,grecian ,islands as well as ,morea were also visited by the powdery mildew1 and though the latter is now kept in control1 the general opinion is that the quality of the currants is not as high as it was before the mildew appeared4 ,now there is probably no place in the ,old ,world where grapes are not attacked by this mildew1 although some places are injured much more than others4 ,adjoining vineyards are often differently attacked1 some being even entirely free1 while others are visited yearly4 ,young vines are less attacked than old ones1 and in favorable places the mildew seldom infests vines before they are two or three years old4 ,elevated places and localities exposed to winds and cold are generally attacked by the first stages of this oidium1 while its second or last stage prefers low1 damp places exposed to dew or fog4 ,the ,american form of the powdery mildew or ,uncinula spiralis differs in some respects from the ,european ,oidium1 not as to its effects1 but as to its microscopical characteristics4 ,the ,oidium occurs in ,europe only with certain generative organs called gonidia1 while the ,american ,uncinula also develops so-called peritheca4 ,it is more than probable that both fungi belong to the same species1 but until these perithecal organs have been found on the ,european ,oidium1 the proper name for our mildew must be ,uncinula1 and not ,oidium4 ,it is also probable that the ,uncinula fungus is a native of this continent1 and that it from here has spread to ,europe1 where the natural conditions are such that only the gonidial form of the fungus has been able to develop4 ,in general appearance and in their effects the ,uncinula and ,oidium are identical4 ,the ,oidium appears sooner on poor soil and on exhausted vines1 and vines in which the flow of the sap for some reason or other has been checked are more subject to the mildew than those which are yet in full growing vigor4 ,elevated vines on trellises which are much exposed1 and vines which are so covered up that the air has little access1 are the first ones to be attacked1 and those which will suffer the most4 ,the powdery mildew affects all varieties of grapes1 but some kinds more than others4 ,the ,muscats are among those which suffer considerably1 and if not sulphured would in severe cases neither set nor bear suitable grapes4 ,the ,malaga is less affected1 and so is the ,sultana4 ,in new districts the ,uncinula does not appear until the vines are older4 ,thus in the ,fresno district the earliest vines did not suffer from mildew until they became five years old1 but now the mildew would destroy the grapes every year1 in case they were not treated with sulphur4 ,remedies4--,the most common and perhaps the best remedy is powdered sulphur4 ,the latter is applied either with the dust can or 8dredger10 or with bellows4 ,the dust can is used when the vines or vine shoots are yet small1 and the bellows when the vines are larger4 ,the first sulphuring should be done when the young shoots are six inches long1 immediately before the bloom1 and the second time when the berries are well set4 ,sulphuring as a regular vineyard operation will be more fully discussed further on4 ,,downy ,,mildew ,,or ,,peronospora4 ,general ,notes4--,the downy mildew is a fungus known botanically as ,peronospora viticola4 ,its native country is the ,united ,states1 but its greatest damage is done in ,europe4 ,it appears as white1 downy spots on the underside of the grape leaves1 which are gradually destroyed1 and later on attacks the berries1 which shrivel and spoil4 ,in ,california the downy mildew occurs frequently on wild native grapevines1 but only very rarely on the cultivated ,asiatic vines4 ,dr4 ,h4 ,w4 ,harkness1 the eminent mycologist1 found it only once on cultivated vines in the ,sacramento river bottom4 ,these vines were growing close to native vines1 from which the fungus had spread4 ,there is no fear that this fungus will ever spread and cause damage in our ,state as long as the vineyards are given plenty of air4 ,in ,france the ,peronospora has caused much damage1 but is now being combated with bluestone and lime solutions1 according to the following formula3 ,slake thirty pounds of lime in seven and a half gallons of water1 also mix sixteen pounds of bluestone 7copper sulphate7 in twenty-five gallons of water4 ,mix the two together1 and either sprinkle the foliage with it1 or dilute it further with say five hundred gallons of water and spray the vine leaves on both the upper and lower sides4 ,according to ,dr4 ,harkness the efficiency of this spray cannot always be relied on4 ,so far no other fungi have appeared in the raisin districts of this ,state1 nor have we reason to fear that any will attack the vines4 ,illustration3 ,downy ,mildew 7,peronospora71 ,greatly ,magnified4 a4 ,the ,fungus ,growing out of a ,stoma of the ,vine ,leaf4 b4 ,transversal ,section of ,vine ,leaf1 showing ,fungi and their ,tuberous ,mycelium4 ,,the ,,vine ,,plague4 ,characteristics4--,the first1 or at least the most characteristic signs of this disease appear especially after a summer rain1 or after the first fall rain4 ,the leaves then become spotted with yellow4 ,the following season these yellow spots appear as if fused together1 and many leaves become entirely yellow1 except the veins1 which stand out bright green4 ,some leaves are invaded by the yellow from the edges1 while the veins as before remain green4 ,these yellow spots soon turn brown1 the leaves dry up and curl slightly backwards and finally fall off1 leaving the canes bare4 ,during the very first appearance of the vine plague1 many leaves turn brown and dry up in certain spots in the vineyard without the previous appearance of any yellow spots4 ,the drying of the leaves proceeds either from the center of the spots1 or from the margin of the leaves1 destroying both the leaves and their veins4 ,later on in the fall a new crop of leaves appear1 but these leaves are small or very small1 bright green and sickly1 and do not continue to develop after they have reached a certain size1 different in different vines4 ,in red varieties of grapes1 the yellow spots in the leaves gradually turn red or claret colored1 often resembling the most beautiful autumn leaves4 ,in districts where the disease is common1 these leaves are generally known as calico leaves on account of their peculiar markings4 ,the canes do not attain their regular growth1 and fail to mature in the fall1 or mature only in spots1 the balance of the wood remaining dull green4 ,the inner parts of the canes are1 as a rule1 more mature than the tips4 ,very often only one or two joints nearest the stem mature1 and in bad cases no part of the canes mature1 but at the advent of the rain turn black and die4 ,late in the fall the tips of the green canes turn black1 dry up and snap off like glass when touched4 ,the pith turns in the older canes dark brown1 dries up prematurely and dies1 while in very young canes the pith remains watery like a semi-transparent jelly4 ,many vines have no mature wood when the leaves have fallen in the autumn1 while others again have some4 ,while the spotted leaves may appear all over the vineyard1 the diseased canes appear on vines in spots1 these spots in the vineyard growing larger year after year4 ,a dead vine may be seen in the midst of healthy ones1 while a healthy vine1 on the other hand1 may remain in the midst of dead ones4 ,it takes generally several years to kill the vines1 and some varieties are hardier than others4 ,some ,muscats may succumb in one year1 while some will last for three years or more4 ,the roots remain alive and healthy longer than any other part1 and1 when the top of the vine has already died1 it is common to see the root send up a healthy sucker1 which1 however1 in its turn1 will become diseased and die4 ,it is likely that the vines in some districts will suffer more than in others1 and in places the vines may not become seriously injured by the disease4 ,the berries on badly diseased vines do not develop1 but shrivel up or remain sour1 and in some cases dry up entirely4 ,in others1 again1 they acquire a mawkish taste1 lose flavor and sweetness1 and make only inferior or bad raisins4 ,these many different characteristics of the plague depend evidently on the stage of infection4 ,they do not follow each other in any certain succession1 nor do they all appear on the same vine4 ,some vines show one face of the disease1 other vines show another1 and the observer must have been previously acquainted with the disease before he can readily recognize it4 ,nature and ,cause4--,the cause of the vine plague is not known4 ,no deadly fungus has so far been found on the vine1 nor has any other deadly parasite been found on the diseased vines4 ,in ,california the vine plague has been studied by ,n4 ,b4 ,pierce1 of the ,agricultural ,department at ,washington4 ,he suggested once that the disease was of bacterial nature1 but has not proved his theory1 his investigations not yet being finished4 ,mr4 ,e4 ,dowlen has also been investigating this disease1 and at one time thought it caused by a fungus1 which1 however1 was proved later by ,dr4 ,h4 ,w4 ,harkness to belong to the non-injurious kind4 ,no insects of any kind prey on the vines in sufficient numbers to cause the serious symptoms of the vine plague4#g ,whatever may be the true cause of the vine plague1 certain it is that it resembles in its advent and spreading such diseases in men as cholera1 yellow fever or the ,oriental plague4 ,the vine plague appears to be especially promoted by warm1 moist air and rain1 but it is not confined to damp places1 nor has it as yet been ascertained in what relation it stands to locality and climate4 #g ,the most interesting and correct account of the vine plague yet published is found in an essay on 8,the ,mysterious ,vine ,disease10 by ,newton ,b4 ,pierce1 read before the ,state ,horticultural ,convention1 at ,los ,angeles1 ,march1 #ahij1 and published in ,,california--,a ,,journal ,,of ,,rural ,,industry1 ,may #aj1 #ahij2 ,vol4 #c1 ,no4 #ah4 ,in ,california it first made its general appearance in ,anaheim in ,orange county1 in the month of ,august1 #ahhd1 when vineyards of old ,mission vines suddenly stopped growing1 and the grapes failed to color and ripen1 while many of the vines died the same year4 ,the plague attacks in preference vines growing on poor1 sandy or alkaline soil1 or in vineyards underlaid with hardpan4 ,the weak vines succumb the first of any4 ,this is the reason why so many vineyardists doubt the existence of any particular disease1 contributing the poor condition of the vineyard to anything else than the true cause4 ,n4 ,b4 ,pierce1 who has now spent a year in studying the vine plague1 has found many similarities between it and the mal nero of ,italy2 but the descriptions of the foreign investigators are both contradictory and insufficient1 and1 without a personal investigation of the ,italian or ,french vines1 the identity of our vine plague with any foreign disease cannot be established4 ,it is to be hoped that the ,united ,states ,congress will make such investigations possible4 ,at present we do not even know whether the vine plague is original in this country or whether it was imported from foreign countries4 ,the general opinion in the first attacked district is that the disease was imported there with grapevines brought from ,europe4 ,so far ,i have not been able to ascertain when and by whom such vines were imported1 but ,i am satisfied that in the course of time it will be found that foreign grapevines were imported to the vineyards where shortly afterwards this disease first appeared4 ,damages4--,the damages caused by the vine plague may be summed up as follows3 ,the leaves turn spotted and yellow1 finally dry up and fall off4 ,the canes fail to mature1 or mature only in spots4 ,later in the fall1 they die from the tips1 which turn black and become brittle4 ,the berries either dry up or shrivel up1 and fail to mature1 or at any rate become mawkish or bitter4 ,the yield becomes less and less every year1 although1 the first year that the vines are touched by the disease1 the yield is often unusually large4 ,in severe cases the vine dies in from one to three years1 but a few may linger longer4 ,remedies4--,the vine plague has existed in this ,state for six or eight years1 but as yet few1 if any1 efforts have been made to extinguish it1 and only during the last year have any experiments been carried on4 ,the solutions of bluestone and lime which many expected would prove beneficial to the vines attacked by the plague have1 in my opinion1 done little or no good4 ,spraying the vines when in full foliage with the ,i ,x ,l compound greatly benefits the vines1 and proves a powerful stimulant and the best remedy yet employed4 ,,leaf-,,hopper 7,erythroneura comes74 ,characteristics4--,this pernicious little pest is a bug which multiplies in enormous quantities and sucks the sap out of the vine leaves4 ,many use the name of thrips to denote this insect1 but this is incorrect1 as the thrips is an entirely different1 much smaller1 insect1 which so far has never been injurious to the vines of this coast4 ,in size the leaf-hopper is1 at maturity1 about one-tenth of an inch4 ,in color it is yellowish white1 with a few red spots4 ,when the insect approaches maturity1 it jumps1 but the undeveloped insect or larva only crawls1 principally on the underside of the vine leaves1 where their cast-off skins can be seen in all stages and sizes4 ,the eggs are laid in the veins of the leaves4 ,the glossy globules which are always seen on leaves where the leaf-hopper is found are not the eggs1 as has been supposed by many1 but is only the vomit which1 when irritated1 the hopper throws out either as a defense1 or because it desires to rid itself of an unnecessary burden4 ,the leaf-hopper hatches at least two times1 or possibly three times1 during the summer4 ,many of the insects remain over during winter time4 ,they feed on almost anything1 such as alfilerilla 7,erodium71 etc41 but are especially fond of the grapevines1 and even in the early spring flock onto the young vine shoots1 leaving the less desirable weeds4 ,in some localities this insect is known variously as the white fly1 the vine-hopper1 or incorrectly as the thrips4 ,damages4--,the hopper punctures the leaves and causes them to dry up and fall1 thus exposing the grapes to the hot sun4 ,the excrement of the hoppers also covers the grapes largely1 and spoils their appearance and keeping quality1 at least as table grapes4 ,it is principally the table grapes and wine grapes which are injured by this insect2 the former are made unfit for shipment1 and the latter do not color well when deprived of their leaves4 ,if the grapevines are kept growing1 the grapes are less injured1 and some growers even contend that the hopper is advantageous1 as it causes the leaves to fall and the grapes to mature4 ,distribution4--,it is not known whether the leaf-hopper is a native of ,california1 and ,i hardly believe it is4 ,it does not exist in ,southern ,california1 but in ,northern ,california and in the ,san ,joaquin valley it is common4 ,in the grape districts of ,southern ,california there is found another variety of leaf-hopper almost twice the size and of a brilliant green color1 which only once appeared in such quantity as to do any damage at all4 ,generally it is quite rare4 ,the ,erythroneura comes1 however1 occurs in countless numbers1 and often rises in clouds when the vines are approached4 ,in some years it is less common than in others1 and after having been plentiful for several years gradually diminishes in quantity1 but never disappears entirely4 ,remedies4--,pasturing the vineyards with sheep as soon as the grapes are picked is very beneficial4 ,the sheep destroy both hoppers and leaves1 and the following season always finds the hoppers greatly diminished in numbers4 ,the sheep do no injury to low-pruned vines1 and in ,fresno many vineyardists pasture their vines regularly every year in ,october and ,november1 or as soon as the grapes are picked and the vineyards are made accessible4 ,the gauze bell consists of a bell-shaped cover made of wire netting1 large enough to cover the vine4 ,the inside of the bell is sprayed with petroleum1 and then turned over the vine4 ,a shake is then given the vine1 when many leaf-hoppers will fly up and stick in the petroleum4 ,it will only pay to use this remedy on table grapes2 for raisin grapes it is too expensive4 ,,red ,,spider4 ,characteristics4--,red or yellow mites are quite frequently injurious to grapevines4 ,these mites are small1 almost microscopical1 and appear in enormous quantities on both sides of the leaves1 especially1 however1 on their under side4 ,they cover the leaves1 and even the ground of the vineyard1 with a thick cobweb1 in which they live and hatch4 ,dry air and heat promote the wellbeing of the mites1 and hasten the injury they do to the vine leaves1 which soon dry up and check the growth of the vines4 ,on the contrary1 dew and moisture destroy the red mites in a short time1 and in places near the coast they are seldom very injurious4 ,remedies4--,sprays of various kinds1 such as whale-oil soap1 resin sprays1 etc41 have been used4 ,frequent spraying with pure water will destroy the mites1 but they will multiply again if the climate is favorable4 ,the best success is had with a spray of a compound known as the ,i ,x ,l compound1 which is used in the proportion of five pounds of the compound to thirty gallons of water4 ,one good spray will destroy both the mites and their eggs4 ,,caterpillars4 ,characteristics4--,the caterpillars which trouble the raisin grapes are confined to three or four kinds4 ,the most common and also the most destructive are the very large larv of the sphinx moth4 ,the common grapevine sphinx 7,philampelus achmon7 is a large larva1 incorrectly called a worm1 which is1 when full grown1 over three inches long4 ,the color varies from bluish green to brown1 with several lighter stripes on each side4 ,the head is truncate1 and the tail is furnished with a curved horn4 ,the pupa hibernates in the soil below the vines1 and is about half the size of the full-grown caterpillar4 ,the full-grown moth is about two inches long by two and one-half inches between the outstretched wings4 ,the eggs are laid by the moths on the leaves of the vines4 ,two broods of caterpillars appear yearly under favorable conditions1 or else only one brood1 which generally appears in the end of ,july4 ,the caterpillars grow with great rapidity1 and attain their full size in a few weeks4 ,the pup hibernate in the soil and hatch the following summer4 ,another large grapevine caterpillar is the ,deilephila striata1 which is about the same size as the ,achmon4 ,the moth has more pointed wings1 with narrow stripes1 and the larva is brighter colored1 often yellowish green1 with several colored stripes on the sides4 ,the eggs are not laid on the vines1 but on the weeds on the vacant lands outside the vineyard1 especially on species of ,epilobium1 but also on other weeds1 and they hatch and feed on them4 ,the caterpillars feed in ordinary years only on the weeds on which they are bred1 but in other years which are especially favorable to their enormous increase they migrate to the vineyards and feed on the vines at the most alarming rate4 ,the caterpillars of both the above large moths vary in color from green to brown or violet brown1 but as a rule the ,deilephila is more brightly colored than the ,achmon4 ,the former is more active and often travels in enormous numbers1 when it is called the army-worm4 ,the ,achmon is more blunt at both extremities1 the head being almost truncate4 ,illustration3 ,vineyard ,scene1 ,rosedale ,colony1 ,kern ,county1 ,july1 #ahij4--,three ,months ,after ,planting4 ,army-worms are smaller caterpillars1 about one inch or more in length1 which breed on the outside weeds1 and which1 when feed becomes scarce1 migrate to the vineyards and feed on the vines4 ,these caterpillars are the larv of smaller moths of various genera such as ,prodenia and others4 ,cutworms are other caterpillars of moths of the genus ,agrotis1 which feed on the branches of the vines1 especially in the night-time1 and in the daytime bury themselves in the soil beneath the vine4 ,they are generally a gray or leathery color1 while the army-worms are more violet and darker4 ,damages4--,the damages from these various caterpillars are sometimes very large4 ,some years they occur in enormous quantities1 and hundreds of tons of them may then be picked from a vineyard of a hundred acres of vines4 ,the leaves are eaten by them1 and the grapes are either scalded by the sun or do not attain their sweetness and coloring4 ,sometimes these various caterpillars are very common and destructive for one or two years in succession1 after which they disappear and do not return to trouble the vines again for many years4 ,remedies4--,the great caterpillars1 after they have once infested the vineyard1 can be destroyed by picking4 ,a gang of men or boys should be furnished with buckets1 which are besmeared on the inside with coal-oil4 ,the caterpillars are picked and dropped in the buckets1 from which they cannot crawl out1 and when the buckets are half filled they may be emptied into trenches and covered up with soil4 ,many use small scissors1 with which the caterpillars are cut in twain while sitting on the vines4 ,this will do for wine grapes1 which are grown higher above the ground1 but will hardly be proper on the low ,muscat vines1 as the contents of the caterpillars are apt to soil the grapes4 ,i have used ,buhach sprays with great success4 ,ten pounds of ,buhach1 with a hundred gallons of water1 brought the caterpillars down from the vines in forty-five minutes after spraying4 ,as some1 however1 recovered1 it is best to kill as many as possible of those which fall to the ground by punching them with a stick4 ,the cost of ,buhach is1 however1 great1 and the difficulty of encountering favorable weather is such that this remedy is not apt to be extensively used4 ,when the vineyards are threatened by the invasion of the army-worms1 or by the striped ,deilephila caterpillar1 the best remedy consists in trenching4 ,a narrow trench1 say one foot or more wide and two feet deep1 with perpendicular sides1 should immediately be dug around the vineyard4 ,if water is at hand1 fill the trench with water1 on which some coal-oil may be poured1--enough to cause a film on the surface4 ,if no water can be had1 a log or scantling may be continually dragged up and down the furrow or trench1 so as to crush the caterpillars before they can crawl out4 ,in many places1 however1 the trench alone will do the work1 as the caterpillars will generally not be able to get up the other side of the trench4 ,what few crawl up can easily be kept down by hand-picking4 ,if certain attractive flowers1 such as honey-suckles or petunias1 are planted on a small bed in the vineyard1 say near the house1 the moths will come to them to feed from all the surrounding neighborhood4 ,only one small bed should be planted on every vineyard4 ,a boy with a butterfly net1 posted at each flower bed at sundown1 can catch hundreds of moths every evening1 and considerably reduce their number and prevent them from breeding4 ,,black-,,knot4 ,characteristics4--,the woody or spongy excrescences which appear on the vines1 and which are known as black-knots1 are really only a wart-like growth1 the origin of which is entirely unknown4 ,it is supposed that an insufficient outlet for the sap in the spring caused by too close pruning is the chief cause4 ,certainly closely pruned vines are more subject to the black-knot than long pruned vines1 but on the other hand neglected vines which have had no cultivation1 and which accordingly could hardly have had too rapid a flow of sap1 suffer more than any others4 ,the woody warts appear quite frequently on the ends of the spurs of the old wood1 or on places of last year's growth which have been wounded or injured in some way1 but never on the green wood4 ,they vary in size from that of a pea to that of lumps weighing several pounds4 ,when present in small quantities1 the warts cause no injury1 but when they become larger the vines may even die4 ,these black-knots always die with the year1 and never survive to the next season4 ,at the end of the season1 they burst open and then often display black spores of fungi1 which1 however1 are only parasitical growths on the already decayed wood1 and not the cause of the disease4 ,as ,i said1 it is generally supposed that the flow of sap is during spring time so great that it ruptures the cells of the vine and causes the warts to form4 ,under the microscope1 however1 there are no such ruptured cells visible4 ,it is more natural to suppose1 that through the accumulation of sap an irritating poison is originated1 which causes the warty growth to form in a manner similar to the formation of galls4 ,on sandy soil the black-knot is the most common1 probably on account of the earliness and the natural warmth of this kind of soil4 ,remedies4--,so far no decidedly successful remedy has been found4 ,some growers advise leaving plenty of spurs on the vine1 so as to give a sufficient outlet to the sap1 but it remains to be seen if this will mitigate the evil4 ,if the black-knot should be very destructive1 a cutting out of the same in summer time while they are forming would be beneficial4 ,this could best be done in ,june and ,july4 ,mixtures of coal-oil and lime1 etc41 have been used during the winter after the vines were already pruned1 but1 as the black-knot is then already dead1 no advantages can result from this remedy4 ,,grasshoppers4 ,general ,notes4--,while grasshoppers cannot be considered as a common pest in the vineyard1 still they are at times greatly destructive4 ,there has been during the last sixteen years two such invasions of grasshoppers in the ,california raisin districts4 ,the grasshoppers are of many species1 some seventeen kinds having been recognized one season4 ,they all breed in the waste or unplowed ground outside the vineyard1 and when full-grown invade the vines4 ,this fact can be taken advantage of to destroy them4 ,remedies4--,the waste lands for a half mile at least all around the vineyard should be plowed and harrowed in the early spring4 ,this will destroy the eggs of the grasshoppers1 and the fallow land will serve as a barrier over which the grasshoppers do not readily pass4 ,if the vineyards are so situated that the weeds or natural vegetation on the land surrounding the vines can be burned for half a mile or more1 this will also prove a certain barrier for the hoppers4 ,a mixture of fifteen pounds of white arsenic with eighty pounds of bran and twenty pounds of middlings1 moistened with enough water to make a paste1 will be eaten by the grasshoppers4 ,the paste is spread on bits of shakes or shingles and distributed all around the vineyard1 and later on in the vineyard4 ,it may also be smeared on fences or trees4 ,the grasshoppers will eat it readily1 and can thus be successfully destroyed4 ,if this method is used in time1 the advancing army of the pest can be kept back or destroyed at the very entrance of the vineyard4 ,as another remedy1 a spray is recommended consisting of one ounce of ,paris green1 one hundred gallons of water1 and two pounds of paste4 ,this is sprayed on the trees or vines1 and is said to kill the grasshoppers effectively without injuring the fruit4 ,,the ,,raisin ,,vineyard4 ,,planting4 ,distances for ,muscat ,vines4--,an examination of the various vineyards in any or in all the different raisin districts will not help us much in deciding upon how far apart the vines should be set1 as most vineyards have been planted by men of no previous experience in the raisin business1 and when that experience was at last acquired the vineyards were already established and could not easily be changed4 ,in planting1 we are too apt to do as other people do without first inquiring from them if their experience has not taught them anything else1 and if they would not do otherwise if they had to commence over again4 ,for years the standard distances between raisin-vines have been eight by eight feet4 ,of late years this distance was considered too small1 as our soil was supposed to be so rich1 that all that was required1 in order to get large crops1 was to give the vines plenty of room4 ,many vineyards have been set nine by nine1 nine by ten1 ten by ten1 or even ten by twelve and twelve by sixteen feet4 ,the effect has1 however1 been different from that which was expected4 ,instead of producing larger crops1 those vines which were given more room produced only more wood and more leaves4 ,they followed that law of nature1 which causes any animal or vegetable to grow luxuriantly when overfed1 and which1 on the contrary1 causes seed and fruit to form when the vegetable system is restricted to certain proportions1 which1 of course1 we can only determine by actual experience4 ,by giving the vines less space1 some inconvenience will be experienced in working the soil1 and in drying the crop between the rows4 ,on that account some vineyards have been planted with the vines closer one way than the other1 thus giving plenty of room in which to work the soil1 while on the other hand sufficiently confining the vines in order to cause them to bear well4 ,i therefore now recommend that the vines be set four and a half by eleven1 five by ten and a half1 or five by eleven feet4 ,the first would probably be my choice4 ,i claim for this system many advantages1 and beg intending growers to carefully consider the following points3 ,it gives us more vines to the acre1 which means more grapes to the acre1 as long as the land is of the best quality1 and no raisin grapes should ever be planted on inferior soil1 or at least the soil should be sufficiently rich to supply plant food to the greater number of vines4 ,it makes the working of the soil cheaper1 and fully one-third more of the work can be done by two-horse plows4 ,the single-horse work can be confined to plowing a furrow on each side of the vines1 and to running a cultivator crosswise4 ,as the number of rows in this system is less1 it also follows that less single-team work is needed4 ,the vines protect themselves from the hot sun and hot winds which cause sunscald4 ,the short distances should be in the direction of the hot wind1 if any there be1 or in the direction of east and west if there are no hot winds in the district4 ,the spaces between the rows will thus catch the morning sun1 which is of importance when we dry on trays between the vines4 ,less roads will be needed in the vineyard1 as the larger distance is sufficient to enable any teams to pass between every row of vines1 and distribute trays1 boxes1 etc41 without interfering with the vines4 ,the saving thereby of labor in carrying the boxes and trays is quite an item in vineyards where the vines are planted say eight by eight feet or closer4 ,illustration3 ,land ,scrapers4 ,the trimmings of the vines can be burned in the vineyard between the rows1 and will thus help to fertilize the soil4 ,besides1 the expense of hauling the trimmings away will be saved4 ,the ,marking ,out of a ,vineyard4--,as any practical horticulturist knows how to stake out an orchard or vineyard1 a minute description is not here needed4 ,i will only indicate the most important points4 ,cut a large number of small pegs1 one inch or so square and a foot or so long4 ,next get two lines of twisted wire1 each say #aej feet long4 ,mark off on one wire every five feet by inserting a small1 bright copper wire in the twist1 and wind it around the iron wire three or four times1 enough to show the place4 ,on the other wire mark off similarly every ten or eleven feet1 always supposing these are the distances decided upon4 ,now stretch one of the wires along one end of the future vineyard and call this line the base line ,no4 #a4 ,set a peg close to every copper ringlet1 on the side of the wire away from the vineyard4 ,when done1 stretch the other wire1 ,no4 #b1 at a right angle with the former1 and set pegs similarly4 ,remove wire ,no4 #a from base line ,no4 #a and stretch it at the end of wire ,no4 #b1 parallel to the base line4 ,call this base line ,no4 #b4 ,set pegs as before every eight feet4 ,it is now evident that1 by stretching successively the wire ,no4 #b between the pegs set on the two base lines1 and by setting cuttings or rooted vines close to the copper ringlets on the wire line1 perfectly straight and even rows can be had in every direction4 ,too much stress cannot be laid on this work4 ,remember that the vineyard is to last for a lifetime or more1 and that any careless work will ever be an eyesore and a drawback4 ,unsightly vineyards1 carelessly staked out1 are never worth as much as those carefully planted1 where every row is straight1 and where plowing1 cultivating and other farming and vineyard work can be performed without meeting any obstacles in the way of crooked rows1 or of vines standing out of line4 ,only too frequently vineyard rows are plowed out1 and the cuttings are 8slapped0 in anyway in order to get the work quickly done4 ,in after years1 when the proprietor's taste and experience has improved1 he finds that his reputation as a careless or ignorant grower cannot be changed2 for the vineyard is there to last1 and to tell the tale of early ignorance or neglect4 ,illustration3 #a-;a1 b1 c1 d4--,vineyard ,tools used in the ,currant ,vineyards of ,zante4 ,relative ,value of ,cuttings and ,rooted ,vines4--,cuttings and rooted vines have their advocates1 but the majority of vineyardists are now in favor of planting rooted vines1 and ,i would myself choose the latter every time4 ,as1 however1 rooted vines and cuttings are both likely to be used as long as vines are planted1 a few words in regard to their respective merits may be of general interest4 ,in planting cuttings1 we are never sure that they will all grow4 ,cuttings if cared for generally do well1 but sometimes1 even with good care1 they fail1 and the loss and annoyance is then always great1 and even in very careful planting seldom over ninety per cent live1 while often twenty-five per cent die4 ,the reason is often careless planting1 when the season is favorable1 but in unfavorable seasons the failure must be attributed to other causes4 ,those cuttings which grow1 generally grow well and often make as good vines as those raised from previously rooted ones4 ,the replanting of the cuttings that failed to live is both expensive and troublesome4 ,every vineyardist knows how difficult it is to succeed in making cuttings1 or even vines1 grow on places in the vineyard where other ones have failed to grow before4 ,some attribute this difficulty to some poison in the soil1 but ,i believe the cause will be found in the greater difficulty to attend to a few young vines in among the older ones4 ,the older vines will naturally use up the moisture in the soil1 and the cuttings1 with their young and tender roots1 will have but little chance in the general struggle for life4 ,but even if we suppose that the replanted vines will do equally well1 it will be found that the replanting of the cuttings is actually more expensive than the first planting4 ,the reason why this is so lies in the greater work in getting the soil in first-class condition after the first planting failed4 ,in the first planting1 the soil has been put in order with the help of horses and plows1 while1 when we replant1 the very spots where the vines are to be located cannot be reached by other means than by a pick or shovel1 as1 no matter how well the old vineyard is plowed1 there will always be a hard spot around every vine1 or around the place where the vine should be1 and where it failed to grow4 ,if only a few cuttings have taken root1 it is better to plow up the whole vineyard and reset1 and in so doing endeavor to do better work4 ,i know of vineyards where the owners have not succeeded in replanting during ten years1 every year spending money and labor with little success4 ,there will always be a few cuttings that fail to live4 ,the causes of the uncertainty of cuttings are our inability to foresee the outcome of the season's climatic conditions4 ,more or less rain has a direct influence on our success4 ,thus in very rainy seasons the cuttings should be small or rather short1 so as to be as much as possible in the upper1 dryer and warmer soil4 ,in dry seasons1 again1 the cuttings should be long1 so as to be in the moist ground1 but as we can never foresee what the season will be1 we had better have a recourse to rooted vines1 which1 if in good condition1 will be comparatively independent of weather and wind4 ,the ,making of ,cuttings4--,the making of cuttings is not a difficult process1 but nevertheless it should be carefully done in order to insure final success4 ,after the vines have been trimmed and the trimmings have been placed in small piles along the rows of the vineyard1 the cuttings should be made as quickly as possible on the spot1 the laborers moving from pile to pile as they finish up4 ,the shears should be sharp and kept sharp1 both to insure good cuttings and to hasten the work4 ,a poor shear is worse than a poor farmhand1 and it pays to keep the best kind of every tool that is used in vineyard work4 ,the size of the cutting must be decided upon according to the conditions of the soil4 ,if the land is very wet and is likely to remain so1 an eight-inch1 or even a six-inch1 cutting1 will do1 and will grow better than a long one4 ,long cuttings will reach down into the wet soil and decay at the lower end before they take root4 ,in dry and warm soils the cuttings may be from twelve to eighteen inches long1 or even longer if it is desirable to bend them in a circular way in the holes in which they are to be planted1 or if the soil is very warm and dry1 when it is of importance that the cutting should reach the deeper moisture4 ,a twelve or fourteen inch cutting is probably an average size cutting1 and one that will answer most conditions1 in case they are not previously known4 ,a nurseryman1 or any one who can give his cuttings as much attention as they require1 can use even the very tips of the vines and make them grow4 ,but for general planting1 especially direct in the field1 seldom more than one or two cuttings can be made from a branch4 ,the cutting should be cut immediately below an eye or joint4 ,such cuttings grow better1 are easier to plant and are less apt to dry out4 ,the more eyes a cutting contains the better is the cutting1 as the roots mostly form at the joints4 ,many make the cuttings with a heel of old wood1 but ,i do not believe such cuttings are in any way preferable to those made of only one season's wood4 ,the old wood does not grow any better than young wood1 generally not so well1 and1 besides1 such cuttings with heels are more difficult to plant and handle4 ,when the cuttings are made1 they should at first be placed in small piles1 with the top ends all the same way1 and as soon as possible afterwards tied up in bundles1 with at least two strings to every bundle4 ,for tying1 any string will do1 but split basket-willow twigs are probably the strongest and least apt to root4 ,still any stout twine will answer the purpose4 ,from one hundred to two hundred cuttings may conveniently be put in each bundle1 according to the size of the cuttings4 ,the ,care of ,cuttings4--,after the cuttings are made and bundled1 they should be labeled with wooden labels and immediately taken to some place where they can be heeled in4 ,the lead-pencil is the best for writing the names4 ,the best place in which to heel in the cuttings is on the north side of some large building1 under an open shed or under some large trees4 ,in fact1 any place which is partially shaded and cool will do4 ,if the bundles are to be used soon or shipped1 they might be placed on the wet ground1 and only covered with sacks or with straw1 but1 if they are to remain any longer time1 they must be placed in the ground and carefully covered4 ,a trench should be dug half the depth of the cutting1 but slightly wider4 ,the bundles are placed in the trench upright1 and after the trench is full the soil from the new trench1 parallel with the first one1 is thrown on and around the bundles so as to keep them moist4 ,it is best not to keep the cuttings too moist1 and on no account should they be wet1 as they will then begin to root rapidly1 and when they are again removed these roots will break or dry up to the great injury of the cutting4 ,if unavoidably the planting is delayed longer than expected1 the bundles of cuttings may be taken out and placed in dry air for a day or for a few hours1 and then replaced in the soil4 ,this may be done several times without any injury accruing to the cuttings1 the only effect of the drying being to retard their rooting and sprouting1 but it should of course not be done after they have once begun to callus or root4 ,to place cuttings in water for any length of time is nearly always injurious1 and especially so if the water is bad or contains manure4 ,manure water always kills cuttings readily4 ,if the cuttings have sprouted1 or begun to make roots1 or form callus1 a careful vineyardist will take his bundles to the field submerged in a barrel or bucket of water1 or at least wrapped in wet sacks or blankets4 ,if again the cuttings are dry and a fresh cut does not show a flow of sap1 they may be freshened by soaking in fresh water over night4 ,even very poor and dry cuttings are easily revived this way1 but a continuous immersion for several days will injure the cuttings and cause them to rot4 ,it is also of importance that the water should be clear and cold1 or at least not warm4 ,instead of immersing the cuttings in water1 they may be set down in cool and moist soil for three or four days before being planted4 ,the soaking in water is the simplest1 quickest and most effective for slightly dried cuttings4 ,planting ,cuttings4--,planting cuttings in the vineyard can be done in several different ways4 ,they may be planted with a spade1 with a flat planting bar1 or with the 8sheep's-foot40 ,each one of these tools will answer the purpose if properly used1 but their selection must depend upon the quality of the soil1 and upon the nature of the land generally4 ,in all planting of cuttings1 the following points must be observed as of importance in insuring success4 ,the cuttings must be set in moist and cool soil4 ,the lower end of the cuttings must lodge in solid ground1 and there must be no air space at the bottom4 ,only one eye should be left above the surface of the soil4 ,the soil must be tamped well around the cutting from the bottom to the top4 ,all inferior cuttings should be thrown away1 and every cutting should be examined before it is planted4 ,for a description of the tools used in planting1 ,i beg to refer to the end of this chapter4 ,i will now further consider the above points4 ,many failures are made by not planting in moist soil4 ,if irrigation is needed1 irrigate before planting1 then plow and harrow1 and then plant4 ,when moist cuttings are planted in dry and warm soil1 the latter will extract all the moisture from the cuttings1 and the latter will fail to grow4 ,i have seen parties first plow deep furrows through the vineyard1 so as to air and dry the ground before planting the cuttings4 ,this is not necessary and even harmful4 ,moist and warm ground is essential to the starting and growth of cuttings4 ,the lower end of the cutting should be lodged in solid ground1 or the cutting will fail to grow4 ,this point is of the utmost importance1 and should be carefully observed4 ,if1 when the cutting is pushed down in the soil1 a small air chamber form at the lower end1 the butt end of the cutting will mold1 and the latter will be poisoned and die4 ,nine-tenths of all the failures in planting are caused by neglect in this respect4 ,care is especially needed when the sheep's-foot is used4 ,only one eye should be left above ground1 which is enough for all purposes4 ,any more eyes will exhaust the cutting before it is rooted1 and the additional length of the cutting will expose it to the danger of being broken or otherwise injured4 ,the soil must be tamped hard all along the cutting so as to cause the latter to attract the necessary moisture4 ,loosely set cuttings very often fail1 especially in dry seasons4 ,all inferior cuttings1 especially those frosted or otherwise injured1 should be thrown out before being brought to the field4 ,a cutting costs so little that it pays to use only the strongest and best1 when a much better stand will be the result4 ,frosted cuttings can be detected by their darker color4 ,fresh and healthy cuttings should have a green and fresh cambium or inner bark1 and a fresh cut should show fresh sap oozing out4 ,when the sheep's-foot is used in planting1 the butt end of the cutting is inserted in the forked end of this tool1 and this explains why it is necessary to have as little wood as possible below the last eye of the cutting4 ,by pushing the sheep's-foot down in the soil1 the cutting is pushed simultaneously down to the proper length2 a twist is then given the sheep's-foot so as to get it loose from the cutting1 and the former is then pulled up4 ,it may in some instances be necessary to push down the cutting with the left hand1 while the sheep's-foot is being pulled back1 as care must be taken that in pulling back the sheep's-foot the cutting is not lifted4 ,even the smallest lift will cause the lower end of the cutting to hang in an air chamber1 and this will1 as ,i have stated1 cause the cutting to mold and die4 ,when planted1 a few sharp taps with the foot will sufficiently fix the cutting4 ,when the flat bar is used1 a hole is first made by the bar1 the cutting is then inserted1 and the hole filled up by again inserting the bar near the cutting1 and by pressing it forward towards the latter4 ,neither of these tools can be used in dry or stony soils1 but in moist and loamy soil1 which has been previously well prepared1 they are most excellent1 as doing the work both quickly and well4 ,the sheep's-foot is unexcelled for speed in loose soil1 while the flat bar is of advantage where the soil is a little harder4 ,the flat spade is used when rocky and stony or even gravelly soil interferes with the using of the former tools4 ,every farmer will know how to use the spade1 and no further explanation is required here4 ,some plant the cuttings slantingly in the soil1 in order to bring them as near the surface as possible4 ,this is well enough and proper in very wet soils1 where the lower strata are too cool1 but in this warm country the perpendicular planting is easier and better4 ,by twisting and bending the cutting in the dug hole a longer cutting can be used1 but ,i have seldom found any advantage of very long cuttings1 and few soils are suited to raisin grapes when such methods are needed to produce strong and rapidly growing vines4 ,care of ,young ,cuttings4--,in places where irrigation is needed and used1 many irrigate the cuttings immediately after they are planted1 so as to settle the soil4 ,this1 however1 is only needed where the ground is very dry or very sandy4 ,it is much the better way to irrigate before planting and to plant on the loose soil after it has been replowed and properly prepared4 ,such soil keeps the moisture for a long time1 and even in dry climates will require no irrigation for months after the planting4 ,the principal care1 after the cuttings have been planted1 but before they are fairly started1 is to keep the ground loose and to prevent it from baking on the surface4 ,the best way to accomplish this is to run a revolving randel harrow over the land regardless of the cuttings4 ,this kind of harrow consists of a row of vertical1 slightly concave steel discs1 which revolve when the harrow is pulled over the land4 ,no regard need be paid to the rows of cuttings1 provided they do not stand too high above the surface1 or have begun to swell4 ,not one cutting in a hundred is injured1 and those that are cut off are sure to sprout from below4 ,after every shower of rain1 the land should be harrowed or pulverized in this way4 ,if the soil is baked and hard around the cuttings1 the latter will be slow to start1 but a loosening of the soil will have the desired effect almost immediately4 ,the amount of irrigation needed for young plantations can only be decided upon on the ground4 ,the cuttings should be kept growing1 and young leaves should always be seen at the tips of the branches4 ,long before these young leaves cease growing1 a copious supply of water should be added to keep the soil from becoming too dry4 ,transporting ,cuttings to ,distant ,parts4--,when cuttings are to be shipped any distance1 they must be packed4 ,the simplest method of packing for short distances is to fill the bottom of a sack with wet straw1 and then slip the bundle of cuttings down in the sack1 and a single string will then suffice to secure the sack to the bundle4 ,packed this way1 cuttings can stand a voyage of a week or more if the weather is not too hot4 ,if a longer voyage1 of say several weeks' duration1 is necessary1 the cuttings should be packed in dry-goods boxes1 and1 if the time of transit is not too long1 no other packing is needed4 ,if1 however1 a very long transit is in view1 more precautions for the safe arrival of the cuttings are required4 ,after the bundles have been pressed down in the box1 moist and fresh moss is packed tightly down all along the sides of the box4 ,such packing will keep the cuttings fresh for over a month4 ,for a longer time1 coarse1 pulverized charcoal filled in between the cuttings is a splendid packing4 ,the charcoal must be dry1 the moisture in the cuttings being enough to keep them alive for several months4 ,packed first in tin boxes surrounded by charcoal1 and then the boxes soldered tightly1 so as to allow no air to enter1 is the safest method for transporting cuttings long distances4 ,if there is a possibility to repack at certain stations on the road1 wooden boxes may be used instead of tin4 ,the waxing of the ends of the cuttings will help to keep them moist4 ,all lumber boxes should be lined with waxed paper1 and all cracks carefully nailed up1 as by the drying of the boards the contents are very liable to run out4 ,large and heavy boxes should be surrounded by iron bands4 ,rooting ,cuttings4--,there are two ways of planting cuttings in the nursery in order to have them rooted for next season's planting4 ,one way is to plant in nursery rows four feet apart2 the other is to set in beds4 ,for such nursery1 a plat of land with rich soil and with good water facilities should be selected4 ,water should never fail in the nursery1 as cuttings always require more water than old plants set farther apart4 ,the rows should be staked out four feet from each other4 ,six or eight inch cuttings should be used1 according to the depth to moisture2 the more moisture1 the shorter need be the cuttings4 ,with a big1 flat hoe the soil along the line of the row is thrown up on one side1 the cuttings are set down upright close to the perpendicular side1 and the soil is again raked back with the same kind of hoe1 and then tamped hard around the cuttings4 ,the latter need not be over two or three inches apart1 and from forty to fifty thousand may be set on one acre of ground4 ,in no instance should the cutting be left more than one or two inches above the surface of the ground4 ,the best instrument or tool for opening the soil and for covering the cuttings is the large flat-faced ,italian hoe1 used by ,italian workmen both in ,europe and in this country4 ,if the bed system is adopted1 much smaller cuttings may be used1 although it is not necessary to have them smaller than six inches4 ,the beds may be two feet wide and four feet apart1 in this respect resembling nursery rows1 and treated just as such4 ,the cuttings are set in the beds two or three inches apart each way4 ,we must remember that such cuttings require much more water than cuttings planted in four-foot rows1 as the quantity soon exhausts the moisture in the soil4 ,the beds may also be square1 each one surrounded by a little bank or levee of soil in order to hold the water4 ,in these beds1 which should be slightly below the general surface of the ground1 the cuttings are set very close1--two or three inches apart1--until the whole bed is filled up4 ,these beds are never cultivated in any other way than by pulling the weeds out by hand4 ,they must be frequently irrigated by flooding1 except when the soil is immensely wet or moist4 ,vines may also be propagated from a single eye1 or from cuttings containing a single eye4 ,such cuttings may be set perpendicularly in beds or in rows1 or they may be placed horizontally in boxes with pure sand1 and entirely covered over4 ,the single eyes soon sprout and make nice little plants1 with a well-developed system of roots4 ,all these cuttings planted in beds1 if properly watered during the summer1 will make excellent vines to be set in vineyard form next season4 ,being set so close1 they require much moisture and irrigation1 the many new roots soon exhausting the moisture in the soil4 ,it is better1 however1 to have the cuttings set as closely as possible1 so as not to get too strong vines4 ,an overgrown vine is more expensive to plant and more difficult to handle than one of medium growth4 ,besides1 the latter has a greater number of fibrous roots1 which1 if in good condition1 will give a quick start and rapid growth to the new vine4 ,care of ,rooted ,vines4--,the same precautions are to be observed with rooted vines as with cuttings1 only more care is required to shield the roots from the sun and wind4 ,wet blankets or sacks should always be used when the roots are taken to the field1 and1 if the vines show the least sign of being dry1 they should be soaked for several hours in pure water1 and in this respect treated just like cuttings4 ,planting ,rooted ,vines4--,planting rooted vines is not attended with many difficulties4 ,the most important points to observe are these4 ,the vines must be freshly dug4 ,if not1 or if the least dry1 soak in water over night4 ,cut away all dead or dry rootlets4 ,prune the top of the vine down to two or three buds1 and leave only one spur4 ,have the vines covered while carried out in the field1 and plant only in moist ground4 ,the young and tender roots are easily dried if set in warm and dry soil1 and they will afterwards decay and injure the vine4 ,a carefully planted vineyard1 where rooted vines alone have been used1 and where every precaution has been taken to insure success1 should have about ninety-seven per cent of the vines growing4 ,to make every one grow would only be possible in a very small plantation4 ,in the large raisin centers1 all this planting may be contracted for4 ,the cost of planting cuttings is generally calculated at one-half cent per cutting1 and for rooted vines at one cent per vine4 ,frequently parties contract to supply cuttings and to plant the land for from eighteen to twenty dollars per acre or less4 ,it is generally better to pay the higher price and get the work done properly4 ,proper ,time for ,planting4--,the time for planting cuttings depends greatly upon the season1 the quality of the soil and the moisture4 ,in wet seasons the dry land should be planted first1 and cuttings might be started there as soon as the first frost allows us to make them with advantage4 ,the moister the soil the later should the planting be begun1 and on the contrary the drier the soil and the warmer1 the sooner should the cuttings as well as the rooted vines be planted in the fall4 ,december and ,january are the best months to plant1 although with care cuttings as well as rooted vines may be set as late as in ,april or even in ,may4 ,as a rule1 early planting is better1 as it gives the cuttings chance to root well before the hot weather causes the shoots to start4 ,in very rainy seasons1 or in wet places1 cuttings should be planted later than rooted vines4 ,moisture in undue degree will cause cuttings to rot1 while its influence on the roots of the vines is not as great4 ,rooted vines stand both moisture and drought better than cuttings do4 ,on sandy1 dry soil and in dry seasons ,i would wish my cuttings planted as early in ,december as possible2 while1 on wet places1 ,i would delay planting until after the frost is over in ,february4 ,the same rule applies to rooted vines1 but we must remember that roots begin to send out rootlets almost as soon as they are dug1 and that early planting will preserve these for the early use of the vine1 while1 in late planting1 almost every one of these new roots will be destroyed in planting and must be produced over again4 ,we might also say that both cuttings and rooted vines should be set as soon as the soil is in proper condition in the fall4 ,do not wait for anything after the soil is dry enough to permit planting4 ,early planted vines will have a good start4 ,cost of ,cuttings and ,rooted ,vines4--,the price of ,muscat or raisin-grape cuttings generally varies from two dollars and fifty cents to five dollars per thousand1 and have been sold as low as one dollar per thousand cuttings4 ,rooted vines again vary from ten to twenty dollars per thousand1 according to the demand and supply4 ,the cost of planting is1 of course1 different in different localities4 ,in ,fresno the ruling prices for vineyard planting with cuttings is one-half cent per cutting4 ,the men board and lodge themselves for this sum4 ,for rooted vines the price is from sixty cents to one dollar per hundred vines4 ,the ground must be in a perfect condition1 but the success of the work is never guaranteed1 as so much depends upon after treatment4 ,while the actual cost of planting the grapes is insignificant1 it will be found that the many different expenses of a large vineyard of say #afj acres will be quite considerable1 and few of our larger raisin vineyards in irrigated districts have cost less than fifty dollars per acre during the first year4 ,this includes labor1 buildings1 tools1 etc41 but not the first cost of land4 ,with experience and constant supervision1 this cost may be reduced somewhat1 and under very favorable circumstances from twenty to forty dollars even per acre may cover the cost of planting and maintenance during the first season4 ,but estimates in this direction are not reliable1 as one man will spend twice as much as another under similar circumstances4 ,,plowing ,,and ,,cultivation4 ,winter ,plowing4--,the plowing and cultivation of a vineyard comprise different operations1 both in the spring1 winter and summer4 ,winter plowing should begin as soon as the vines are pruned1 and should be finished before the buds begin to swell in the spring4 ,the plowing should begin with a large plow and two horses1 and the soil should be thrown from the vines towards the center of the land between them4 ,as such a large plow cannot go too near the vines without breaking branches and injuring the buds1 a smaller single-horse plow is used to follow after the double team1 and to finish up by plowing a furrow nearest to the vines4 ,the depth of this plowing should1 if possible1 be from six to eight inches in the center of the row1 and from four to six inches nearest to the vines4 ,illustration3 ,vineyard ,double ,plow4 ,plowing ,devices4--,to enable the single plow to run as closely to the vines as possible without injury to the vines1 several devices are used4 ,the block device consists of inserting a block of wood two inches wide between the center of the clevis and the plow-beam4 ,this throws the singletree out to one side and enables the horse to walk at a distance from the vine1 while the plow follows as close to the latter as possible4 ,in combination with this block1 the singletrees should be so constructed as not to catch the branches of the vines4 ,this is best accomplished by attaching to the outside end of the singletree a flat1 doubled leather strap1 to which is fixed a common1 large snap1 in which latter the traces of the harness are fixed4 ,such a singletree will glide by the branches without giving them a chance to catch anywhere4 ,similar singletrees1 or even doubletrees1 should be used wherever vineyard work is to be done1 and they have the double advantage of being cheap1 practical and easily made by any farmhand handy with tools4 ,cultivation4--,the cultivation should always follow the plowing immediately1 so as to prevent the soil from baking1 and so as to tear up the roots of the weeds which have been partially dislodged4 ,the first cultivation1 which should always be in the same direction as the plowing1 should be followed by cross-cultivation4 ,the latter brings the soil back towards the vines1 filling up the hollow formed by the throwing of the soil from the vines4 ,illustration3 ,raisin ,vineyard ,diamond-tooth ,cultivator4 ,back-furrowing4--,later on1 when the weeds have to some extent decayed1 a double-shovel plow is by some growers used for turning a part of the soil back towards the vines4 ,one round of this plow on each side of the vines is all that is required1 as the repeated cultivation that should be carried on in a vineyard will generally suffice to bring the balance of the soil back from the center of the land towards the vines4 ,cross-plowing4--,cross-plowing is not absolutely needed1 and in many places not even possible1 as where the vines are planted closer one way than the other4 ,but wherever plowing can be done both ways1 the land will be benefited by being plowed one way one year and the other way the next year1 so that in course of time all the soil will be regularly broken up4 ,when there is plenty of time and enough labor1 cross-plowing the same season will greatly benefit the vines4 ,weed-cutters4--,these are used to great advantage after the first plowing1 and any cultivator may be rigged with one of them1 or they may be made as separate tools4 ,the cutter-bar is simply a flat bar1 which is bent in the shape of a very wide ,u1 and is fastened to the beams of the cultivator just behind the last shovels or blades4 ,the horizontal part of this cutter-knife should be on the same level as the center of the cultivator blades1 and stand as horizontal as possible1 in order to be subjected to the least amount of friction4 ,the effect of such cultivator cutters are that no growing weeds are left behind wherever they pass4 ,cutter-sled4--,i have used with great advantage a combination of this cutter-knife and a sled1 upon which the driver could stand and ride1 and its use saved time1 besides doing the required work well4 ,such a cutter-sled is1 however1 only useful in already well plowed and cultivated soil1 and for summer work it is just the thing and can then not be surpassed by any other weed-cutting tool which ,i have ever seen used4 ,illustration3 ,raisin ,vineyard ,weed-cutter4 ,various other tools are used1 and different ones at that in each separate district4 ,each grower has his particular way to cultivate and plow1 and not two vineyardists do the work alike4 ,each one has his favorite tools and instruments1 which he often changes from year to year or replaces by new inventions of local mechanics or inventors4 ,a description of these tools and the various methods of plowing1 cultivating and bringing the land in proper condition would make a book of itself and would be merely a history of each individual vineyard in the land4 ,an enumeration of them will be found later on4 ,the cultivation of the vineyard should be continued as long as it can be done without causing injury to the new growth of the vines4 ,the exact number of times the vines should be cultivated is impossible to decide upon beforehand1 as almost every vineyard requires a different method of working4 ,it is safe to say that during the summer no weeds should be allowed to grow in the vineyard1 and1 as long as any of them are left1 the soil should1 if possible1 be cultivated4 ,every weed acts like a chimney for the moisture in the soil1 which it sucks out to the detriment of the vine1 while weeds which grow in among the branches of the vines will also seriously interfere with the picking of the grapes4 ,illustration3 ,riverside3 ,city1 ,orchards and ,vineyards4 ,hoeing4--,only little manual cultivation is needed4 ,in the spring1 after the first plowing and before the buds have started or have grown long enough to interfere with the work1 the vines should be hoed4 ,the object of hoeing is to loosen the soil nearest the vines1 and to destroy all the weeds which cannot be turned under by the plow1 and especially those which grow close to the vines4 ,the best tool for this purpose is the common1 heavy hoe with a long handle4 ,a very useful hoe can be made of old shovels which are so worn and broken that they cannot be longer used for digging4 ,the blade of the shovel is fixed to a new handle at a right angle1 similar to a hoe handle1 while the blade itself is left as it is4 ,such hoes are very useful in cutting heavy weeds1 and work with great facility4 ,forked hoes are used by many vineyardmen1 especially for stirring the hardened crust around the vine1 but ,i believe the common1 heavy hoe a more useful instrument1 and if used in time will make the forked hoe unnecessary4 ,time for ,cultivation4--,too early plowing or cultivation before the weeds have started is not always desirable1 as it prevents the weeds from growing4 ,such weeds1 if turned under1 will yearly enrich the land1 and in course of time form a heavy and humus-rich top soil1 which will serve to keep the moisture in the soil below4 ,i therefore advocate plowing as late as possible4 ,the exact time must be decided for every particular season and for every separate locality1 and no general rule can be given4 ,wet lands should be plowed earlier than dry lands2 it is the latter which especially require the green weeds to be turned under1 and which will be the most benefited by the accumulation of humus4 ,our vineyardists disregard this fact too much1 and are generally too apt to plow their dryest lands first4 ,,grafting ,,the ,,muscat ,,on ,,other ,,stocks4 ,time for ,grafting ,raisin-vines4--,the best time for grafting grapevines1 as well as for grafting anything else1 is when the stock on which we graft has its sap in circulation1 and when the scions or cuttings which we are to insert in the stock are yet dormant4 ,this time occurs from the middle of ,january1 when the sap first rises in the old vine1 and continues to ,march or even ,april1 ,february and ,march being generally the months best suited to the work4 ,grafting may also be done in the fall of the year after the grape crop has been gathered1 while some growers have best succeeded still earlier1 and advocate the month of ,august as being the most favorable time for this process4 ,the sap at that time ceases flowing1 and there is no danger of its being clogged4 ,grapevines can be grafted at almost any time of the year at which the weather is not too warm1 as this will cause the cuttings to bud out before they have joined the stock4 ,if grafting on resistant stocks is desired1 the stocks1 if small1 must first be dug1 and the grafting can then be performed in the workshop any time between ,december and ,march1 the early winter months being preferable4 ,points to be ,observed in ,grafting4--,the main object in grafting is to properly join the scions and the stock4 ,the point of junction should be the cambium layer1 or what is commonly called the inner bark4 ,if a cutting of a vine is cut off smoothly and placed in the ground1 the callus soon begins to form at the lower end4 ,this callus1 which is seen to exude from the green layer between the hard wood and the bark1 is fed by the sap in the cutting descending through the cambium layer and forming new cells at its free end4 ,if this callus joins a similar callus of the cambium or green layer of the stock1 the two calluses unite and form together a new vine1 in which the top consists of the new scion and the root of the old vine4 ,the junction of the two is the place where the cambium surface of the scion met the cambium of the stock4 ,in the scions1 the cambium lies very close to the exterior layer of the cutting1 the bark here being very thin1 while in the old stock the cambium is situated many times deeper in1 the outer layer or the bark being very thick4 ,it is not necessary that the cambium layers of the two should meet or join all along the cut surface1 and a few points of contact and junction is sufficient1 although it is better to have as large a junction surface as possible4 ,if the two cambium layers do not meet1 the scion will not grow1 or1 as it is called1 take4 ,the scions must be dormant when being grafted1 and1 if their buds have begun to swell1 they will probably not take1 or at least success is less certain4 ,in order to keep them dormant they should be cut early in winter1 and then be buried in cool and only slightly moist earth1 either in a cellar or on the north side of a house1 where the sun and heat will not strike them and cause them to start their buds4 ,if the callus should form1 or even root1 the callus and roots may be cut away without great injury to the cuttings4 ,if the cuttings are dry1 they should be soaked for a few hours in tepid water1 and afterwards buried in moist sand4 ,this treatment is often useful for imported cuttings which have been injured in transit4 ,they often recover vigor wonderfully fast1 and should never be given up for lost as long as there is any green-colored cambium left1 in which the sap may again be brought into circulation4 ,various ,methods of ,grafting4--,the general way to graft is to graft on old stocks4 ,vines of one variety are thus changed into the variety we wish to grow1 and from which the scions are taken4 ,the first step is to dig away the soil from the vines down to the first roots1 which should be done by a separate gang of men4 ,next the stocks are sawed off horizontally at the first roots1 or say from four to six inches below the surface of the soil4 ,this should also be done by separate hands so as to insure rapidity and skill in the work4 ,some grafters saw off the stocks somewhat slanting1 so as to cause them to shed the sap which always exudes from the stump4 ,next in order comes the splitting of the wood of the stock and the insertion of the grafts4 ,this requires care and skill1 and should not be done by careless hands4 ,the splitting of the stock is done in several different ways1 and to accomplish it we can either use a knife and a wooden mallet or a hand-saw4 ,if the former is used1 the knife must be sharp and thick1 so as to stand the blows of the mallet4 ,some growers even use a sharp chisel4 ,if a saw is the tool used1--and ,i prefer it every time1--the edges of the old wood should afterwards be pared off smoothly with a sharp knife1 so as to leave no rough marks of the teeth of the saw4 ,the stock is split straight across1 as in the cleft graft1 and one scion is then inserted at each end of the cleft on opposite sides of the stock2 or the stock is split on one side only1 care being taken that the cleft does not extend across the stump1 and in this cleft a scion is carefully fitted as before2 or a wedge-shaped piece may be sawed out or cut out of the stock1 and of the size that can be fitted by a scion4 ,it makes but little difference what method is used1 as with ordinary care and skill the scions will take quite readily4 ,even if they should entirely fail1 the same stocks may be grafted over next fall or next year1 as they keep their vitality almost unimpaired for years after they are cut4 ,it is only necessary to saw them off until fresh wood is reached4 ,illustration3 ,simple ,lateral ,cleft ,graft1 #a;a4 ,splitting the ,trunk1 #a;b4 ,the ,scion1 #a;c4 ,the ,beveled ,end of the ,latter1 #a;d4 ,scion and ,stock ,joined4 #b4 ,simple ,transversal ,cleft ,graft with ,two ,scions4 #c4 ,cleft ,grafting with a ,cutting ,graft4 ,champin ,graft1 or ,graft on a ,rooted ,vine4 #d;a4 ,graft and ,stock ,before being ,joined4 #d;b4 ,the ,same ,after being ,joined4 ,all after ,aim ,champin's 8,vine ,grafting40 ,the next work is to insert the scions4 ,they should never be longer than sufficient to have one eye above the surface of the soil1 two or three eyes to the scion being generally enough4 ,the cuttings are first cut in sufficient lengths in the field1 or on the spot1 and there pared to fit the cleft in the stock4 ,if prepared in the house1 they are apt to dry out and become ruined4 ,by keeping them in water they may be kept fresh1 but this greatly injures their quality4 ,the best way is to bring the cuttings out to the vineyard wrapped up in wet sacks1 and to cut and pare them on the spot where they are to be grafted4 ,with a sharp knife the two opposite sides of the scions are pared off tapering1 but not necessarily to a fine point4 ,the scion is then fitted in the cleft1 a small wooden wedge being useful for holding the latter open while the scion is fitted4 ,if the stock closes tightly upon the graft1 no tying is required1 but1 if the grip of the stock is not sufficient1 tying is needed4 ,cotton cloth1 manilla rope or anything that will hold the two together will answer the purpose4 ,the stocks and scions will both dry slightly1 and the tying should therefore be secure and tight4 ,a piece of bark of the vine is next placed over the cleft1 so as to prevent any soil from falling in the cleft1 and very careful grafters use a paste made of a mixture of two parts of adobe or clay and one part of cowdung1 for covering both the cleft and the sides of the grafts outside of the tying4 ,a stout stake is driven in the ground close to the graft1 and the two tied together in order that the graft may not give or be disturbed in the least4 ,the hole is next filled with soil1 which should be packed tightly and heaped above the scion1 thus forming a small mound above the ground all around the graft4 ,the soil should not be disturbed until the new shoots are well above the ground and have begun to harden their wood1 at which time the security of the graft is fully assured4 ,one or more of the grafts may be left growing for the first year1 and later on all except one graft are cut off so as to give the vine only one trunk4 ,in grafting on resistant stocks1 the latter generally being smaller then old stocks1 a different graft may be used1 such as the whip graft4 ,this graft should be above or at least near the top of the ground in order to prevent the scion from taking root1 the latter's roots not being resistant to the phylloxera4 ,such grafts should be carefully covered with the clay mixture1 and soil should be heaped up over their tops4 ,to prevent the scions from drying out1 their tops may also be covered with grafting wax4 ,stocks and ,their ,influence4--,the old stock has a decided influence on the scion and the new vine4 ,which stock is the best on which to graft the ,muscat has not yet been determined1 but we may presume that any strong and healthy growing variety will answer our purpose4 ,during the first year1 and also during the second year1 in many instances the new vine assumes a character half way between that of an old-stock variety and that of the variety of the scions4 ,thus ,i have seen ,muscats grafted on ,sultanas and ,zinfandels which were almost identical with these varieties4 ,if ,i had not positively known that they were the tops produced from ,muscat scions1 ,i would never have believed them to be anything else than suckers from the old stocks4 ,the leaves1 berries and branches of these ,muscats were the first year exactly like ,sultanas4 ,the berries of those grafted on black grapes were1 however1 in this instance1 not black but white1 but ,i have heard of other instances in which they were partially colored4 ,some vines1 again1 showed characteristics of both varieties1 the leaves generally being similar to the old stock1 while the grapes showed the characteristics of the ,muscats4 ,this bastardity1 however1 wears off in a year or two1 and finally the vine assumes the full characteristics of the scion variety4 ,when this takes place it is evident that the sap of the scion or the top of the vine has either changed the root1 or through its quantity overpowered the effects of the root-sap4 ,muscats grafted on ,malagas1 ,feher ,szagos1 ,sultanas and ,zinfandels all do well in time1 and in many instances bear even better than ,muscats on their own roots4 ,our experience in grafting the ,muscat is1 however1 limited1 and we do not know with any certainty which roots are the most favorable or the most unfavorable on which to graft the ,muscat grape4 ,i have seen grafted ,muscats on wine stocks which did not do well as regards bearing1 while the growth of the vines was rather vigorous4 ,these varieties mentioned above are1 however1 suitable stocks for ,muscat grafts4 ,i learn from ,mr4 ,r4 ,c4 ,kells of ,yuba ,city that the late ,dr4 ,s4 ,r4 ,chandler of the same locality cleared the third year seventy-five dollars per acre from ,muscats grafted on ,mission vines4 ,this must be considered as very successful1 especially as ,i have heard of other instances where similar grafts did not bear sufficiently the third year to pay for the labor of caring for the vineyard work that year4 ,,various ,,summer ,,work4 ,sulphuring4--,sulphuring the vines is now considered a most necessary operation1 and without doing it well and in time no good crops can be relied upon4 ,it is true that good crops of grapes are sometimes had without sulphuring1 but this is only due to chance2 the absence of mildew1 and immunity from disease of unsulphured vines are rare1 even in otherwise most perfectly kept vineyards4 ,the sulphuring consists in thoroughly dusting the growing vines1 leaves1 branches1 flower buds and berries with powdered sulphur4 ,the first sulphuring must be done when the grapevines leaf out in the spring1 and1 when the young shoots are about six inches long1 it is about time to commence4 ,many growers sulphur only once1 some go over their vines two times1 but our most successful growers1--those who get the best and largest fruit crop of grapes and bunches1--sulphur in unfavorable seasons three or four times4 ,the second sulphuring is done just before the blossoms open1 and may even1 provided the weather remains cool and windy1 be done in the open blossoms with great benefit to the setting berries4 ,miss ,m4 ,f4 ,austin of ,fresno was the first to successfully sulphur in the open blossom1 the result being very large crops4 ,but not all have been as successful as she1 and one of our most experienced vineyardists and raisin-growers1 ,t4 ,c4 ,white1 prefers to sulphur just before the blossom opens1 as1 in case of very warm weather when the sulphur is thrown on the blossom1 the latter is apt to blast4 ,we are therefore on the safe side if we sulphur just before the buds have opened1 and after the grapes have set4 ,but on cold1 windy days when one of the cold electric northwest winds are sweeping down the valleys1 sulphuring must be done whether the blossom is open or not1 as it is just at this time the sulphur is required the most1 in order to counteract the formation of the first stage of the powdery mildew4 ,the vapor of the sulphur destroys the germs of the mildew1 and thus prevents the latter from causing the grapes to fall off4 ,after the grapes have fully set1 no further sulphuring is required except in the case of heavy rains or in continued cloudy weather1 when there is always danger that the mildew will reappear4 ,if heavy rains should occur during the summer1 a renewed sulphuring is always necessary or at least advisable1 but in ordinary seasons no sulphuring is needed after the berries have set well1 as the germs of the mildew are then sufficiently injured to not develop later in the season4 ,sufficient sulphuring is always noticeable in the vineyard by its smell1 and1 when this smell is strong and pronounced1 no further sulphuring is required4 ,the sulphur is applied to the vines either by the 8dredger0 7or dust-can7 or by a pair of sulphur bellows4 ,the dredger is used when the vines are small1 while the bellows are necessary to spread the sulphur evenly when the vines have reached a certain size4 ,many growers use1 during the first sulphuring1 small burlap bags filled with sulphur4 ,the meshes of the burlaps are large enough to allow the sulphur to go through4 ,the sulphur should be finely pulverized to be effective1 and the sublimated ,french sulphur is by many considered the best4 ,the cost of sulphuring varies according to the size of the vines1 but is generally about three dollars per acre4 ,young vines under three years of age require little sulphuring1 while older vines require a great deal4 ,about ten tons of sulphur will be enough for #afj acres4 ,tying ,over4--,the tying over of the branches is another vineyard operation much used in the interior raisin districts1 generally in the end of ,june or the middle of ,july4 ,it consists in so bending and tying the long1 straggling branches of the vine that they will shade the grapes hanging in the center4 ,the long branch is bent1 not in a direct line towards the center1 as it would then expose too many of the lower grape bunches1 but in a spiral direction round the vine4 ,if there is any fear that the grapes will be exposed and sunburned1 and the vines have not been properly summer pruned1 the tying over is the only process by which great loss can be prevented and the grape crop saved4 ,in tying over1 no twine is used4 ,the end of the long branch is twisted and fastened to other branches1 and1 when the grapes are ripe and the picking season comes1 a single light pull will suffice to untie all and allow the grapes to be picked4 ,great care should be used in tying over1 lest the lower branches become exposed and sunburned4 ,careless or inexperienced laborers will often accomplish a great deal of work and a great deal of harm in an incredibly short time4 ,i have seen vineyards where more harm was done by tying over than by the sun and wind combined4 ,covering the ,vines4--,instead of tying over1 many vineyardists now cover the vines1 and place the covers on the open center of the vine1 in order that they may protect the grapes from exposure to the sun4 ,this is done in ,june1 several days before the hot spell is expected4 ,the last week in ,june is the best time almost everywhere in ,california1 as the vines are then open in the center1 and any unusually hot weather would easily cause the grapes to sunburn4 ,the process of covering is very simple4 ,with a pair of shears the longest branches are clipped off and immediately placed on the open center4 ,this is generally enough to prevent the exposed grapes in the center of the vine from being scalded4 ,more than half a dozen branches will seldom be required1 and at picking time these dry branches must first be thrown off1 so as to give the picker access to the grapes4 ,the covering of the vines is a better process than tying over1 requiring less work and being more quickly performed4 ,it is especially useful for old vines1 as the grapes of young vines are principally exposed from the sides4 ,thinning the ,crop4--,the proper thinning of the crop should be done by pruning4 ,if the proper amount of wood is left1 no thinning out of the grapes is needed4 ,if a few show-grapes or extra large raisins are needed for exhibiting purposes1 they can be produced by a judicious cutting of the majority of the grapes from any single bunch4 ,if the free half of the bunch is cut off1 the part that is left will produce very large grapes4 ,this operation is1 however1 never likely to enter as a regular vineyard operation in our vineyards1 as with us labor is too scarce4 ,the object of our raisin industry is to produce cheap medium-sized raisins of good quality1 to be used by the masses of the people1 instead of a smaller quantity of very large grapes1 which could only be used by the rich4 ,ringing the ,vines4--,this consists in removing a part of the bark all around a cane4 ,in ,france and ,greece a special instrument is made to perform this operation quickly and carefully4 ,a ring of bark half an inch wide is all that is required to have the desired effect4 ,the vines are ringed when the grapes are half grown1 and only a few canes are ringed on each vine4 ,the effect of ringing is to greatly increase the crop of grapes1 also to produce the grapes earlier in the season4 ,so far this process has not been used in ,california to any extent4 ,in the ,grecian ,islands1 where currants are raised1 this ringing has been practiced for years1 with more or less beneficial effect4 ,the sap in the cane that is ringed is prevented from again returning to the root1 and goes to produce a larger quantity of grapes above the ring4 ,but thereby the cane is seriously injured1 and often to such an extent that it must be entirely removed the following season4 ,care must therefore be taken to leave enough unringed branches to serve as fruit-bearing wood the following year4 ,if done with care and good judgment1 the ringing does no great injury to the vine4 ,for a fuller account of the process1 see article on ,currants4 ,the ,vineyard ,labors of the ,year4--,the following synopsis of the various labors in a raisin vineyard can only be of interest to the beginner1 or to any one who contemplates engaging in the raisin business4 ,the data given are only approximate1 as they must differ in different localities1 or according to the changing of the seasons3 ,december4--,after the first frost1 or when the vines are dormant1 planting new vines and cuttings may begin4 ,pruning the old wood4 ,burning the prunings4 ,manuring the soil4 ,january4--,plowing1 cultivating and planting4 ,february4--,cultivating and plowing4 ,march4--,grafting the grapes and finishing plowing4 ,april4--,hoeing the vines and cultivating4 ,sulphuring and suckering4 ,may4--,sulphuring and summer pruning4 ,june4--,hoeing4 ,covering or tying over the vines4 ,july4--,irrigating where needed4 ,fixing trays and sweatboxes4 ,august4--,distributing trays and sweatboxes in the vineyard4 ,picking the first crop4 ,packing should begin as soon as possible4 ,september4--,picking1 drying1 turning the trays1 reversing1 taking up4 ,october4--,picking the last of the second crop4 ,packing continues4 ,november4--,hauling in1 stacking and cleaning off trays and sweatboxes4 ,irrigating and manuring the land4 ,new land should be prepared for planting1 which should begin as soon as the first frost has killed the leaves of the vine4 ,,pruning4 ,winter ,pruning1 or ,pruning ,hard ,wood4--,the pruning of vines comprises two different processes4 ,the first one has for its object the shaping of the vines1 the second one similarly the shortening of the branches properly so as to enable them to bear better fruit4 ,these two points must always be kept in view1 much more so of course during the first few years1 before the vines have reached their bearing age4 ,but even in after years the pruning must be so conducted1 that the shape of the vine is not changed so as to interfere with the work in the field1 or with the perfect development of the grapes4 ,as regards the shape of the vine1 it has been decided that in our raisin districts the ,muscat requires to be pruned low1 in order to properly protect the grapes from sun and wind4 ,the head should be as low as possible1 or even rest on the ground1 and in no instance be more than a few inches above the same4 ,many of the bunches will then rest on the ground or hang a few inches above it1 and experience shows us that such low bunches are the best and those which produce the finest raisins4 ,tall ,muscat vines never produce as sweet and as large bunches or grapes as those headed low1 and their grapes are apt to sunburn or be otherwise checked in their growth4 ,during the first year1 the young vine should be cut back to a single stem1 it being enough to leave two or three eyes above the ground4 ,the second season these canes should all be cut away except three1 which are to form the future head of the vine4 ,each one of these may be cut to two eyes1 thus leaving six eyes on the vine4 ,in the majority of vines1 the head should by this time have been formed1 as the following year will be the first year in which the vines will bear4 ,when ,muscat vines have grown two seasons1 they should be pruned for fruit4 ,the third season will always give some fruit1 while1 in many localities where the vines have been well cared for1 the yield may be quite large and pay handsomely4 ,no direction as to pruning1 which will apply to every locality or to every vine1 is possible4 ,in different localities the climatic and other conditions are so variable that the methods of pruning may be modified4 ,where the vines grow strong and vigorous more wood should be left4 ,in cool and sheltered places the vines should be given a greater spread to allow more sun and air to enter4 ,in warm localities1 with a broiling sun1 the principal object in pruning should be to properly shelter the grapes4 ,there is danger1 or at least there are great disadvantages in pruning either too long or too short1 and in leaving too many or too few spurs4 ,in pruning too long1 or leaving too many eyes1 the shape of the vine is changed or even seriously injured4 ,in leaving too many spurs1 the vines may bear too many and too small grapes4 ,to find the medium between these extremes is always the great object and study to which the grower should devote his attention4 ,in rich and moist soils which produce strong vines1 more eyes should be left1 and in sandy1 poor soil a few eyes may suffice to cause the vine to bear much more that it can properly mature and perfect4 ,the year before the vines bear their first good crop1 the spurs left should not exceed three or four1 and each spur should not have more than two eyes1 including the eye nearest the old wood1 which eye is often overlooked and not counted in4 ,the next year a few more spurs may be left1 but at no time should each spur be allowed to carry more than two eyes4 ,if more eyes are left1 the lower eyes will not develop1 and the only thing attained by such pruning is to increase the size of the head1 and to place the leaves and the grapes farther away from the center of the vine4 ,at the age of six years1 or when the vine is in full bearing1 no more spurs should be added1 as the vine has then attained a mature age1 and the yield will increase independently of an increased number of spurs4 ,how many spurs should be left it is not possible to say4 ,the experience with most growers is generally that too few spurs are left1 and that from ten to fifteen spurs are not too many on large and healthy vines4 ,the tendency of the growers is now to leave more spurs than formerly1 and to always restrict the spurs to two eyes each4 ,this experience has been acquired simultaneously in ,fresno1 ,san ,bernardino and ,san ,diego counties4 ,many growers affirm the fact that the difficulty is to get spurs enough1 and my own experience is that1 after the vine has once attained its age of full bearing1 all the strongest branches are required to furnish spurs1 and that only the weak and sickly shoots should be cut away entirely4 ,the strong flow of sap in the spring requires many outlets1 so as not to unnecessarily push the cell walls and cause disorders1 and in case the soil is not strong enough to sustain and perfect so many grapes1 it is better to manure it heavily and make it rich enough for all purposes4 ,i believe an average of from eight to ten spurs are required by strong and bearing vines4 ,only strong canes should be left at any time4 ,weak and immature canes should be cut off close to the trunk or to the head4 ,illustration3 ,muscatel ,vine ,eight ,years ,old1 after ,winter ,pruning4 ,this method of pruning differs materially from that this season adopted by ,a4 ,b4 ,butler4 ,he leaves now only from five to eight spurs on the vines1 generally the lesser number4 ,he maintains that his object is to produce large and superior grapes1 and not to have his vines overbear4 ,the outcome of such close pruning has not yet been demonstrated1 but it may be possible that this is the proper way4 ,mr4 ,butler has certainly one point in his favor1 and that is that it has not yet been demonstrated that very close pruning causes the disease known as black-knot1 as quite frequently the unpruned vines show this disease much more than those which are pruned close4 ,another point in favor of this pruning is that it has been practiced in ,malaga for years without any ill effects4 ,but1 before such very close pruning can be generally recommended1 our experience in this direction should be more extensive1 and several years more will be necessary to come to any satisfactory conclusion in this respect4 ,we know1 however1 that too many 7say from twenty to twenty-five7 spurs will exhaust the low-headed ,muscatel vines1 and in order to bring such vines back to proper bearing it has been found necessary to reduce the number of spurs at once to one-third and then gradually increase their number as the vines grow stronger4 ,every grower should study his own vines and adapt the number of spurs to the quality of the crop4 ,if the crop is inferior1 reduce the number2 if again the crop is superior1 we may try to gradually give a few more spurs in order to reach the greatest yield of first-class grapes4 ,in pruning the spurs1 the cut should be made a little above the eye or bud1 and not so close to it that it will be injured and dry out4 ,suckers from the roots should be removed to a limited extent1 that is1 now and then a sucker may be left in order to give material for forming a new head1 if this should be found necessary4 ,but as a rule the many suckers which rise from the roots should be removed in early spring with a sharp-pointed stick1 and even those which rise from below the regular head should be broken off while young1 or be pruned off in winter time4 ,another system of pruning called the ,chaintre system has been introduced1 or at least spoken of during the last few years4 ,as1 however1 it is not generally used1 or even to my knowledge used at all1 for raisin grapes1 ,i need only here allude to it4 ,it consists of pruning the vine to one single long stem1 which is carried along the ground and1 at a distance of six or eight feet from the root1 fastened to a stake4 ,this branch is pruned to shorter branches and spurs1 each of the latter to one or two eyes each to furnish wood and fruit4 ,the advantages of the ,chaintre pruning are claimed to be principally two1--a greater yield of grapes and a larger outlet for the abundant sap in the spring4 ,it is supposed that1 if the vine is pruned too short1 the sudden flow of sap in the spring has a great tendency to poison some of the cells and vessels of the wood1 and cause the disease known as black-knot4 ,the ,chaintre system endeavors1 by furnishing the vine with more cells and vessels1 and thus a larger outlet for the sap1 to overcome this difficulty4 ,the ,chaintre system has1 however1 some great inconveniences4 ,it interferes considerably with the tillage of the soil4 ,it increases the cost of the vineyard through the extra stakes necessary to support the vines1--inconveniences so great that ,i doubt whether the system will ever be seriously adopted anywhere on this coast1 even if it should prove of any advantage4 ,the time for the pruning depends upon the season4 ,the only safe rule is that vineyards may be pruned as soon as the vines are dormant4 ,if pruned too soon1 a new growth will start1 which will be killed by the first frost4 ,in many seasons the pruning may be done in ,november and ,december2 in large vineyards it must be begun early1 so as to finish before the plowing commences4 ,early pruning will cause the vines to start early in the spring1 while late pruning will considerably delay the starting of the buds4 ,when the spring frosts are to be feared1 the pruning may be deferred for some months1 or until the end of ,january1 as it delays the budding out of the vine in the spring1 sometimes as much as fourteen days4 ,but1 on the other hand1 the first warm spring weather is so favorable to the development of the grapevines and the setting of the fruit1 that every advantage should be taken of the same4 ,the very best crops are generally had on early pruned vines4 ,bleeding of the ,vines4--,the bleeding of the vines after pruning in the spring is by many considered injurious4 ,so far as ,i know1 no direct experiments to prove this have been made in this country1 but ,european experiments with wine grapevines point to no ill effects from the bleeding of the vines4 ,the bleeding retards the budding out1 and this fact has led some growers to the practice of pruning twice4 ,in the first pruning an extra eye is left on every spur1 and these eyes are again clipped off shortly before the eyes begin to swell in the spring4 ,the bleeding of the vines thus causes the eyes to be retarded until the frost is over4 ,i believe such practice is both unnecessary and too costly1 and is not required in any of our raisin districts1 and where such practice must be employed the raisin grape cannot be perfectly at home4 ,of late years spring frosts have become very rare in our principal raisin districts1 and the practice of double pruning is no longer thought of4 ,summer ,pruning1 or ,pruning ,green ,wood4--,summer pruning is a much disputed vineyard operation1 which1 however1 at least in some localities1 is of great importance4 ,this summer1 or rather spring1 pruning consists of cutting back the young growing shoots from one-third to one-half just after the berries have set well4 ,the proper time of the year is in ,may1 but the exact time must necessarily be different in different localities and seasons4 ,in ,fresno the cutting back should not be done later than ,may1 and never except when the vines show a vigorous growth4 ,the principal object the summer pruner has in view is to force the secondary branches of the vine as much towards the center of the vine as possible1 so as to form there a perfect canopy of shade to serve as a protection to the young and tender berries4 ,if let alone1 the branches of the vine will throw out these secondary shoots near the top of the branches1 thus leaving the head of the vine unprotected from the sun4 ,the shortening in of the branches necessarily throws the new shoots to the center of the vine4 ,a not less important object to be sought by the summer pruning is the strengthening of the young branch4 ,in ,may1 when the vines are covered by the young and vigorous shoots1 they are yet exceedingly brittle1 and only a slight pushing is required to break the branch off just at its junction with the old wood4 ,a heavy wind at this time sometimes does an immense damage1 and the vineyard will look as though every vine had been dragged over4 ,half of the branches may be broken and hang partially attached to one side of the vine4 ,a single wind may ruin two-thirds of the crop4 ,this can only be prevented by the summer pruning of the vines4 ,by a heavy shortening in of the branches1 the latter expose so much less surface for the wind to act on1 that no branches are broken1 and we have failed to see the heaviest wind cause any noticeable damage in vineyards which had their vines properly shortened in4 ,the summer pruning in no way injures the vines4 ,the sap is checked in its flow only for a few days1 and within a week the new side shoots make their appearance4 ,but the vineyardist must be careful not to summer prune after the hot summer weather has set in1 as the hot weather will burn or scald the young grapes and ruin them entirely4 ,for the ,san ,joaquin valley raisin districts1 ,i cannot advise summer pruning after the first days of ,june2 in ,southern ,california1 somewhat later4 ,grapevines on sandy1 dry and poor soil should not be summer pruned1 or only very lightly so4 ,they have not strength to start a new growth and will remain stunted all through the season4 ,many growers of ,riverside1 ,el ,cajon and ,fresno consider summer pruning beneficial1 if not necessary1 and practice it every year regularly4 ,it is necessary to summer prune heavily or not at all4 ,cut back one-half of the growth1 or cut back leaving one or two leaves above the bunch of grapes on every cane4 ,if the young canes are only topped1 the secondary branches will come out near the ends of the canes and bear them down1 in time exposing the bunches to the sun as well as causing the second crop to grow too far from the main trunk1 the summer pruning thus acting the opposite of which it was intended4 ,in ,greece the wine grapevines are summer pruned1 but the currants are never so treated4 ,root-pruning4--,the pruning of the roots of grapevines1 in order to cause them to bear1 is entirely unnecessary1 and is never done by experienced growers4 ,some growers have practiced the cutting of the surface roots of the vines so as to cause the tap roots or the main roots to go farther down1 and they claim that by this method greater crops are harvested4 ,i am satisfied this is only a theory not supported by facts4 ,surface roots are as necessary to plants as deep-soil roots1 and serve the plants in their way1 bringing atmospheric air to the circulation in the roots4 ,if too many surface roots are formed1 it is a sure indication of too much water in the top soil1 as too frequent irrigation with a small stream of water will cause such roots to form4 ,the proper remedy is to irrigate less frequently1 but more at a time4 ,the above does not refer to the pruning of the roots of grafted vines4 ,in cases where ,muscats have been grafted on resistant stocks1 it is of importance that the graft should not make roots of its own1 as these would soon overpower the stock and in their turn succumb to the enemies which it was the intention to avoid4 ,when rooted vines are planted in the vineyard1 their roots should be well pruned1 and all dead and decaying1 as well as dried-up1 parts should be removed4 ,if they are allowed to remain on the vines1 they will draw moisture from the sound parts at a time when all the moisture is needed for the formation of new roots4 ,suckering4--,the object of this process is to relieve the raisin-vine of superfluous wood before the latter has had time to draw on the strength of the vine and deprive it of the elements necessary to support the fruit-bearing branches4 ,the proper time for suckering is early in the spring1 when the young wood is yet tender and easily broken4 ,with a hard and flat piece of wood1 the lower suckers are dug out from below the ground1 while the upper suckers may be broken by hand4 ,a sucker must be understood to be any branch which does not produce fruit at a time when the vine is old enough to bear4 ,in strong and moist soil and on strong vines even the lowest shoots produce grapes1 and can therefore hardly be called suckers4 ,but as a rule even they should be removed1 unless we have a special object in view1 such as renewing the trunk of the vine1 lowering its head1 or in otherwise encouraging the lower branches4 ,while few vineyardists take sufficient care and time to sucker their vines1 there can be no doubt that the operation is of the greatest importance1 in order that as large and good a crop as possible may be secured4 ,it is not only best to remove all the non-fruit-bearing branches which spring out from the root and the trunk1 but also a little later on1 after the shoots have reached a foot or more1 to cut any branch from the head of the vine which does not produce fruit4 ,in many instances1 however1 it is necessary to renew the head of the vine1 and for that purpose lower suckers may be allowed to grow4 ,for a year or two these are pruned regularly and made to bear1 and the old sickly head is then removed4 ,,various ,,vineyard ,,tools4 ,general ,notes4--,it is not my intention to here describe the various tools used in the vineyard so minutely that they can be made after the description1 but simply to enumerate and call attention to them in order that as little repetition as necessary may be made4 ,every local blacksmith or mechanic invents1 improves or patents vineyard tools of every description1 and almost every year sees new tools introduced and older ones discarded4 ,still a few of these tools have become standard1 and modifications of them are not always improvements4 ,the ,sheep's-foot4--,this is a very useful tool in planting grape cuttings4 ,it consists of a round rod of three-eighths-inch iron and about three and one-half feet long1 furnished with a cross handle at the upper end4 ,the lower end is very slightly flattened out and split to a depth of one and one-half inches1 the cleft thus formed being a little wider at the point of the bar1 while the interior angle of the cleft should be rounded in order that the cutting may not be cut4 ,the sheep's-foot is used in very soft ground only1 where it can be pushed down readily4 ,in planting1 the lower joint of the cutting is grasped by the cleft in the rod1 and both are pushed down together to the required depth4 ,a twist is then given the handle1 so as to get the rod loose from the cutting4 ,the rod is then pulled up1 and a tamp with the foot sets the ground solid round the cutting4 ,care should be taken that the cutting is not pulled up with the rod1 as it will prove fatal to the cutting4 ,the ,planting ,bar4--,this bar is used also in loose ground free from rocks4 ,it consists of a flat bar of iron two and one-half inches wide1 from three-eighths to one-half inch thick and three and one-half feet long1 and is furnished at the upper end with a handle4 ,in using this bar1 it is first pushed in the ground1 and a hole is made for the cutting4 ,the cutting is then pushed down into the hole1 the bar inserted alongside of it and pressed forward1 in order to fill the hole and set the soil solid around the cutting4 ,the ,dibble4--,this tool is simply a hard piece of oakwood1 with a curved handle and pointed4 ,it is a most useful instrument when the vines are being pruned4 ,by means of it the soil is scraped off from around the trunk of the vine1 to enable the pruner to cut off the suckers as close to the trunk as possible4 ,every pruner should be furnished with a dibble4 ,planting ,chains4--,these are best made of twisted wire1 such as is used for clothes lines4 ,lines made of cotton or hemp are apt to stretch when dry1 and shrink when wet4 ,copper wires are inserted to mark the distances at which the vines should be planted4 ,spades4--,spades are often used for planting4 ,long-handled spades are more useful than those with short handles4 ,hoes4--,besides the common1 heavy hoes1 very useful hoes can be made of old shovels which are too worn to be of account as such4 ,new handles are set on the shovel blades at a right or sharp angle1 thus transforming them into veritable hoes4 ,with these tools much more work can be accomplished than with the common1 manufactured hoe1 which never cuts well4 ,the large1 flat-faced ,italian hoe imported to this country from ,italy is a most admirable instrument when planting cuttings in nursery rows4 ,in fact it is then indispensable4 ,plows4--,of plows1 heavy double plows for two horses are used for plowing in the center between the rows1 and smaller plows for plowing closer to the vines4 ,as these can be had everywhere1 and as every grower has his own preferences1 no description of them is required4 ,cultivators4--,these are indispensable in the vineyard1 and various models are in use4 ,the common1 diamond-shovel cultivator for both one and two horses is indispensable in every vineyard4 ,the larger one of these may be greatly improved by affixing to the posterior shovels a cutter-bar1 which should stand horizontal and on a level with the center of the posterior shovels4 ,randel ,disc ,cultivators4--,these are useful in ground that has baked before the lately planted cuttings have begun to bud4 ,they seldom cut or injure any of the cuttings1 and the whole field may be gone over regardless of rows or cuttings4 ,the ,ash ,trough4--,the ash trough consists of a long trough on wheels1 all made of galvanized iron1 and furnished with numerous perforated holes4 ,it is drawn by two or more horses through the vineyard1 and the cuttings are burned in it as it goes along1 and the ashes are scattered over the soil4 ,as yet this trough is only used in a few of the largest vineyards1 but when perfected will be useful everywhere1 as by its aid the ashes may be saved for the vines instead of being wasted as is now so often the case4 ,sulphuring ,cans or ,bellows4--,these are of various shapes and patterns4 ,the cans have been superseded by the simple little burlap bag1 which does the same or better work4 ,the bellows are similar to common bellows1 but are furnished with a distributing nozzle and with an air opening through which the sulphur can be poured4 ,the ,cutter-sled4--,this is simply a sled four feet long by two and a half feet wide or more1 under which has been fixed a horizontal bar of iron in the shape of a shallow ,u4 ,it is used in the vineyard after the plowing and cultivation is finished1 and when it is of importance to kill the few remaining weeds4 ,the driver stands on the sled1 which is pulled by one or two horses4 ,it cuts all the weeds below the soil1 and is a most effective and useful tool4 ,vineyard ,trucks4--,these useful trucks are ,california inventions1 and of the greatest importance to the grower4 ,they are now made of various sizes1 but should never be over four feet wide1 while three feet is even better1 and their length should not exceed six feet4 ,they are made to turn readily anywhere by having the front wheels or wheel movable1 independently of the balance of the truck4 ,by the aid of these trucks the grower can use horse labor in distributing his boxes and trays in the vineyard1 even where the vines are planted so close that ordinary wagons cannot pass4 ,the vineyard truck is now used in all ,fresno vineyards1 and is considered almost indispensable4 ,the first truck ever made for this purpose was designed and invented by ,j4 ,t4 ,goodman of ,fresno4 ,shears4--,these should be of the very best make of soft steel1 and furnished with double springs4 ,so far no good pruning shears are manufactured in this country1 the best make coming from ,switzerland1 and retailed here at #c4jj per pair4 ,it pays any grower to buy the best shears1 as inferior ones not only last but a short time1 but also do poor and slow work1 and in the long run cost more than the best and most expensive make4 ,with a good pair a pruner can in a day cut fifty per cent more than with a poor pair1 and from ten to twenty-five per cent more than with an ordinary pair4 ,it therefore can be readily seen how the extra price can be saved in the first day or two4 ,such fine shears should be handled and cared for very much like a razor4 ,they should never be ground on a revolving stone1 but only honed with oil on a fine hone4 ,when the season is over they should be oiled1 looked over and laid away4 ,large shears with wooden handles are not needed for ,muscat vines4 ,the best size shear is the medium size1 which can be used with one hand4 ,,drying ,,and ,,curing4 ,,california ,,sun-,,dried ,,raisins4 ,note4--,in describing the processes of drying1 curing1 packing1 assorting1 etc41 ,i have followed only methods which should be used by every conscientious raisin grower and packer4 ,these methods are now actually in use1 not by every packer and grower1 but by the best of them1 by those who strive to produce a very superior article1 which will compare favorably with and compete successfully with the best products of ,malaga or other foreign raisin districts4 ,too much poor curing and packing is done in every raisin district1 to the great detriment of the district1 its growers and its packers4 ,the cause of so much poor work is undoubtedly due to the method of selling the raisins in bulk for a previously fixed sum1 whether the crop is good1 bad or indifferent4 ,for many years no inducements were held out to the grower to produce a very superior article1 and as a consequence the packer got very little first-class raisins to pack4 ,when raisins are paid for according to their quality alone1 there will be plenty of first-class raisins1 and both packers and growers will be the gainers4 ,the former will get more first-class fruit to pack1 the latter will find it to their advantage to produce it4 ,during the last season 7#ahhi to #ahij71 a change was inaugurated1 and a grading of prices according to the quality of the raisins has been insisted on4 ,when this system is fully carried out1 and when the grower knows at the beginning of the season that he can get a higher price for his superior raisins1 ,california will produce as many high-grade raisins as ,malaga or any other raisin district4 ,already now our average raisins are better than the average ,malagas1 and all that our growers ask for are inducements to produce the best4 ,with a view to promote the attainment of these expectations1 the following has been written4 ,raisins may be produced by cheaper methods than those which ,i advocate1 but only great care1 judgment and study will accomplish the best results4 ,in the raisin industry it pays to produce the best1 and to attain this very little extra care is required4 ,time of ,ripening4--,varying with different localities and seasons1 the ,muscat grape ripens in ,california between the #ajth of ,august and the #cjth of ,september4 ,the earliest points where raisin grapes are now grown are probably ,palm ,valley in ,san ,bernardino county and the plains of ,kern county4 ,in both these localities ,muscats have been known to be ripe as early as ,july1 but neither locality has yet produced any great quantity of raisins1 and can hardly be considered as a raisin center4 ,the earliness of the ,san ,joaquin valley generally is probably caused by its small elevation above the sea1 which is about three hundred feet for ,fresno1 and increasing as we go farther south4 ,san ,bernardino county again1 somewhat later as to ripening1 is1 as far as its raisin centers are concerned1 more elevated1 or from one thousand to two thousand feet or more4 ,the nearness to the sea has there also some influence to retard the maturing of the grapes1 and it is certain that in ,southern ,california the later ripening of the raisin grapes is principally due to this cause4 ,thus the picking in ,riverside commences between the #ajth and the #cjth of ,september1 and while the other raisin districts in the southern part of ,california may vary some1 still the ripening season coincides very nearly with that of ,riverside4 ,in ,highlands the grapes are said to ripen two weeks later than at ,riverside4 ,in ,el ,cajon the grapes ripen between the #ast and #ajth of ,september4 ,in ,fresno the ,muscatel raisin grapes ripen in the end of ,august1 and generally by the #bjth of ,august the picking has begun everywhere on the drier soils1 while on the wet soils it is generally retarded from one to two weeks4 ,as a rule the dryness of the soil influences considerably the ripening of the grapes1 and even the quality of the soil is not without some influence1 as on sandy1 warm soil grapes ripen much earlier than on heavy land4 ,as an illustration of such early ripening1 we may mention that1 on certain gravelly soils northwest or north of ,santa ,ana1 the ,muscat grapes ripen two weeks earlier than on the heavier and finer soils in the immediate vicinity4 ,the growers take advantage of this early ripening to sell their ,muscat grapes fresh instead of drying them4 ,in ,salt river and ,gila valleys in ,arizona the grapes are said to ripen much earlier than in ,california1 but so far the vineyards there are not old enough to have been greatly benefited by this early ripening4 ,on the plains of ,kern county the ripening is hastened by the nature of the soil1 and possibly also by the nearness to the desert and the desert wind1 by the greater distance from the sea1 and by a less amount of rainfall4 ,in ,malaga the grapes ripen several weeks earlier than in ,fresno2 in fact1 the whole ,mediterranean region seems to be earlier than ,california4 ,as a general rule1 we may state that the ,muscat grapes ripen later in ,southern ,california than in the central portion of the ,state4 ,in regard to ,sacramento and ,san ,joaquin valleys1 the farther we go towards the south the earlier do the grapes ripen4 ,but in every district there are localities which are earlier than others4 ,the ,muscat and ,muscatel ripen earlier than the ,sultana1 which latter grape begins to ripen earlier than the ,muscat1 but attains perfection much later than any other of our raisin grapes4 ,thompson ,seedless ripens in ,yolo about ,august #ajth1 and is thus our earliest raisin grape4 ,signs of ,maturity4--,there are three different ways by which the ripeness of a grape can be tested1--saccharometer1 taste or color4 ,the saccharometer is a well-known instrument1 consisting of a graded glass tube that will sink to different depths in liquors containing different percentages of sugar4 ,there are different kinds of saccharometers1 but the most practical one for the general raisin-grower is one divided in one hundred degrees1 each degree showing one per cent of sugar to every hundred of water4 ,thus1 if the saccharometer sinks down to twenty-five1 we know that the water or must contains twenty-five per cent of saccharine water and seventy-five per cent of water4 ,to properly test the grapes1 a few bunches should be picked from several vines1 the juice should be squeezed out and passed through a towel or otherwise strained4 ,the must is then poured into the test tube1 and the saccharometer inserted4 ,if it shows twenty-five degrees or more of sugar1 the grapes will make good raisins1 but for very superior raisins several degrees more of saccharine are needed4 ,it is not unusual to find the grapes reach thirty degrees in favored localities and in favorable seasons4 ,only inexperienced vineyardists will require the aid of the saccharometer to determine the state of ripening of the grapes2 the more experienced judge by taste and color4 ,the taste of course is the most commonly used method for ascertaining the ripeness of the raisin grapes4 ,every grower experienced or not should examine his grapes repeatedly4 ,to give directions for tasting the ripeness of the grapes is of course impossible2 it must be learned1 and can only be learned by practice4 ,it is enough to say here that the grapes should taste very sweet1 contain no acid1 and if possible be rather solid4 ,the color is also a valuable adjunct in determining the ripeness of the raisin grapes4 ,fully ripe and perfect fruit should be amber yellow1 somewhat transparent and waxy4 ,if this color is combined with great sweetness1 and in ,muscatels with absence of acidity1 we can be sure that the grapes are ripe4 ,some grapes do1 however1 especially when too much exposed to the sun1 acquire the yellow amber tint without being sweet1 but they are readily distinguished from the ripe grapes by their being of smaller size and harder1 tasteless and acid4 ,such grapes never develop into good1 mature grapes1 and do not make good raisins4 ,i may also remark that not all ripe grapes become amber colored4 ,those that grow in the shade and on very damp ground remain always green1 although they acquire a certain sweetness1 and will make good raisins4 ,the ,muscat grapes will make salable raisins even if not fully ripe1 but in order to make superior and good raisins all grapes should be 8dead0 ripe1 especially so if the grapes are to be dipped in lye4 ,if unripe or partially ripe grapes of ,muscats and ,sultanas are dipped1 they make very poor and red raisins2 it would have been better-if they had never been dipped4 ,this is especially the case with the ,sultana1 which begins to ripen and is eatable long before the ,muscat1 but which only makes a good dipped raisin after the ,muscat has been ripe for some time4 ,three or four days make a great difference sometimes in the amount of sugar in the grapes1 and consequently in the quality of the raisins1 and the experienced grower will keep his grapes on the vines as long as possible to attain the greatest possible amount of sweetness4 ,but on the other hand it takes judgment to foresee how sweet the grapes will be1 as in unfavorable seasons they will not attain their full sweetness even if allowed to hang long on the vines4 ,to know the time after which the grapes do not increase in sugar requires much experience and acquaintance with the locality where they are grown4 ,in this respect different years vary very much4 ,picking4--,many vineyardists pick their raisins too green or before they are fully ripe4 ,not all raisins ripen at the same time1 and to make the best possible raisins out of the grapes1 it is necessary to pick over the vineyard several times1 each time picking only the ripest grapes4 ,in places where there are two crops of grapes1 at least two pickings are absolutely necessary1 and in many places two pickings are enough4 ,the green grapes of the first crop are then left to be picked with the second crop1 at which time they will probably be perfectly ripe and very choice4 ,but if the vineyard is small and manageable1 and the owner wishes to realize the most that he possibly can1 he should make at least three different pickings1 each time taking care only to pick those grapes which are fully ripe and which would make a first-class quality of raisins4 ,as long as the smaller vineyardists sell their raisins in bulk at a contracted price of so much a pound for any kind or quality of raisins1 we cannot expect any great improvement in the too common mode of picking1 where good1 bad and indifferent grapes go on the trays together4 ,but ,i am certain that in a few years this will or must change4 ,raisins in sweatboxes will bring the price they are actually worth1 and it will be to the interest of every grower to pick his grapes at the time they will make the best possible raisins1 even if extra labor is required for the work4 ,the pickers generally use small1 pointed knives for separating the bunches1 and they are preferable to small shears1 as better enabling the picker to reach farther in between bunches and branches1 and to cut the former without injuring the branch4 ,in picking the bunches1 great care should be taken1 much more than is at present in use4 ,it is always best to begin picking in the poorest part of the vineyard1 as it will take some time for the pickers to learn2 they are almost certain to pick in the beginning too many green grapes4 ,the poorest part of the vineyard is also apt to have the ripest grapes4 ,the large1 fine bunches should be handled with the utmost care1 in order that the bloom of the grapes may not be injured4 ,the bunches generally should be handled by the stems only1 or1 if this is impracticable1 by the stem as much as possible4 ,in separating a large bunch from the vine1 the bunch should be cut as close to the stem as possible1 and at the end of the stem of the bunch there should remain a portion of that broader part by which the bunch is attached to the main branch4 ,there is nothing prettier on a bunch of raisins than this broad end of the bunch2 it gives an idea of strength and oddity to the raisin cluster1 showing the buyer at a glance that it is a cluster which was once solidly attached to the vine4 ,many raisin-packers place this broad end of the bunch so as to protrude above or between the berries1 as if inviting the purchaser to take hold of it and thus lift the luscious bunch out of the box4 ,with the poorer and smaller bunches1 no such care in cutting need be exercised1 and it would be to no benefit to so cut a small1 poor bunch that it would cause the purchaser to believe it was a large bunch4 ,poorer bunches might therefore be cut with short stems4 ,as to the handling of the bunches1 the intelligent grower will soon learn how to instruct his men4 ,if vine branches interfere with the lifting of the bunch from the vine1 some of them may be cut without any injury to the vine1 but too many branches cut this way will cause a new growth to start1 which often is derived from the best fruit buds for the ensuing season1 and which always is apt to be injured from frost4 ,a picker should average not less than fifty trays a day of cleaned and assorted grapes4 ,at this rate the picking of twenty pounds of grapes costs about two and a half cents4 ,some persons employing white labor claimed to have lowered the cost of picking to one and three-quarter cents per tray of twenty pounds1 but ,i failed to learn how these grapes had been handled1 cleaned and assorted4 ,the picking of the grapes is facilitated by previous care given the vines4 ,neglected and entangled vines are much more difficult and expensive to pick than those which have been properly cared for and correctly pruned the season before4 ,the same may be said as regards vines between the branches of which weeds have been allowed to grow4 ,in picking from such vines1 the grapes are always torn1 the best bunches destroyed and many grapes wasted on the ground4 ,illustration3 ,raisin ,vineyard ,truck4 ,cleaning4--,when the bunch is picked or cut from the stem1 it should be cleaned4 ,if it is a first-class or even an ordinary layer bunch1 every sunburnt berry1 every leaf1 twig or other conspicuous foreign substance1 must be carefully removed with the picker's right hand1 while the left hand holds the bunch by the stem4 ,this cleaning must some time be done1 and at no time can it be performed with better results than when the grapes are green4 ,the stems are then soft and flexible1 while later on they are brittle1 and in endeavoring to remove foreign substances many berries will be detached1 or sometimes even the whole bunch broken4 ,this cleaning of the bunch does not need to extend to third-rate or small bunches1 which are to be used for loose raisins4 ,the latter can be cleaned very rapidly with machinery1 and it would only be a waste of time to clean them by hand-picking4 ,the use of a pair of bellows is also very practical4 ,with them much of the spider webs and smaller refuse can be removed1 which could not be gotten rid of in any other way4 ,a few hands should therefore go over all finer bunches and blow them clean1 especially if sand or dust have accumulated on the trays or bunches4 ,if the grapes are carefully assorted when picked1 and the different grades placed on separate trays as they should be1 this cleaning is done rapidly1 as the largest part of the crop1 which only will make loose raisins1 need not be cleaned4 ,drying on ,trays4--,as soon as the grapes begin to ripen1 the trays should be distributed along the rows in the vineyard4 ,they may either first be placed in piles at every row where the roads cross the vineyard1 or at once distributed along the vines4 ,the former method is to be preferred1 as it protects the trays from dirt and dust1 and in distributing afterwards it gives the pickers a more varied labor1 often welcome as a change from the cramped position necessary in picking4 ,muscat vines in proper bearing require one or two trays to the vine1 while for young vines one tray will suffice4 ,the probable quantity needed should be ascertained beforehand in order that the trays may be properly distributed4 ,the ripe grapes are always placed directly on the trays1 and not previously picked in boxes4 ,in placing the bunches on the trays1 the proper way for each picker should be to have two trays1 one for each grade4 ,on one tray he places all the large bunches that promise to make first-class bunch raisins2 on the other tray he places again all inferior bunches and loose berries4 ,the smaller bunches and loose berries may be placed any way almost1 as long as they are not heaped on top of each other4 ,the largest bunches should be placed with the stem side down1 as this side will1 when cured1 become the finest and will eventually by the careful packer be placed upwards in the box4 ,that part of the raisin which in drying touches the tray will also present1 when cured1 a flat surface with several concentric layers1 which are considered a prominent feature in the perfect raisin4 ,the general method of drying is1 however1 to place good1 bad and indifferent bunches together on the same tray1 with no attempt at assorting4 ,while this method may do when superior raisins are not required1 and when no higher price is paid for better grades1 it will be found a very inferior practice when the grower desires to pack himself1 in order to reap all the benefit he can out of his crop4 ,for all superior raisins1 ,i therefore strongly recommend the assorting of the raisins on the trays as having the following advantages4 ,it requires less handling of the large bunches4 ,the large bunches dry the slowest1 and by having them from the beginning separated from the small and the loose the latter can be brought away to the sweatboxes1 when ready1 without necessitating the reassorting and handling from the trays1 which at this time1 when the stems are very brittle1 is always expensive as well as injurious to the fine bunches4 ,the larger bunches1 which are to produce layer raisins1 require less drying1 as they are to be sweated or equalized before being packed4 ,the smaller and inferior bunches1 on the contrary1 must be stemmed and assorted by machinery before they are equalized1 and immediately after they are taken from the trays4 ,in order to 8stem0 readily these raisins must be rather overdried1 as if soft they would tear from the stems instead of having the latter broken4 ,we can therefore perceive the advantage of having the two grades on different trays4 ,without the necessity of assorting we can simply take up our 8layer0 trays when they are ready and allow our 8loose0 to remain as long out as necessary1 without fear of having the layers overdried4 ,by this assorting when green1 each grade can be treated separately in a quick and effective way4 ,a tray two by three feet may be made to comfortably hold from eighteen to twenty pounds of grapes4 ,the first crop should be placed pretty close on the trays1 not allowing any part of the tray to be visible1 as the reflected heat will be too great and may injure the raisins4 ,the second crop should be packed less close1 as the reflected heat from the surface of the tray will help to dry the grapes4 ,this of course only refers to localities where the temperature during the first drying is very high4 ,the warmer it is the closer should the bunches be packed on the trays1 and on the contrary when later on in the season1 or when the drying weather is unfavorable1 plenty of space should be given the grapes4 ,it is often said that grapes1 to make good raisins1 should not only dry1 but cure4 ,there is much truth in this4 ,good raisins should dry and cure at the same time1 by which is meant that a chemical process is taking place1 which is something else than the mere evaporation of the water in the grape4 ,the heat necessary and favorable for drying the grapes is different in different localities4 ,at certain temperatures the raisins will get cooked and spoil1 assume a red color1 lose their sweetness1 become sour and hard1 and covered with large1 sharply defined corrugations1--signs of a very inferior or even entirely worthless raisin4 ,in ,riverside the grapes are said to cook at from #ih to #ajj degrees ,fahrenheit in the shade4 ,in ,fresno the grapes dry and cure well up to a temperature of #aje degrees1 and in ,el ,cajon they do not spoil until #ajc degrees are reached4 ,i would think that from #ij to #ajc degrees in the shade would be the best temperature for drying perfectly ripe and sweet ,muscat grapes4 ,when the grapes are very ripe1 a much higher temperature will not injure them1 while unripe and sour grapes1 especially of the second crop1 will burn or cook at a lower temperature than would be the proper one for ripe grapes4 ,it is not always advisable to stop picking when the heat becomes too great4 ,a better method is to stack the trays in the field1 so as to protect the raisins from the sun4 ,when the heat subsides1 the trays are again spread4 ,the expense and trouble of stacking the trays is not as great as may be supposed1 and a few hours will generally suffice to stack a large vineyard with the regular picking gang4 ,some packers have suggested that to secure good raisins the trays should be stacked for several weeks in the beginning of the period of drying4 ,for the production of our usual dark-colored raisins this is not necessary nor even advisable1 except when the heat is such that the raisins would cook and spoil4 ,with a little experience this cooking of the grapes can be readily detected by the smell emitted by the grapes4 ,as soon as they are in the least injured by the heat1 a cooked flavor begins to pervade the whole vineyard4 ,when this peculiar flavor is noticed1 and when the berries begin to show small red and soft blotches on the side facing the afternoon sun1 the stacking should be commenced as quickly as possible4 ,if the trays are kept in piles for several days1 the injured grapes will partially recover and at least to some extent regain their color4 ,greatly injured grapes will dry much slower1 sometimes remaining several weeks behind those which were not injured by the sun4 ,slightly discolored raisins may partially regain their color by sweating1 but they will not improve otherwise4 ,after the trays are filled with grapes1 the best way is to put several rows of trays together1 or rather to place the trays from three rows of vines along one of the spaces between the rows4 ,this gives more compactness to the crop1 makes it easier to handle the trays1 and facilitates the stacking of the trays1 their turning and reversing1 or any labor with the trays that may be required4 ,by thus clearing some of the spaces between the rows1 admission for trucks and wagons is had close to the trays4 ,turning4--,after the grapes have been exposed to the sun for some days1 they must be turned4 ,by this time it will be found that the grapes have dried principally on the upper side1 while the lower side is yet comparatively green4 ,the time when the turning of the grapes should be done depends entirely on the weather4 ,one-half of the drying process should be over1 and this requires a longer or shorter time4 ,when the time for turning is at hand1 it will be found that the under side of the grapes1 or rather the side of each berry that was placed against the trays1 has flattened out and shows concentric circles1 which are considered of much beauty1 and greatly valued in all good raisins4 ,when they are well formed and established1 it is generally time to turn4 ,if the grapes are turned before these concentric circles are hardened1 the latter will open and become less distinct4 ,another objection to turning too early is that the upper side of the grapes1 if not properly dried before turning1 will dry but very slowly afterwards1 and often so slowly that the raisins may have to be turned a second time1 which will prove both expensive and to the disadvantage of the raisins4 ,one turning is always enough1 and the only one proper4 ,there are several ways to turn4 ,the ,malaga grower1 with his raisin floors1 must turn his raisins by hand4 ,the great advantage of our trays is that we can turn much quicker4 ,the turning is done in our vineyards by placing one tray on the top of another and then turning them quickly over1 when in changing the tray the bottom side of the bunches will be found to be up4 ,illustration3 ,raisin ,tray ,catcher4 ,this turning1 however1 requires some little knack1 so as not to drop any raisins on the ground4 ,the trays may be turned either the short or the long way4 ,if the long way1 one tray is first placed on the top of the other1 and two men catch hold of the long opposite sides of the trays by placing their hands on the outside quarters of the edge and then pressing firmly4 ,this keeps the raisins steady between the trays1 and in turning rapidly1 if the bunches are at all entire1 few or no raisins will be dropped4 ,in turning the short way1 the men grasp with their opposite hands at the middle of the short sides1 while with their other hands they catch the outside quarters of one of the long sides4 ,by turning quickly over the long side that is held by the hands of the turners1 the operation may be performed without dropping any berries4 ,in small vineyards1 where the owner must perform the work alone1 he may turn the trays without any help whatever1 though1 naturally1 his work will be somewhat slower4 ,he can operate by the aid of a small contrivance called the catcher1 a most simple but very effective little tool4 ,it resembles a miniature stool like those used by the milkers of cows4 ,the seat or top may be twelve inches long by six wide1 made from one-inch lumber4 ,on one side are inserted four pegs1 each about six inches long4 ,the two opposite ones are inserted very close together1 but spread strongly outward4 ,after one tray has been placed on the top of the other1 the catcher is pushed over the long edge of the trays1 which of course will cause them to jam tightly together on that side4 ,by now grasping the trays on the opposite edge1 they may be turned without the aid of any one else1 and without any loss of raisins4 ,some use steel clips for the same purpose1 but the common home-made wooden catch is undoubtedly the most practical method1 as it is the cheapest4 ,turning should1 as much as possible1 be done in the morning or at least in the forenoon while the air is yet cool and the stems of the raisins damp4 ,the pressure of the tray will not then cause the stems to break off and the quality of the raisins to be lowered4 ,if the bunch raisins are on separate trays1 which is best1 they may be turned earlier in the day than the second grade1 which is not apt to be greatly damaged by the breaking of the stems1 as they are to be stemmed anyhow4 ,reversing4--,this is an operation not properly understood by every raisin-grower1 but is still of the utmost importance1 especially for the first-class bunches of the first crop1 which naturally dry more slowly than the smaller bunches4 ,but the method is also very useful for the second crop1 when late in the season the drying is slow and uncertain4 ,the reversing consists simply in reversing the trays on the ground in such a way that the edges which first faced the north afterwards face the south1 or vice versa4 ,the object of reversing is plain4 ,it will nearly always be found that the raisins at the top or on the side of the tray nearest the north will dry much more slowly than those on the side facing the south1 especially so as soon as the weather begins to turn colder4 ,to prevent this and insure equal drying at the top and bottom1 the reversing is performed after the trays have first been turned4 ,this will enable the grower to get his raisins in several days sooner than he otherwise would4 ,indeed1 at the critical period of drying1 when fall rains may set in and injure the raisins1 it is of the utmost importance to hurry the crop as much as possible2 the reversing is at this time almost as important as turning4 ,i have seen the second crop of many a vineyard seriously injured by rain1 and its drying delayed only through neglect to reverse the trays4 ,the effect of reversing is oftentimes very striking1 and one grower who reverses his trays in time may get his crop in safely1 while his neighbor who neglects reversing may lose a great part of his4 ,a few days' delay at this time of the year is often fatal to the whole second crop1 and no pains should be spared in order to hasten the drying by every possible means available4 ,slanting the ,trays4--,the practice of raising one end of the tray higher than the other is of very questionable value4 ,in the fore part of the drying season1 the heat from the sun is such that the raisins receive all the heat they require without being raised at an angle against the sun4 ,towards the end of the season1 ,i have found that1 when the trays have been raised1 those grapes which lie on the lower edge of the tray1 and accordingly nearest to the ground1 dry the quickest1 while those at the upper edge dry considerably slower4 ,the cause is that the air a foot above the ground is much cooler than close to the ground2 the large space under the raised tray also serves as a cooling room to cool the tray4 ,in some direct experiments made1 it was found that1 as regards the tail end of the first crop1 the raised trays came in several days later than the trays which had remained flat on the ground4 ,in advocating that the trays should not be tilted1 ,i must not be understood to mean that it is not beneficial to keep the tray in a tilted position when there is a close background to sufficiently heat the air equally at the upper and lower end of the trays4 ,this can only be secured by either placing the trays against the side of a hill or on specially prepared drying floors1 which are described further on4 ,in this connection ,i may suggest that when the heat of the sun is not great1 and when the raisins dry slowly1 the placing of an empty tray behind the drying tray1 in order to reflect the sun on the raisins1 will considerably hasten their drying4 ,this is a valuable aid in drying1 especially when the second crop is late4 ,elevating the ,trays4--,the practice of elevating the trays containing the tail end of the second crop is a good one4 ,the best way is to place the trays on the top of the vines1 when it will be found that the free circulation of air underneath will help to dry the raisins and prevent rot and mold4 ,this method is only adopted after fall rains1 but is then of great help in drying the crop4 ,stacking ,against ,rain and ,dew4--,the stacking of the trays is also a valuable help in keeping out dew and cold4 ,late in the season1 when it takes several hours of sunlight to dry the night dews1 the stacked trays will be dry when the first rays of the sun are out4 ,when heavy rains are expected1 the grapes1 whether partially dried or not1 should always be stacked4 ,it will keep the stems from rotting off from the berries1 and will generally save the crop from being seriously injured4 ,some growers have an idea that only the partially dried grapes should be stacked1 but the green ones are equally benefited4 ,there are several ways of stacking4 ,the flat-stacking is used principally when the raisins are very dry1 and when it is of importance that no air should enter the trays4 ,in flat-stacking1 one tray is simply placed on the top of the other1 and the circulation of air thus brought to a minimum4 ,in rainy weather1 however1 the roof-stacking is to be preferred4 ,instead of placing one tray on the top of another1 the trays are placed in two piles joining each other in such a way that the inner end of every tray overlaps the edge of the tray in the adjoining pile4 ,this lifting up of one edge of the tray gives to the whole pile a roof-like appearance1 and the angle in which the trays join together becomes steeper the higher the pile grows1 until1 at the height of three or four feet1 the trays slant so much that the raisins cannot rest on them1 but are in danger of sliding off1 when1 of course1 the pile should not be made any higher4 ,it takes several times longer to stack the trays in roof fashion than to simply pile them up flat4 ,the advantage of roof-stacking is that it admits more air1 and sheds the rain better4 ,in damp weather the piles should not be covered on the sides for any length of time1 as the raisins will then mold more rapidly4 ,if1 instead of joining two piles of trays1 three piles are made to join1 the center stack will be flat1 while much air is admitted to the raisins4 ,in this stacking the first two trays are placed flat on the ground at almost the distance of one tray4 ,another tray is made to rest on the inner edge of the lower trays and cover the intermediate space1 and so on4 ,this method gives twice as much air space between the trays as regular flat-stacking1 and is to be recommended when the weather is damp4 ,a combination of this last method and roof-stacking is used by some1 every grower almost having his favorite way to stack4 ,it must be remembered that in very rainy weather no kind of stacking will be of any value1 while1 when the showers are few and far between1 stacking may save the crop4 ,stacking is especially valuable in conjunction with dryers1 when protection during a few days only is all that is needed4 ,one man can stack about five hundred trays an hour1 and the regular picking gang can stack a whole vineyard in a few hours4 ,should the rain be very heavy and no dryer handy1 it is of no use to try to save the crop after the mold has begun to make its appearance1 and when the berries have begun to rot4 ,it is then far better to dump the whole crop in the field rather than to spend time1 money and anxiety on raisins which must in any case become a total loss4 ,taking ,up4--,when1 at last1 the raisins are sufficiently dried1 they must be taken up as quickly as possible4 ,this process again consists of three different labors1--the stacking1 assorting and boxing4 ,it is of great importance to know exactly when the raisins have sufficiently dried to be ready for the sweatboxes4 ,this can properly only be ascertained by experience1 still a few directions will materially help the inexperienced grower in his judgment4 ,a perfect raisin should be neither too hard nor too soft4 ,a raisin is too soft when1 after rolling it between the fingers1 the least particle of juice exudes through the cracked skin or meat4 ,such raisins will 8sugar0 in course of time1 and not keep a year4 ,if the raisins1 or a majority of them1 on a bunch are too wet1 they should be spread to the sun for some time longer4 ,if1 however1 there are only a few underdried raisins in a bunch1 the bunch may be taken in1 and the soft raisins clipped off afterwards4 ,a raisin is too dry when1 in pressing and rolling it between two fingers1 the pulp does not move readily inside the skin4 ,such overdried raisins will not again become first-class raisins2 their skin will always be tough1 and their color will be somewhat inferior4 ,if but slightly overdried1 they may be brought out by equalizing4 ,to know when the raisins are in a proper condition to take up is most important to every raisin-man1 and he should never neglect to watch his trays early and late4 ,upon his good judgment and watchfulness depend the quality of his crop4 ,to prevent too rapid drying out after the raisins are nearly ready1 the practice now is to stack the trays in the field4 ,this stacking simply consists in placing the trays which contain the ready raisins on top of each other1 in piles five feet high4 ,on the top of every such pile are placed several loose trays crosswise1 so as to shelter the pile from the sun1 and possibly even from rain1 and other trays are raised up against the sides of the pile in order to exclude as much air as possible4 ,if1 however1 the raisins are rather underdried1 the side trays may be left out so as to allow the raisins to dry more4 ,it is always best to stack the trays before the raisins are fully dried1 as they will finish drying and curing in the stack much better than in the sun4 ,the underdried raisins will thus dry just enough1 while the overdried ones1 or those just right1 will not dry much more4 ,after the stacking is done1 the assorting is in order4 ,this consists in taking out every bunch that is not sufficiently dried to go into the sweatbox1 and placing them on new trays to dry more4 ,at this time1 also1 the bad or inferior and red berries may be taken out1 if present in a very large quantity on good bunches2 but when there are only a few on1 it is better not to touch the bunch1 as1 in handling it1 it is only too apt to break4 ,any further picking out of bad berries had better be deferred to the packing-house4 ,the boxing and assorting1 which may be considered together1 consist in transferring the different grades of the now dried raisins to separate sweatboxes4 ,this is done in two ways4 ,the number one bunches1 which have been placed on separate trays1 may now simply be slid into the sweatbox1 by a dexterous movement of the tray4 ,between every two layers of these first-class bunches should be placed a stout manilla paper cut so as to exactly fit the box4 ,it is of importance to have the paper just fit the box1 and not be too large nor too small1 as in either case the raisins are apt to become mixed and the bunches broken4 ,but1 if the grapes have not been assorted from the beginning on separate trays1 more work will be required to get them into the sweatboxes4 ,every bunch must be carefully taken up by hand from the tray1 and then placed on the paper in the box4 ,but in doing so many bunches are necessarily broken1 as even careful hands cannot help frequent mishaps1 while ignorant and careless workmen may do an immense injury to the crop4 ,too few manilla papers are generally used4 ,some packers require only two papers in every box1 while six or eight1 or at least five1 papers should be the proper number for every box of very choice or even ordinary layers4 ,we must remember that1 the more papers we use1 the less apt are the bunches to be injured1 but even the best layer bunches will not suffer if placed two layers high between every paper4 ,on top and in the bottom of every box must be one paper1 so as to keep out dust4 ,the loose and inferior raisins1 which either have been left on the tray after the layers are picked out1 or which from the beginning have been placed on separate trays1 may now1 when perfectly dry1 be simply dumped in sweatboxes without any paper4 ,we have thus at least two kinds of sweatboxes4 ,one kind contains those raisins which are destined to make layers1 and which require sweating and equalizing before they can be packed4 ,the other kind contains the loose and drier berries1 which are to go immediately to the stemmer and grader1 and which would not separate from the stems if they were made to equalize4 ,covering4--,if the weather has been favorable1 the raisins may have been dried and cured in twelve days4 ,of these twelve days1 the first seven or eight were used for drying the upper side of the raisins4 ,on the seventh or eighth day they were turned1 and on the twelfth day they were ready to put in the sweatboxes4 ,but this is fast drying1 and drying under favorable circumstances1 with a dry wind blowing gently all the time4 ,but sometimes it takes a much longer time to dry1 say from fourteen to twenty-one days4 ,in ,fresno1 where the weather is less favorable1 the drying of the first crop may require from two to three weeks4 ,in ,el ,cajon it always takes two or three weeks for the raisins to dry1 and in ,orange county the drying sometimes requires from thirty days to five weeks4 ,in ,malaga the drying is accomplished quicker than in ,california1 because there they cover the raisin floors every night with canvas1 and in the morning1 when the canvas is unrolled1 the raisins are yet warm4 ,the drying1 then1 has been continued all night1 and the raisins have not had time to cool when they meet the first rays of the sun4 ,in ,california1 again1 our raisins are cold1 possibly even wet with dew or rain1 and it sometimes takes the sun until noon to dry up the moisture accumulated through the night4 ,to counteract this absorption of moisture1 many of the raisin-growers in ,orange county1 ,california1 especially around ,santa ,ana and ,mc,pherson1 cover the trays with canvas every night4 ,this method is to be recommended wherever there is any difficulty in curing either the first or the second crop4 ,if this method is employed1 ,i am satisfied that raisins could be grown and properly cured in localities where otherwise no raisin cult is possible4 ,the method of covering the raisin trays at ,santa ,ana is as follows1 varied by different growers1 but in the main the same everywhere4 ,the trays are placed together in long rows2 about twenty yards long is found to be most convenient4 ,the width of the row is just the width of two trays1 or five feet4 ,thus the row of trays laden with raisin grapes is about sixty feet long by five feet wide4 ,along the north end of this long row of trays are driven down small posts every six or ten feet1 and left extending about two feet above the ground4 ,along the south side of the row of trays smaller posts are driven down at the same distances1 but not allowed to extend so high above the surface of the soil4 ,these pegs or small posts may best be slanting outward1 or from the trays4 ,along the high posts is strung a wire in such a way that it cannot easily get loose4 ,to a long canvas cover are now secured small rings for running on the wire1 and on the other side larger rings to hook over the smaller posts in front4 ,if the canvas is only one yard wide1 two widths must be sewed together so as to make the canvas six feet wide4 ,the trays1 which are two and one-half feet by three feet1 when placed side by side will just form a drying floor of five feet1 large enough to be covered by the canvas six feet wide4 ,the cost of canvas is six and one-half cents a yard by the bale4 ,the manner of using the canvas is very simple4 ,the canvas cover1 which is stationary1 is attached to the wire and the higher posts4 ,every evening the cover is thrown over the trays1 the front or lower edge is hooked by the aid of the rings over the pegs in the ground1 and the trays thus securely sheltered4 ,in the morning1 when the sun is up1 the cover is thrown back over the higher posts1 and the trays fully exposed4 ,the trouble to cover is not very great2 two men can cover forty tons of grapes in half an hour1 and generally it is considered that the picking-gang can cover the whole crop in half an hour's time every evening1 and it takes them as long to uncover in the morning4 ,if well cared for and properly dried1 and stored away in the autumn after the crop is all in1 this canvas cover1 with its posts1 will last six or seven years1 and if painted or oiled would probably last still longer4 ,one yard of canvas can cover thirty pounds of grapes1 and for the purpose of utilizing the full space1 the trays are made two and one-half by three feet4 ,such is the process practiced in ,orange county4 ,if adopted elsewhere1 it would enable many localities to produce good raisins1 where the climatic conditions are such that no drying is now practicable4 ,the process is not as good as the one employed in ,malaga1 but it has some advantages which make it very acceptable4 ,it enables the grower to use trays1 and it makes drying-floors unnecessary1 and the spaces in the vineyard can be used without taking away room from the vines4 ,on the other hand1 the drying-floors of ,malaga are warmer and more secure1 and almost absolutely safe in case of rain4 ,drying-floors4--,while1 in some parts of ,california1 the first crop dries generally without any difficulty1 in other parts rain and dew very frequently interfere with the drying of even the first crop4 ,in many places where raisin-curing is not successful1 the same could be practiced profitably if we would adopt the system of drying-floors used in ,spain4 ,even in localities where the first-crop raisins dry well1 the second crop is always exposed to more or less rain1 and the raisin-grower annually loses large sums of money on account of not being able to hasten the drying of the second crop4 ,but it is doubtful if the ,malaga drying-floors will ever be found practical and come into general use with us4 ,they take considerable space from the vineyard1 and are very expensive1 but they are very secure1 and when once built are very profitable4 ,a limited number of such floors would be very useful in every vineyard1 especially for drying the second crop4 ,at present no such floors exist in this ,state4 ,the following description gives an idea of how they may be constructed3 ,these drying-floors may be built of brick with the long sides as long as required1 while the short sides should be about twelve feet long4 ,the back wall is six feet high1 while the front wall is only six inches high1 which1 with the above length of side wall1 would give enough slope4 ,in ,malaga the interior is filled with black gravel and tamped hard1 but for our purpose probably nothing would be superior to asphaltum1 bituminous rock or cement4 ,it must first be ascertained if bituminous rock would not impart a flavor to the grapes1 in which case cement would be the most useful flooring4 ,in order to allow the rain to run off1 the front wall should be pierced with small holes close to the ground1 but this would only be necessary in case the bed is filled with gravel1 or no cement floor exists on top of it4 ,along the back part of the floor should be set a row of uprights of two by four lumber1 driven securely in the ground4 ,on the top of each post is set an eyelet1 through which runs a stout wire along the whole back of the frame4 ,a canvas cover long enough to reach the whole length of the floor should be used for covering1 and1 in order to secure it to the wire and the posts1 it should be hemmed and furnished with small rings to run on the wire4 ,in front similar rings are set in order that the canvas may be secured to the smaller posts and kept down in case of wind4 ,on such floors common trays may be used4 ,to make the canvas impervious to rain1 it may be painted with boiled linseed oil4 ,the above are only suggestions based on the ,spanish drying-floors4 ,for a full description of them1 ,i beg to refer to the article on ,malaga4 ,in using linseed oil1 care should be taken that only pure oil is used4 ,there is linseed oil which contains chemicals which rapidly rot the canvas4 ,dryers4--,the subject of dryers is of great importance to the ,california grower4 ,the last few years have fully demonstrated that every raisin vineyard1 no matter where it is situated1 should have one or more dryers1 in order that the last of the crop may be dried properly when the rain sets in4 ,many years these dryers are not required1 but from time to time they prove of vast value1 and if properly constructed are much superior to any drying-floor4 ,but so far no perfect dryer has ever been constructed4 ,most dryers are too expensive1 costing from three thousand to seven thousand dollars1 when of a capacity to dry from twenty-five to fifty tons of green grapes at one charge4 ,nearly all late dryers are constructed with a fan1 which sucks the air out through one end of the building4 ,the large complicated dryers are all patented1 but there can be no doubt that good small dryers might be constructed by every grower1 which will do good service4 ,as1 however1 so far no very perfect dryers have ever been constructed1 and as every owner of one changes and rebuilds every year1 we must leave the consideration of the construction of these dryers to some future time when more knowledge or experience will have been gained4 ,dryers large enough to hold a charge of one ton of green fruit have been constructed at the price of two hundred dollars by ,ellwood ,cooper of ,santa ,barbara4 ,they dried their fruit in twenty-four hours1 but they were never used for raisins4 ,but as this style of dryer may be adapted to raisins1 ,i will give a few hints at its construction4 ,the heating apparatus consists of a large iron drum1 or radiator1 seventeen and one-half feet long by two and one-half feet wide1 set on a furnace in which is burned wood4 ,the furnace and radiator are built into a bank1 on top of which the dryer is built4 ,this dryer is simply a large wooden box about seventeen feet square and six feet high1 and looks1 as seen from the outside1 like a chest full of drawers4 ,these slide on frames1 are deeper than they are broad1 and contain movable bottoms or trays made of small redwood ribs4 ,they begin about two feet from the top of the radiator2 if closer1 the heat would be too strong for the fruit4 ,the ventilation is had by small sliding doors at the bottom of the chest1 through which the air rushes in1 while it goes out through the drawers1 which for this purpose are left open an inch or two4 ,the chest is covered over with an open shed1 which makes the labor pleasant1 and enables the attendant to inspect any drawer at any time without seriously disturbing the heat of the dryer4 ,the cheapness and effectiveness of such small dryers are such that every one can afford them4 ,a dozen such small dryers all set in a row in a bank could be attended to by very few hands4 ,they would also be preferable to very large dryers on account of the short time required to fill them1 and their raisins can be dried long before a larger dryer has been filled4 ,as to the usefulness of steam or fire dryers there can be no doubt4 ,the idea is not to entirely dry the raisins in them1 but only to finish up the raisins when1 on account of unfavorable climatic conditions1 they do not dry any more out-of-doors4 ,the question as to which are best1 8machine-dried0 raisins or those dried in the sun1 is entirely unimportant4 ,no one would think of drying raisins entirely in the dryer1 as it would not pay4 ,raisins properly finished in the dryer are not inferior to those entirely sun-dried4 ,sweatboxes4--,the sweatboxes should be made of strong lumber one inch thick4 ,the length and width should be according to the size of the tray1 and always one inch larger every way than the tray1 in order that the raisins may be let down readily1 or that they may receive a tray4 ,the height of a sweatbox should be from six to eight inches1 no more1 as a greater depth will make them too heavy to be handled with ease by two men4 ,six inches in depth is better than eight4 ,in order to secure the box and prevent it from splitting1 the sides should be bound with hide1 iron bands or with twisted galvanized wire4 ,the latter is the strongest and best1 costs the least1 and is the easiest to put on4 ,trays for ,drying4--,the tray consists of a wooden frame made of well-dried half-inch lumber1 nailed to cleats of one inch by one and one-half inch and of desired length4 ,the lumber most commonly used is well-seasoned spruce4 ,pine1 if not well seasoned1 is apt to give the raisins a taste of the wood or of rosin1 while redwood may discolor the raisins if exposed to rain or very heavy dew4 ,but as the lumber attains age1 it also becomes less injurious to the grapes4 ,cottonwood or poplar-wood1 which can be obtained in some places1 make most useful lumber for trays1 as they do not contain any taste or other substance apt to injure the raisins4 ,the size of the tray varies according to the idea of the raisin-grower1 but the size generally adopted is two by three feet4 ,formerly a smaller tray was used1 but no smaller ones are now made4 ,a larger size1 three by three feet1 is used by several growers1 but1 while it has the advantage of holding more grapes1 it is also less readily handled than the smaller tray4 ,in the southern part of ,california1 a tray two and one-half by three feet is very popular4 ,the tops of the trays are bought in the shape of shingles1 which should be well dried before being nailed1 as they will otherwise shrink up and cause cracks to form in the tray1 greatly to the detriment of the drying of the raisins4 ,loss is also caused by loose raisins dropping through such cracks4 ,the cleats should be wet or green1 or they will split in nailing4 ,if too dry1 they should be soaked in water over night or for a few hours4 ,the shingles should be planed on the side which is to be placed upwards4 ,the cost of the lumber for the trays varies from nine to twelve and one-half cents in the shooks4 ,for nailing the trays together1 a frame is made of wood and iron4 ,the cleats are placed on the two short1 opposite sides1 with a heavy bar of iron immediately underneath so as to clinch the nails4 ,the planed shingles are then placed on top and nailed to the cleats with round-wire nails1 which clinch automatically on the lower side as soon as they strike the iron bar4 ,no cleats are required on the long side of small size trays1 but if a larger tray is used a bar on each side may be required to give the tray sufficient strength4 ,a good workman1 after a few days of practice1 can comfortably nail up four hundred trays a day4 ,when the season is over1 every tray should be nailed up and washed1 or at least swept clean and stored dry4 ,the age of a tray1 if cared for1 is about ten years4 ,,california ,,lye-,,dipped ,,raisins4 ,general ,notes4--,in ,california the dipping of raisins in solutions of lye is yet in its very infancy1 and ,i do not think that in the whole ,state over ten tons of lye-dipped raisins have been placed on the market yearly4 ,but undoubtedly this process is destined to become of considerable importance1 especially in localities where the drying of the first crop is accomplished with difficulty in the open air4 ,the first and also most important condition in producing superior dipped raisins is that the grapes should be absolutely ripe4 ,unripe grapes will not produce any good raisins when dipped1 but will turn reddish and otherwise become inferior4 ,dipping ,process4--,a good location for dipping raisins is by the side of an irrigation ditch1 provided the water in the latter can be depended upon to flow constantly while the operation of dipping lasts4 ,if not1 the water must be procured by pumping or by means of pipes from reservoirs or water-works4 ,flowing water is of great importance in producing good dipped raisins1 and is required for the perfect washing of the grapes4 ,for this purpose1 if no ditch is available1 a large trough may be used to advantage1 and so arranged that the water in it can be kept changing through a continuous flow4 ,the following is a cheap and efficient arrangement for dipping in actual use in one of the largest raisin vineyards1 and can be recommended on account of its cheapness and easy working3 ,on one side of the trough is a stationary iron kettle with a fireplace underneath4 ,by the trough is also placed an upright post1 about five feet high1 and on this balanced a horizontal beam with a double motion4 ,it can be raised and lowered at either end1 or swung to the left or right with ease4 ,on one end of the beam is a hook on which to hang the grape bucket4 ,on the other side of the trough is a rough assorting table4 ,two or more buckets are needed4 ,these buckets are common galvanized-iron buckets1 perforated thickly with holes1 the latter not large enough to let any loose grapes through4 ,in the kettle is kept constantly boiling a solution of water and potash4 ,soda is not suitable4 ,the very best potash should be used in the proportion of about one pound to twelve gallons of water4 ,the ripe grapes are now brought to the table and emptied in the buckets4 ,a bucket is then hung on the beam1 the latter swung and the bucket for a second lowered first in the pure water and then in the boiling potash2 but it is immediately withdrawn and immersed in the water-trough4 ,when rinsed for a few seconds1 the grapes are taken out and spread on common raisin trays4 ,if the weather is warm1 the trays are stacked one on top of the other1 and the grapes thus prepared are dried in the shade4 ,the rinsing of the fruit before drying is of great importance1 and by far not sufficiently understood4 ,in ,valencia the finest raisins are treated that way and thoroughly rinsed before being dipped in the lye4 ,but nowhere in ,spain are the grapes rinsed in water afterwards1 and it is yet an undecided question if this rinsing improves or injures the raisins4 ,it is certain that the washing cleanses the berries1 as the water in the kettle is sometimes dark and dirty2 but if it is an advantage to deprive the berries of the lye which more or less sticks to them is very doubtful4 ,it is well known here that lye-dipped raisins are apt to mold if the rains set in while the drying lasts1 while we are told that in ,spain the dipped raisins do not spoil even if subjected to several showers of rain4 ,from this it will seem as if rinsing after dipping is not necessary or perhaps even injurious1 but that1 on the contrary1 rinsing before dipping is of the utmost importance4 ,it may be possible that the lye which adheres to the grapes will1 in a great measure1 prevent them from molding4 ,in ,spain no olive oil is used for mixing in the lye1 and it is not likely that the oil process will come in vogue in ,california until it is fully demonstrated that it not only greatly improves the grapes1 but that it also enables the grower to realize a correspondingly better price for his raisins4 ,those who care to experiment with it cannot do better than to follow the practice as it is used in ,smyrna1 for a full account of which we beg to refer to the article under that heading4 ,we might here only point out that the oil-dipped raisins of ,smyrna bring many times the price of the lye-dipped raisins of ,valencia4 ,the arrangement of dipping1 kettles1 etc41 may1 of course1 be greatly varied4 ,steam may be used for heating the lye and the rinsing water1 if it is desired to keep the latter hot1 and regular trays might be used to hold the grapes1 instead of the buckets referred to above4 ,every grower will no doubt vary these appliances to suit his own fancy1 and improve upon the methods of others4 ,as an example of the devices used by another grower1 we here reproduce the following from an essay on bleaching raisin grapes1 compiled by the chief viticultural officer1 and especially referring to the system used by ,mr4 ,byron ,jackson3 8,mr4 ,jackson places the grapes on a tray made with a frame of iron1 which is covered with wire gauze with a quarter-inch mesh4 ,the frame projects upwards on the sides to prevent the fruit floating off while in the dip1 and is made to receive1 as a cover1 the wooden tray on which the fruit goes to the dryer4 ,when dipped and rinsed1 the wooden tray is placed over the dipping tray1 and two men transfer the fruit by turning over the two40 ,the length of time required for dipping can only be ascertained by experience1 and must differ with the strength of the lye1 with the heat of the solution1 and with the thickness of the skin of the grapes4 ,thus in different localities the strength of the lye and the length of immersion must always be different1 and may even differ from year to year4 ,when properly dipped1 the skin of the grapes must show some very minute cracks1 similar to cracks in glass which has been heated and suddenly immersed in or sprinkled with ice-cold water4 ,deep cracks are not desirable1 as they will cause the juice of the pulp to leak out1 after which the raisins will sugar4 ,in ,valencia the grapes used for dipping are the various varieties of ,muscats1 while in ,smyrna both ,muscats and ,sultanas are used4 ,corinths are never dipped1 as they dry readily and make superior raisins without this process4 ,drying and ,curing4--,after the grapes are dipped1 they must be immediately dried either in the sun1 or in sun and shade alternately1 or entirely in the shade4 ,according to the circumstances attending the drying of the grapes1 the color of the raisins becomes more or less red or yellow1 transparent or opaque4 ,the most perfect amber color is attained in the shade1 while in the sun the color rapidly changes to reddish1 a less desirable color in dipped raisins4 ,the more favorable is the weather for drying1 the choicer will be the raisins1 and the better their color4 ,if the sun is very warm and the chances are otherwise favorable for drying1 the trays should be exposed to the sun only long enough to have their dip thoroughly evaporated1 and for this purpose one day in the sun may suffice4 ,after this the stacking of the trays is advisable1 and only occasionally may the trays be spread if the drying does not proceed rapidly enough4 ,such shade-dried dipped raisins will assume a beautiful amber-yellow color1 and bring several cents more than those exposed to very warm sun4 ,if1 however1 the weather is not very warm1 the grapes must be dried in the sun1 and the grower has then to be satisfied with the color that nature will give to his raisins4 ,dipped raisins do not necessarily require turning1 as they generally dry well anyhow in from four to six days in fair weather4 ,for this class of raisins dryers are very useful to help finish the drying4 ,such dryers must be almost air-tight1 as sandstorms would invariably spoil the raisins1 which1 on account of their stickiness1 are almost impossible to afterwards cleanse4 ,dipped raisins should always be dried on their trays1 and on special drying grounds1 which should be so constructed that no sand can blow on them1 or at least so arranged that in case of rain the sand from the ground will not be splashed over the trays4 ,in ,california we have at present no such drying-floors1 but it will pay any one who intends dipping his grapes to construct them either of bricks1 bituminous rock or lumber4 ,stemming1 ,grading and ,packing4--,dipped raisins should be stemmed when well dried1 and then graded in two grades4 ,the proper receptacles for them are either sacks lined with paper1 or twenty-pound boxes1 in which they may be packed without fancy paper1 or in the same way as prunes or other dried fruit4 ,so far no uniform method of packing such raisins has been adopted in this ,state4 ,as to the usefulness and future of dipped raisins1 not much can be said at present4 ,our importations of ,valencia raisins1 which are mostly dipped1 are considerable1 and as long as this class of cooking raisins is in demand1 there is no good reason why we should not compete and endeavor to supply the demand4 ,we can produce them as well as ,spain can1 and the only reason why we have not competed with ,spain so far is that sun-dried raisins are so readily produced here1 that it has not been to our advantage to produce anything else4 ,there are1 however1 many places in our ,state which will grow ,muscatel grapes of good quality1 but with too thick skins to make them proper for sun-dried raisins4 ,for all such localities the dipping process is to be recommended1 as it will enable the growers to produce marketable raisins1 and to profitably supply the demand for this variety of raisins now imported to this country from abroad4 ,in localities with early and copious fall rains1 the dipping process will enable the growers to finish quickly before the rains set in4 ,california dipped second-crop ,muscatels and ,sultanas have brought as high as seven cents per pound wholesale4 ,,the ,,packing-,,house4 ,,buildings ,,and ,,mechanical ,,appliances4 ,the ,packing-house4--,the packing-house should be large and airy and1 whether it is made of lumber1 brick or adobe1 it should in preference to anything else be large4 ,room is needed at every operation in the packing-house1 and it is hardly possible to get too much of it4 ,so far no very large and perfect buildings for packing-houses have ever been erected in ,california2 the raisin industry is too young for that1 and even the best of our buildings are only temporary ones4 ,it is here not possible nor desirable to give any instructions how to build and arrange a raisin packing-house1 as every packer will have his own ideas and his own necessities in this respect1 and not two packers would build alike4 ,all we can do here is to refer to what is needed in a general way1 in order that the reader will get some preliminary ideas of what he will require when his raisin vineyard comes in bearing4 ,the packing-house should contain the following apartments3 ,first1 the general packing-room1 in which the raisins are assorted and packed4 ,then the sweating-house or equalizing room1 in which the boxes are stored for several weeks in order to equalize the moisture in the raisins4 ,then the stemming-room1 in which the stemming and grading of the loose raisins is carried on4 ,then we have the weighing room1 where the raisins are received from the field1 and where they are weighed when this is required4 ,there should also be an office and a pasting room1 where the labels are pasted on the lining paper1 and finally there should be plenty of veranda or shed room all around the building1 where boxes of all kinds can be received and temporarily stored1 either before the raisins are packed1 or afterwards when they are ready to be shipped4 ,we might also wish to have a room for a box factory1 where boxes of all kinds are nailed up4 ,this can in our climate best be done in the shed or under the veranda4 ,the packing-house proper should be as large as all the other rooms together4 ,it can hardly be made too large1 as during the lively packing season hundreds of hands will here be busy1 each one with his special work4 ,the floor of the packing-house should be of matched lumber1 and slanting towards the center1 along which should run a small gutter4 ,any other material1 such as cement1 may also be used1 the only object in view being that the floor can be washed from time to time and the dirt carried off through the gutter as readily as possible4 ,the packing-room should have places for long narrow tables1 at which the packing and assorting is done1 and these tables can most conveniently be run the whole length of the room4 ,at one end there should be room for the presses and the nailing tables1 as well as storage room for empty and full boxes4 ,the ,sweating-house4--,the sweating-house or sweating-room should immediately adjoin the packing-room4 ,it should be built either of matched lumber or of brick or adobe1 in order that the temperature may be kept tolerably even and the moisture confined if necessary4 ,the sweating-room in the ,fresno ,raisin and ,fruit ,packing ,co's house in ,fresno is large enough to contain #dj tons of raisins at one time1 and is about #ej feet square1 while the sweating-room on the ,forsyth vineyard measures about #ce feet by #ej feet1 and is built of brick in two stories1 the lower one of which is used for raisins1 the upper one for storage4 ,for those who wish figures1 we might state as examples of buildings1 that the ,forsyth packing-house1 which also contains a sweating-room but not a stemming-room1 is #abj feet by #ce feet1 and contains besides a small platform outside for the reception of boxes1 etc4 ,the ,fresno ,raisin and ,fruit ,packing ,co's building is about #aej feet by #ge feet4 ,illustration3 ,raisin ,stemmer and ,grader4 ,the ,stemmer and ,grader4--,this large machine is a ,california invention4 ,the principle on which it works is that the dry stems are separated by revolving the raisins rapidly in a drum made of perforated galvanized iron or of strong galvanized wire4 ,after the stems are separated1 the raisins fall together on screens of wire with various size meshes1 through which the smaller berries are separated from the larger berries1 while the refuse and broken stems are blown away by a fan4 ,the most perfect stemmer and grader is the one on the ,butler vineyard4 ,the raisins are first dumped into a hopper below the floor1 and from there they are run automatically on a belt to the top of the stemmer1 where they enter the drum4 ,from the drum they fall on the separating screens1 which grade them in three grades1 each one falling in a box of its own4 ,somewhat similar stemmers are seen in all the large vineyards1 all run by steam and large enough to stem and grade from forty to sixty tons of raisins a day4 ,there is considerable difference as to the ingenuity with which these stemmers are built1 some requiring many more hands to run them than others4 ,the ,butler stemmer requires1 part of the time1 only one man for its successful running4 ,the ,forsyth stemmer stands under a shed in the open air1 apart from the packing-house1 in order that the dust may be freely carried away4 ,the smaller vineyards have stemmers run by hand1 and have separate graders also run by hand1 large enough to stem and grade from five to eight tons of raisins per day4 ,illustration3 ,raisin ,lever ,press4 ,the ,presses4--,these are of two kinds1 screw presses and lever presses4 ,the screw press is much preferable 7at least until the lever press may be perfected71 as with it we can gauge the pressure given the raisins4 ,the only press of this kind is found on the ,raisina vineyard of ,t4 ,c4 ,white4 ,the press that is generally adopted1 and the one that is most handy1 is the lever press1 which is so constructed that four boxes of raisins can be kept in the press at one time1 or until the last box or part of a box is ready4 ,by a pressure with the foot1 the levers are released and the boxes freed from the pressure4 ,while this press is exceedingly handy and quickly worked1 the pressure cannot readily be gauged1 and the raisins are apt to be injured by too heavy pressure4 ,but it is likely that improvements will soon be made which will remedy this defect4 ,boxes and ,cartoons4--,the ,california raisin boxes are of three kinds1--whole boxes of twenty pounds1 halves of ten pounds and quarters of five pounds4 ,the wholes and the quarters are those most used1 while the halves are seldom used or required4 ,the cartoons are made of paper and contain two and one-half pounds of raisins each4 ,the following are the measurements of raisin boxes and cartoons1 and of the lumber required for making them4 ,twenty-pound box3 #i x #ah x #d inches4 ,ten-pound box3 #i x #ah x #b inches4 ,five-pound box3 #i x #ah x #a inches4 ,the foregoing are inside measurements4 ,the tops and bottoms are one-quarter inch thick1 #ai inches long and #i inches wide4 ,the sides of the twenty-pound box are #ai inches long1 #d inches wide and three-eighths inches thick4 ,the ends of a twenty-pound box are #i inches long1 #d inches wide and three-fourths of an inch thick4 ,the sides of the ten-pound box are #ai inches long1 three-eighths of an inch thick and #b inches wide4 ,the ends of a ten-pound box are #i inches long1 three-fourths of an inch thick and #b inches wide4 ,the sides of a five-pound box are #ai inches long1 three-eighths of an inch thick and #a inches wide4 ,the two and one-half pound cartoon is five inches wide1 ten inches long and one and one-half inches deep4 ,packing ,frames or ,packing ,trays4--,these are of two kinds1 according to the method of packing4 ,for the top-up method1 wooden frames large enough to hold five pounds of raisins are used4 ,in length and width these frames correspond with the raisin box1 but in height they are only one-third of a whole box1 or about one and one-half inches4 ,the bottom is a sliding one1 and can be pulled out broadwise4 ,the frame is first lined on the inside with the necessary paper1 and then five pounds of raisins are placed in the paper4 ,a follower or block of wood1 large enough to fill the form or frame1 is then placed on top1 the frame is placed over an empty box1 the sliding bottom quickly withdrawn1 and the whole contents fall in the box below undisturbed4 ,for the top-down method1 frames of galvanized iron are used1 slightly deeper than the former1 but the bottom is a drop-bottom1 resting on a flange1 instead of a sliding bottom1 as in the former tray4 ,a loose plate of zinc is placed on top of the frame1 the latter is inverted and placed over the box1 and the zinc plate quickly withdrawn1 when the contents covered by the loose drop-bottom 7or by the facing-plate7 fall into the raisin box4 ,facing-plate4--,this useful tool was invented by ,t4 ,c4 ,white4 ,it consists of a brass plate large enough to fit readily into the bottom of the raisin box4 ,in this plate are arranged small cavities1 each one wide enough to hold a large raisin4 ,for large boxes the plate is made to contain eleven raisins the short way and eighteen the long way4 ,the plate is first placed in the bottom of the iron frame in place of the loose bottom4 ,a raisin is placed in each cavity and lightly pressed1 and loose raisins are carefully filled in on the top4 ,when this frame is afterwards reversed and the raisins and the plate as follower are received in the box1 it will be found that the top layer has retained its arrangement and is regularly faced4 ,this facing-plate enables the packer to face quickly and cheaply1 but it can only be used when the top-down method of packing is used4 ,the standard plate is nine inches by eighteen inches1 and the plate for cartoons is five inches by ten inches1 both made of heavy brass4 ,scales4--,for weighing the quantity of raisins necessary for every layer1 scales must be found on every weighing table4 ,any ordinary grocery scales which work with springs may be used4 ,generally one pair of such scales are used at each end of the assorting table4 ,labeling ,press4--,of late every large packer labels his boxes before they are nailed together4 ,this is done by passing the shooks through a labeling press1 which prints under pressure the required label on each side or top1 the name1 etc41 appearing in concave type on their face4 ,these presses are run by machinery and work very rapidly4 ,tables4--,in the packing-house are tables of various kinds2 they are generally long and narrow1 and about four feet wide4 ,the assorting tables should be furnished with square holes at intervals of five or six feet1 so that the loose raisins may be scraped through them into boxes below4 ,the assorting and weighing tables are furnished with a low flange or guard all around1 to prevent any raisins falling on the floor4 ,bags and ,bag-holders4--,two kinds of bags are used1--cotton sacks or jute sacks4 ,the former are white like flower sacks1 the latter coarser and brownish4 ,in the former no paper linings are used1 but in the latter a paper bag is stitched1 in order that the air may not penetrate and dry the raisins4 ,both kinds of bags are used to an equal extent4 ,the cotton sacks contain either thirty or sixty pounds1 while the jute sacks are made to contain an average of eighty pounds each4 ,patented bag-holders are used everywhere for holding the bags open while they are being filled4 ,trucks4--,for inside work1 trucks very similar to those used in the vineyard are now generally adopted4 ,they are handled with ease1 and for moving boxes of various kinds are absolutely indispensable in the modern raisin packing-house4 ,trays for ,weighing4--,these are small1 shallow boxes1 made of zinc or tin1 and large enough to hold five pounds of raisins each4 ,one short side of the tray should be slanting outward in order that the raisins may fall out readily4 ,they are only used in weighing the raisins which are to go in each five-pound layer in the whole boxes4 ,followers4--,these are wooden blocks of the size of a quarter box of raisins1 inside measurement4 ,they should be lined with zinc on the flat sides1 in order that they may be washed readily1 and also to prevent the sugar of the raisins from adhering to them4 ,they should be large enough to just fit inside a box or frame1 and are used to keep the raisins steady while being changed from the frame to the box4 ,they are also placed on top of the raisin frames when they are being pressed4 ,paper4--,several kinds of paper are used in the raisin business4 ,heavy yellow manilla paper is used to place in the sweatboxes1 one sheet between every two layers of raisins4 ,the paper should be heavy1 and cut to fit the box4 ,many growers use too short paper1 which always has the inconvenience of causing the raisins to mix and become entangled4 ,only one whole sheet of paper should be used at a time2 two short sheets will not answer1 as1 in lifting out a layer of raisins1 the assorter takes hold of the four corners of the paper1 and thus readily lifts out the raisin block4 ,lighter paper for lining the raisin boxes is used1 both for layers and loose4 ,the paper generally used is common book paper twenty-one by twenty-eight inches1 and forty1 fifty or sixty pounds to the ream in quality4 ,previous to being used1 this paper is cut to fit the tray1 a square piece being cut out of every corner4 ,when placed in the tray1 the central part of the paper fits the bottom of the tray1 while the sides of the paper extend sufficiently over the sides of the tray to meet on top when folded over the raisins4 ,waxed tissue paper should always be placed on the top of the raisins in order to prevent the moisture from the raisins injuring the colored and artistic labels4 ,colored lithographs or chromos of various designs and qualities are used for all raisins packed in boxes4 ,when bought they come in three sizes4 ,the central label should be nearly the size of the face of the box4 ,the top labels are shorter pieces1 almost as wide as the box1 but only a few inches long4 ,they are previously pasted to the top flaps of the lining4 ,the side labels are twice as long as the face of the box1 but not quite half as wide2 they are similarly pasted on the long side flaps of the lining4 ,there is a great variety of designs used1 some of which are not appropriate4 ,whatever designs we use1 it will be to the advantage of every country not to imitate1 but to use labels characteristic of the country and locality where the raisins are made4 ,tin ,boxes4--,for packing raisins for tropical countries1 boxes made of tin should be used4 ,the dampness in those countries causes raisins packed the common way to mold and spoil4 ,no box should contain more than ten pounds of raisins1 and the top should be so soldered on that it can be removed without cutting or injuring the box4 ,the ,french system of soldering on by means of a narrow strip of tin1 which can be wound up1 is admirable1 and could hardly be improved upon4 ,five ten-pound boxes should be packed in a light case made of light timber1 and the whole package when closed should not weigh over sixty pounds4 ,four such cases will make one mule-load1 and two such cases can be conveniently carried by one man4 ,,loose ,,raisins4 ,stemming and ,assorting4--,it must be understood that all the mechanical appliances and tools mentioned above should now be on hand ready for use and properly placed4 ,the several different operations in packing1 stemming1 assorting1 etc41 of both loose and layers1 will at times be carried on in different parts of the packing establishment at the same time1 so as to meet the requirements of mixed lots or orders1 the general shipments being of that nature4 ,loose and layer raisins are produced more or less from almost every sweatbox brought into the packing-house1 and the only delay to their being immediately disposed of is because the layer raisins must be sweated or equalized before they are ready for use4 ,the loose raisins1 provided they are properly or sufficiently dried1 are ready to be handled as soon as brought from the vineyard4 ,a loose raisin1 or a bunch from which loose raisins are to be made1 must be overdried rather than underdried2 at any rate1 it must be so dry1 that no juice will come out of it when the raisin is squeezed heavily or even torn4 ,but a matter of greater importance even is that the stems should be brittle or sufficiently dry to break off readily4 ,if they do not break1 the raisins cannot be easily separated from the stem4 ,the stems1 instead of breaking off1 will tear off1 and the raisins will be open to the entrance of air1 which will cause them to undergo a chemical change1 to sugar and deteriorate4 ,as soon as a perfectly dried sweatbox of third-grade or loose raisins enters the packing-house1 it should be taken to the stemmer4 ,any delay in this is injurious to the raisins1 as they will rapidly undergo a sweating or equalizing1 causing the stems to soften and to lose their brittleness4 ,it will1 therefore1 be seen that loose raisins must on no account be sweated or equalized before they have been stemmed4 ,besides1 if the raisins are in any way moist1 they will not shed the dust and dirt when being passed through the stemmer4 ,it is therefore to every raisin-grower's interest to so hasten the drying of the loose raisins that as many of them as possible can be out of the way when the layers1 which take longer to dry1 come in4 ,this1 as we have shown before1 can only be done by assorting the raisins while green1 and at the moment they are being picked from the vines4 ,the different size bunches dry at different times1 and the loose can then be partially disposed of when the layers are ready4 ,the stemmer and grader should separate the raisins in at least three grades3 ,number one1 large loose2 number two1 smaller loose2 number three1 smallest seedless1 to which may be added a number four1 or rubbish4 ,the large loose bring always a good price1 and great care should be taken with them4 ,after having passed through the stemmer and assorter once1 they should be passed through a second or third time1 in order that all the inferior or smaller raisins may be eliminated4 ,in this way1 a fine1 large number one is had1 which is sure to give satisfaction4 ,number two loose may be passed through a second time if the stemmer has not done its full duty1 and the same may also be done with number three seedless4 ,it always pays to do a thing well1 and this holds good with raisins as with everything else4 ,colonel ,forsyth1 who has acquired a high reputation for his loose raisins1 advocates and practices this repeated assorting1 especially of the number one grade1 in order that it may be entirely uniform4 ,too many poor raisins are generally found among the small seedless1 and if they are to be made to partially replace the seedless ,sultanas or the ,currants in the same manner as the number two is expected to replace the imported ,valencias1 they must be made clean from all rubbish4 ,only by producing a superior article can we hope to replace the imported dipped raisins by our loose ,muscatels4 ,packing and ,cleaning4--,the number one and two loose are always put up in whole boxes of twenty pounds each1 never in quarter boxes1 but sometimes in cartoons1 to be used as samples or as holiday gifts4 ,in packing whole boxes1 they may either be faced or not4 ,if not faced1 the work is very simple4 ,the raisins are first brought to a large separate table with a guard all around its edges1 so as to prevent the raisins from falling to the floor4 ,on each such table are one or more small scales4 ,the workmen gather the raisins with small shovels1 and place them in quantities of twenty pounds each in tin trays1 with the guards slanting at one end1 in order that the raisins may fall out readily4 ,these trays are then immediately carried by other hands to the packing-table close by4 ,here the proper papers are being placed in regular whole raisin boxes1 the loose raisins are poured in from the trays1 and from time to time looked over and cleaned4 ,all poor or inferior raisins should be carefully eliminated1 and only good ones allowed to be boxed4 ,finally the paper leaves are folded over1 and the boxes are taken away to be nailed up4 ,number two undergoes the very same process when packed in boxes4 ,illustration3 ,raisin ,truck for ,packing-house4 ,sacking4--,a very large trade is springing up in sacked raisins1 and the demand for them is increasing every year4 ,both numbers two and three grades loose are now exported this way either in cotton sacks1 or in jute sacks lined inside with paper4 ,the jute sacks are by many preferred on account of their showing the dirt less1 the cotton sacks generally arriving soiled at their destination4 ,if cotton sacks are used for shipment ,east1 they should be first placed in common burlap sacks1 in order to arrive clean and attractive4 ,the extra expense is not great1 as the cheapest kind can be used for this purpose4 ,facing1 ,top-up ,method4--,the facing is quickly done with the aid of ,white's facing-plate1 but it can also be accomplished without it if the packer may so desire4 ,the facing-plate1 however1 is greatly to be preferred1 as we shall show directly4 ,if no plate is used1 the operation is as follows3 ,at the filling table1 fifteen pounds of loose raisins are weighed off directly in the twenty-pound boxes4 ,then five pounds loose are weighed separately in a tin tray4 ,the whole boxes are taken to the packing-table and placed close to the press1 one on top of the other1 the smaller trays1 with five pounds each1 are brought to the facer1 who now takes one of the loose wooden frames with a sliding bottom and places in it the necessary papers4 ,he then fills in the five pounds of loose raisins1 smooths and spreads them out1 and sees that no bad berries are among the good ones4 ,this operation may also be performed by different hands1 so as to divide up the work4 ,this is probably the best and most economical way4 ,the next step is to take the tray to the press and subject it to a certain pressure1 so as to get a smooth upper surface on which to face or place the raisins in rows4 ,when this is done the tray is taken to the facer4 ,the facer now has in front of him a tray filled with the ornamental papers and the five pounds of raisins4 ,the surface of the raisins is smooth and even4 ,the next operation is to place large raisins in rows on the top surface4 ,a small box with loose1 large raisins should be at the side of the facer1 who in taking each one of them at first presses it towards the table with the thumb of either hand1 thus flattening out the raisin in order to make it appear large4 ,when the tray is faced1 it may again be subjected to slight pressure1 but generally this is not needed4 ,the contents of the tray are now transferred to the twenty-pound box1 which already contains fifteen pounds of loose4 ,these loose raisins1 which will be on the bottom of the box1 are not generally wrapped in paper1 although such would very much improve their appearance4 ,the box is now ready for nailing4 ,this top-up method is very inferior to the top-down method1 as will be described further on4 ,in packing with this method1 only the wooden frame with the sliding bottom is used4 ,the drop-bottom frame is only used for the top-down method4 ,facing1 ,top-down ,method4--,in using this method1 the top layer is finished first1 and the bottom last4 ,the packing is done as follows3 ,in the bottom of a tin or galvanized-iron tray1 previously described1 is placed one of ,white's facing-plates4 ,as will be remembered1 the frame has a loose drop-bottom1 which falls out as soon as the tray is turned over4 ,the facing-plate is placed either directly on this loose bottom1 or on the flange supporting it1 and always with the facing-cups upward4 ,the facer now places loose selected raisins1 one in each hollow1 presses his finger on the raisin and works it in the hollow until it becomes flattened4 ,when all the cavities are filled1 loose raisins are carefully filled in until the tray is full1 when but a gentle pressure is required to steady the raisins and make them keep their places4 ,in the meantime1 fifteen pounds of raisins have been put in twenty-pound boxes and gently pressed4 ,some packers of choice raisins use a wrapper and label for every layer of five pounds1 which greatly improves the general appearance of the box4 ,after all is ready1 a loose zinc plate is placed over the filled frame or tray1 the latter is reversed and placed directly over the raisin box1 in which has already been placed the required paper wrapper4 ,the zinc plate1 which only served to steady the raisins while the frame was being turned1 is now quickly withdrawn1 and the five-pound faced layer falls down in the box entirely undisturbed1 kept so by the facing-plate which here acted as follower4 ,the box is now ready for nailing1 after a label and wax paper have first been placed on top of the plate4 ,without the facing-plate1 a skilled facer can face some forty boxes a day1 while from twenty to thirty boxes is a low average4 ,with the facing-plate1 the facing can be accomplished with more speed and accuracy4 ,comparative ,value of the ,two ,methods4--,the top-up method has several disadvantages4 ,it requires a heavy pressure of the raisins to create a smooth1 flat surface on which to face4 ,but even if no facing is done1 the top layer will always be more or less uneven1 and requires heavy pressure to make it smooth1 and appear well and to advantage4 ,this heavy pressure always bursts many of the raisins1 and causes them to sugar and spoil4 ,it has also another disadvantage1 that the facing of the top layer can only be done with the fancy paper previously placed in the box4 ,in facing and manipulating the raisins1 this paper becomes more or less soiled and wet4 ,in using the top-down method1 the paper is placed in the box at the last moment1 just before the final five-pound layer is emptied from the tray upon the fifteen-pound layer below4 ,i consider these advantages so essential that ,i must strongly indorse the top-down method1 and ,i believe that1 in course of time1 it will be generally adopted by all packers who care for the keeping qualities of their raisins4 ,as to the time and expense required by these two methods1 there is but very little difference4 ,the top-down method is possibly a little slower and more expensive1 but it is by far the better1 and the difference in expense of packing is not great enough to be taken into consideration4 ,,layer ,,raisins4 ,sweating or ,equalizing4--,this is a process by which the overdried raisins are made to attract sufficient moisture from the underdried raisins in the same box or bunch1 and whereby the overdried raisins are made moister1 while the underdried ones become drier4 ,equalizing also moistens the stems sufficiently to prevent them from breaking when being handled4 ,in our ,california climate1 where the air is so dry1 this equalizing process is an absolute necessity1 and no first-class raisin pack can be produced without the raisins having first been equalized4 ,the word 8equalizing0 is to be preferred to 8sweating10 as the latter word may be misunderstood as meaning that a certain amount of heat is developed by storing the raisins4 ,heat is indeed necessary1 but it should come from the outside air1 not from the inside or from the raisins4 ,if from the latter the raisins will be in a fair way to become spoiled4 ,in the foregoing ,i have described the construction and workings of the sweathouse4 ,it may be suggested that1 if there is no sweathouse on the vineyard1 a large sail or canvas may be used as a substitute4 ,the latter is simply thrown over the boxes where they are piled out-of-doors1 and answers to some degree in keeping the raisins moist4 ,but as this is only a substitute1 ,i shall not dwell longer on its usefulness4 ,it may1 however1 be said in favor of this appliance1 that it is used by one of our largest packers1 and by him considered as of equal value if not superior even to a regularly constructed equalizing house4 ,the raisins which are to be sweated are only the clusters or layers1 and not the loose1 which as we have seen should at once be taken from the field to the stemmer1 while the stems are yet crisp and dry4 ,it is therefore of importance that the bunches or layers should be separated from the loose already in the field1 or1 which is much preferable1 before they are dried1 at the time when they are picked from the vines4 ,if the latter is done properly1 there will be only a small quantity of loose which will go in the sweating-house with the layers4 ,the layers should at any rate be placed at once in sweatboxes when taken from the trays1 and between every two layers of bunches there should be a stout sheet of manilla paper1 in order that the bunches may not become mixed4 ,when taken to the sweathouse the boxes should be so placed that air can enter every one4 ,it will not do to place one box on top of another so as to cover up the top entirely1 as the raisins are then apt to ferment in a very short time1 and1 before the raisin-packer is aware1 whole piles may be absolutely spoiled4 ,it is not necessary to place the boxes crosswise1 as it is enough to allow the short side of each box to overlap the underlying box a little2 sufficient air will then enter4 ,in very dry weather the floor of the sweathouse may be sprinkled with water1 but this is generally not needed1 as the underdried raisins will give out moisture enough to soften those that are too dry1 as well as the stems4 ,every day the sweathouse should be aired1 and it is a mistake to believe that all air should be excluded4 ,if air is not daily admitted1 the raisins will mold and spoil1 and it is even advisable to keep a circulation of air constantly through the house during the daytime4 ,the attentive packer will soon learn to regulate this1 and nothing but actual experience with his particular sweathouse will enable him to decide how much air should be let in and to what extent the doors should be closed4 ,at the end of from ten days to three weeks1 the equalizing process should be over1 and the layers ready for further packing4 ,when the boxes are removed1 it will be found that the majority of those raisins which had been too moist or underdried have dried sufficiently1 while on the contrary the overdried raisins1 as well as the formerly brittle stems1 will have acquired sufficient moisture to enable the packer to manipulate them without risk of breaking the bunches4 ,the raisins should be pliable1 and stand moderate pressure without cracking or breaking4 ,but while equalizing is an important operation1 and one which we cannot dispense with1 it is always to the grower's interest to so dry his raisins previously that they will require as little equalizing as possible1 as even the most carefully sweated raisins which have once been overdried will never afterwards equal those which were at once properly dried in the field4 ,the overdried raisins will always have a tougher skin and be inferior in color2 but on the other hand they will keep better than raisins which have been dried less4 ,grading and ,weighing4--,the next step after the raisins have been equalized is to remove them to the grading tables4 ,this should not be done by dumping the contents of a sweatbox on the table1 as in this way but very few of the real choice bunches are saved for the packer4 ,if1 however1 the raisins have been placed carelessly in the boxes1 without sufficient or perhaps without any manilla papers between the layers1 the only way is to dump out the contents4 ,by first placing the sweatbox on the long side1 and then turning it over1 the raisins are but slightly disturbed4 ,but to get these out afterwards from the chunk is the great difficulty1 and many bunches must necessarily be broken4 ,if1 again1 the raisins have been carefully handled and consigned to the sweatboxes1 with four papers in every box1 not counting in the top cover1 the care and handling of the sweatboxes will be much simplified4 ,the sweatbox is then placed alongside of the grading table1 and each layer with its paper is lifted out carefully1 and placed on the table4 ,the assorting is now to begin4 ,the bunches are taken up one by one1 all inferior berries are clipped out1 all soft ones are separated and placed in a box by themselves to be further dried4 ,as each bunch is examined and cleaned1 it is put in one of the weighing trays resting on small scales at either end of the table1 and1 when the scales indicate that five pounds of raisins are in the tray1 the latter is removed to the packing table4 ,in the meantime all loose or inferior bunches are raked down through the openings in the grading tables and received in sweatboxes below1 to be either further dried or to be stemmed and graded at once4 ,in packing several grades of layer raisins1 the grading of the bunches should be made at this table4 ,no great choice in selecting the bunches should be left to the packer1 as his time should alone be occupied with the packing of his box4 ,the best way is to have differently colored scales for number one and number two layers1 and when taking them out of the sweatbox assort them at once by placing them in different trays4 ,the graders can never be too careful4 ,no moist raisins1 no small ones1 no red and poor raisins1 should ever be allowed among a better quality4 ,they will lower the grade of the whole box1 while the good quality of high-grade raisins will not raise the grade of a generally poor box4 ,thus1 while the many good raisins in a poor box are not paid for according to their value1 the few poor raisins which will be accidentally or carelessly smuggled in a good box will lower the value of the whole4 ,few packers will sufficiently understand this1 which is really the principle of all good packing1 and which should be scrupulously adhered to4 ,even inferior size berries1 if otherwise ever so good1 should be carefully clipped from the large-berried bunches4 ,it is astonishing how quickly the buyer will notice a few small berries1 and how readily he will ignore the value of the largest raisins in the box4 ,packing ,layers1 ,top-up ,method4--,as with packing the loose raisins1 there are two methods1 the top up and the top down4 ,the top-up method can be as little recommended in this case as in the former1 but as it is used by many of the packers ,i will here describe it3 ,the trays containing the five-pound layers are placed in front of the packer on the packing table1 so as to be within easy reach of the packer4 ,the trays or frames with the sliding bottom are now used4 ,the first move is to place one of the inner paper wrappers in the tray1 and next the layers are placed in the frame as carefully as possible4 ,there are two ways in vogue in which this is done4 ,one of them is to crowd the raisins to one side1--8bunch0 them1 so to say1 beginning at one end of the tray and gradually working towards the other end4 ,this is the wrong way1 which ,i am sorry to say is used by very many packers1 who desire speed above everything1 thus sacrificing care and quality and even appearance4 ,raisins packed this way point their ends upwards in a slanting way1 which not only detracts from their appearance1 but causes them to get entangled in each other4 ,such bunches when pressed will generally break1 and1 when lifted out of the box afterwards1 will be very different from what they were when they were placed there in the first instance4 ,the raisins1 whatever method is used1 should always be placed flat on the bottom of the tray4 ,care should be taken to arrange them so that they will fit1 and only very few broken bunches should be allowed to fill unoccupied corners or spaces in the box4 ,it is better even to leave such spaces empty than to tear up good bunches in order to get the small quantities needed1 or in using inferior berries to fill up the holes4 ,illustration3 ,riverside1 ,showing ,orange ,orchards and ,raisin ,vineyards4 ,when at last the tray is full1 and all the five pounds of raisins from the weighing tray are in1 the upper surface should be smooth so as to require as little pressure as possible4 ,when full the trays are taken to the press and stored on a side table until actually used4 ,the presses are generally arranged for four trays4 ,these are now placed under the press1 a follower is placed on the top of every tray1 and only sufficient pressure applied4 ,frequently too much pressure is used1 and the raisins are flattened out to their greatest possible extent1 many even crushed and so broken that the juice runs out4 ,all such crushed raisins will sugar in a few months1 and the whole box containing them will spoil and deteriorate in value4 ,if1 again1 the raisins have been properly pressed1 they will keep for months or even years4 ,after the trays have been sufficiently pressed1 which generally is accomplished in one minute's time1 the pressure is released1 the follower removed1 the folders turned over the raisins1 and the trays removed to the boxing table1 on which they may be allowed to accumulate until the boxer is ready to fill his boxes4 ,on this table the final packing or 8making up0 of a box is done4 ,it takes four of these five-pound frames to fill one whole box4 ,each tray is in its turn placed over a box1 the sliding bottom is quickly removed1 and the five-pound layer drops down in the box undisturbed4 ,every fourth frame should1 in addition to the common paper wrapper1 have labels and fancy paper pasted on the folders1 or1 as is sometimes done1 an extra fancy folder or wrapper is placed on the third layer1 and on the top or inside of it the fourth layer is dropped4 ,each layer will thus be found in its own wrapper1 but the upper layer will have two1 the outside one of which is fancy4 ,fine layers should have a waxed paper immediately above the raisins1 in order that the moisture or sugar from them may not spoil the labels4 ,on the top of the waxed paper the chromo or label is placed4 ,the box is now ready for nailing4 ,packing ,layers1 ,top-down ,method4--,this method ,i advocate as the most proper one to use4 ,thin galvanized-iron trays with a drop bottom are used4 ,on the top of the drop bottom is placed a heavy follower of metal4 ,white's facing-plate1 turned over1 can be used to great advantage1 even where no facing is required4 ,the choicest bunches are now selected and spread evenly on the bottom of the tray2 other bunches are placed on top of them1 and so on until the tray is full4 ,great care must be taken in packing so as to make the bunches fit each other and lie solid2 otherwise they are very apt to be disturbed1 or they will require too heavy pressure to be kept in place4 ,when the tray is full1 it is gently pressed1 and the pressure kept up for a few seconds4 ,a loose zinc plate is then placed over the tray1 the latter is turned over and placed over the box1 in which the necessary wrapping papers have been previously placed1 the loose zinc plate is quickly withdrawn1 and the contents fall into the box4 ,the heavy follower keeps the top layer steady1 and with a little care the raisins are not disturbed4 ,the top-down method for packing layers has the following advantages over the top-up method4 ,it gives a smooth surface on which to pack the top layer1 without necessitating pressure to first create such a surface1 the packing being done on a hard plate4 ,the wrappers are not soiled1 as they are not first placed in the frames4 ,the packer is enabled to pack and select his choicest bunches for the top layer while he has plenty to select from1 and any odd berries and broken or smaller bunches come naturally in the bottom of each layer4 ,in the top-up method all such odds remain for the top1 where they must go in1 in order to make up the required five pounds4 ,a raisin-packer averages seventy-five trays of five pounds each per day1 for which she is paid two cents each4 ,some pack more than this2 but very excellent packing proceeds slower1 and a packer of very choice layers can only pack twenty-five trays of five pounds each per day1 for which a correspondingly higher price is paid4 ,in ,malaga1 a trained and expert packer receives between two and three dollars per day4 ,in ,california1 they do not receive any more4 ,in our raisin district1 the girls are rapidly becoming expert packers1 and the same ones are rengaged year after year by the same packing-house4 ,filling4--,the filling of the raisins is a trick to make them appear larger than they are4 ,this filling was invented in ,spain1 and is used there especially on ,dehesa boxes and where very expensive packing is required4 ,it is done in the following manner4 ,the raisin is first flattened out as much as possible1 then the edges are bent1 making the raisins slightly concave4 ,in placing the concave side downwards1 a smaller raisin is slipped underneath so as to cause the manipulated raisin to keep its shape4 ,these filled raisins are used for facing only4 ,the ,spanish filled raisins have been handled to such an extent that all the bloom is lost1 and the raisin looks anything but attractive4 ,the ,california method of filling is a great improvement on the ,spanish way4 ,when the facing-plate is used1 the raisin is first placed in a cavity on the plate1 then worked out by a pressure with the finger1 and when sufficiently concave another raisin is dropped in the hollow and pressed tightly4 ,the faced raisin is thus filled1 and when seen from the other side will appear much larger than otherwise4 ,when1 again1 the top-up method of packing is used1 a small block of wood may be employed4 ,this block contains a single cavity of the size1 that a raisin when pressed will fill it4 ,the counterpart of this block is furnished with a convex protuberance1 and when the two halves are placed together with a raisin between1 and pressure is brought to bear1 the raisin flattens out and becomes concave just enough to receive the filling4 ,in this way no handling with the fingers is done1 and the raisin keeps its bloom undisturbed4 ,nothing is more attractive than a raisin with its bloom untouched2 similarly the raisin that has lost its bloom always gives the buyer an idea that it has been fingered4 ,its appetizing quality is gone4 ,spanish ,dehesas are generally both faced and filled4 ,some objection to this method is that it deceives1 but as long as people not only are willing to be deceived but are actually anxious to pay for the deception1 there is no reason why the filling should not be used4 ,the deception1 besides1 is a very innocent one4 ,it has also another excuse3 ,a well faced and filled box is really a work of art2 it will help to educate the people up to the appreciation of what fine raisins and fine packing should be4 ,filling and facing combined are practiced but little in ,california1 and it is doubtful if filled facing will ever grow in much demand here4 ,nailing and ,trimming4--,the boxes are next moved to the nailing table4 ,two nails are put in the short sides and two in the long sides of the cover4 ,the boxes when nailed are passed to the trimmer1 who with a drawknife trims the edges and cuts off the comers diagonally4 ,the latter prevents the boxes or covers from splitting4 ,the best nails are ,french wire nails for the sides and ends1 one and one-quarter inches long1 and for tops and bottoms one inch long4 ,labels4--,i cannot finish this part without adding some words about our labels4 ,it is of importance that our labels and colored lithographs should be appropriate4 ,the time has come when our raisins should stand upon their own merits1 and should be designated with appropriate names4 ,i should wish to see only ,california names used1 ,california layers instead of ,london layers1 ,california scenes instead of foreign scenes1 which give no idea of our conditions1 and which do not help to advertise our ,state and its resources4 ,whatever our labels may represent1 they should be distinctly ,californian4 ,another point which is but seldom observed on these labels is the shape and color of our raisin grapes4 ,the latter are often represented on the labels1 but their shape is seldom observed4 ,nowhere have we seen on them a true ,gordo ,blanco or a true ,muscat of ,alexandria represented1 the grapes there pictured being impossible as raisin grapes1 or even well-known wine or table grapes1 out of which no raisins could be made4 ,the packer has a right to protest against such misrepresentations of our fair grapes1 especially as the lithographer could just as readily and just as cheaply have followed the originals4 ,a beautiful label is well worth its price4 ,as a work of art1 it is seldom thrown away1 but is carefully kept and made to adorn the walls of many a humble home1 in which the name and fame of our ,state will soon be a household word4 ,let these labels go out by the million yearly to tell of our climate and of our soil1 and of the land where the luscious raisins are produced1 with the same care as apples or garden stuff in countries less favored by nature4 ,,statistics ,,of ,,importation1 ,,production ,,and ,,prices4 ,production of ,raisins in ,california from to #ahhi3 ,twenty- pound boxes4 #ahgc #f1jjj #ahgd #i1jjj #ahge #aa1jjj #ahgf #ai1jjj #ahgg #cb1jjj #ahgh #dh1jjj #ahgi #fe1jjj #ahhj #ge1jjj #ahha #ij1jjj #ahhb #aae1jjj #ahhc #adj1jjj #ahhd #age1jjj #ahhe #ejj1jjj #ahhf #gjj1jjj #ahhg #hjj1jjj #ahhh #ifc1jjj #ahhi #a1jjj1jjj ,the ,california crop1 from #ahhe to #ahhi1 was divided between the various raisin districts of the ,state about as follows3 #ahhe4 #ahhf4 #ahhg4 #ahhh4 #ahhi4 ---------------------------------------- ------------------------- ,fresno #ajg1jjjbbe1jjjcej1jjjddj1jjjdge1jjj ,riverside and ,san ,bernardino #abi1jjjaie1jjjaij1jjjbgj1jjjbfe1jjj ,orange ,county and ,los ,angeles#aci1jjjahj1jjj #he1jjj #db1jjj #h1jjj ,county ,woodland and ,davisville #fg1jjj #ge1jjjabe1jjj #aae1jjjabj1jjj ,san ,diego #aj1jjj #be1jjj #bj1jjj #dj1jjj #ge1jjj ,tulare #f1jjj #h1jjj #aj1jjj #aa1jjj #ae1jjj ,kern -- -- -- -- #d1jjj ,scattering #ab1jjj #ae1jjj #bj1jjj #be1jjj #be1jjj ----------------------------------- #dgj1jjjgbc1jjjhjj1jjjidc1jjjihg1jjj ---------------------------------------- ------------------------- ,number of ,acres in ,raisin ,grapes in ,california in #ahij3 ,fresno district #cj1jjj acres4 ,balance of ,san ,joaquin valley #aj1jjj 8 ,san ,bernardino district #e1jjj 8 ,san ,diego and ,el ,cajon #f1jjj 8 ,yolo and ,solano #h1jjj 8 ,balance of the ,state #g1jjj 8 ------ #ff1jjj 8 ,this includes grapes in bearing1 as well as vines lately set out4 ,california and ,malaga ,prices1 ,importations1 etc41 from #ahga to #ahhi3 ,the following statistics of prices of ,california and ,malaga raisins have been mostly compiled from various sources1 such as the ,fresno ,expositor1 the ,san ,francisco ,journal of ,commerce1 the ,fruit ,grower1 etc4 ,these statistics and notes will give a fair idea of the progress made by the raisin industry in this ,state since #ahgc1 the year when our raisins first cut any conspicuous figure in the market of this continent4 ,the first struggle of the raisin-producers of this ,coast was directed against the importers of ,malaga raisins1 and against the prejudice of our own consumers4 ,it took about ten years to supersede the ,malaga product by our own4 ,the following table gives the importation of ,malaga raisins to this ,state from #ahga to #ahhd3 ,twenty- pound boxes4 #ahga #af1ecd #ahgb #cf1aec #ahgc #bg1fib #ahgd #ce1ddg #ahge #bb1bbh #ahgf #bi1ahg #ahgg #ac1ceg #ahgh #ad1hbd #ahgi #aj1hhd #ahhj #c1ihh #ahha #a1gai #ahhb #a1bah #ahhc #fcc #ahhd #a1dcg #ahhe #hjj #ahhf -- #ahhg -- #ahhh -- #ahhi -- ,it will be observed that the imports began to fall off in #ahge1 being that year more than #ac1jjj boxes short of the preceding year4 ,in #ahgf the importations struggled back to #bi1ahg1 still being more than #f1jjj boxes short of the importations of #ahgd2 and then the battle was practically won1 for in the succeeding years the importations dwindled away until in #ahhc only #fcc boxes were imported4 ,the figures from #ahhf to date are not obtainable1 but are so insignificant as to be considered unnecessary to record4 #ahgc4--;,in #ahgc the market was liberally supplied with ,malaga raisins1 which brought at wholesale the following prices3 ,layers1 whole boxes1 #c4jj to #c4ge2 half boxes1 #c4fb2 quarters1 #c4ge2 eighths1 #d4jj to #d4be2 ,london layers1 #d4ej4 #ahgd4--;,coming down to #ahgd1 the ,malaga still holds the fort1 layers bringing #c4be for whole boxes1 and #c4ab for half boxes1 with the customary advance on fractions4 ,in all this time the ,california raisin was too insignificant for notice1 and was not quoted by commercial papers4 #ahge4--,on ,january #ad1 #ahge1 this significant comment appears in the ,journal of ,commerce3 8,a decided change is being wrought in the markets of this coast respecting the use of ,malaga raisins1 figs1 ,zante currants1 ,hungarian prunes1 almonds1 walnuts1 etc4 ,in fact1 from this time forward ,pacific ,coast supplies of bunch raisins and dried fruits generally are to be produced here in large quantities1 and in favorable seasons we will doubtless have a large surplus of almonds 7hard1 soft and paper shells71 ,english walnuts1 chestnuts1 hickory nuts1 raisins1 figs1 etc40 ,on ,november #d1 #ahge1 it was recorded that up to the #ast of ,november there had been received #f1jjj boxes of ,california raisins1 8the quality generally good10 worth from eight to ten cents per pound1 say #b4jj and #b4be per box of twenty-two pounds net2 ,london layers1 #c4ej and #c4ge4 #ahgf4--;,in ,january of #ahgf ,malagas were quoted at #c4be and #c4ej1 ,california raisins bringing ten and twelve and one-half cents per pound4 ,the following comment was made at that time1 which may be considered as another mile-stone in the progress of the ,california industry3 8,malaga raisins have been imported to very much less extent the present than last season1 owing to the large products of ,california cured1 which latter have amounted to upwards of #cj1jjj boxes1 about one-half of which have been of prime quality1 suitable for table use1 a portion being poorly cured and considerably inferior to the imported1 but have sold at lower rates for ordinary cooking purposes40 ,the ,california raisin was now fairly on its feet1 so to speak1 and was in lively competition with the ,malaga dried grape4 ,the market reports spoke well of ,blowers' ,california ,muscatels and ,briggs' bunch raisins4 ,the jobbers1 however1 were loth to give up the ,malaga2 but to sell that article they had to import an extra choice quality1 as the public was beginning to show a marked preference for the home product4 ,in proof of this the following extract1 dated ,november #i1 #ahgf1 is given3 8,the quality of the ,malaga raisins now here is superior to any ever before imported1 and have a preference over our best ,california raisins4 ,this1 however1 will not always be the case1 as experience makes perfect1 and in a few years we will be entirely independent of the ,old ,world for all sorts of dried fruits40 #ahgg4--;,in ,november1 #ahgg1 very complimentary notice is made of ,blowers' layer raisins from ,woodland1 which brought #b4ge and #c4jj per box4 ,briggs' raisins were worth #b4be and #b4gj4 ,this extract1 dated ,january #ah1 #ahgg1 is still another landmark in the raisin industry3 8,the consumption of raisins has been fully up to the average of past years1 yet divided between ,malaga imports and our own ,california production4 ,of the latter1 upwards of #bj1jjj boxes have been already marketed2 and1 had it not been for the unusual and unexpected heavy rainfall in ,october1 there is every reason to believe that our home crop of bunch and layer raisins would have reached #ej1jjj boxes of twenty pounds each4 ,blowers' ,muscat raisins were superior and in every way equal to the imported4 ,briggs1 of ,marysville1 also turned out several thousand boxes of bunch1 and others have made a creditable beginning4 ,enough has been done here in this line to satisfy our grape-growers that raisin-curing is to be1 in the near future1 a prominent ,california interest1 and1 to do it successfully1 the sun-drying process is infinitely superior to that of machine-drying4 ,sheds must be erected and prepared in time to protect the fruit from early rain1 and then the working process is sure to all who have the right kind of grapes4 ,then uniform weight in twenty1 ten and five pound boxes1 all handsomely put up in fancy papered boxes1 and ,california then will be prepared to secure all the raisin trade west of the ,rocky ,mountains1 and a good part of that of the ,eastern ,states4 ,as it is1 those of our merchants importing ,malaga raisins from ,new ,york confine themselves to ,london layers and others of the best and choicest quality1 leaving the home market to be cared for1 in a great measure1 by those of our own production4 ,as a result1 raisins have ruled low all the winter1 and are likely to do so for a long time to come40 #ahgh4--;,in #ahgh several carloads of ,california raisins were sent to ,chicago1 ,new ,york and ,boston1 and were well received by the trade4 ,in ,october of that year1 ,california layers were bringing #b4ej and #c4be4 ,imports had fallen away more than forty per cent from the figures of #ahgd4 #ahgi4--;,in #ahgi the ruling prices for ,california raisins1 in lots of #bej boxes and upwards1 were3 ,common layers1 #b4jj for wholes1 #b4be for halves1 #b4ej for quarters1 #c4jj for eighths2 ,london layers1 #b4be to #b4ej for wholes1 #b4ej to #b4ge for halves1 #b4ge to #c4jj for quarters1 #c4be to #c4ej for eighths4 #ahhj4--;,in ,october1 #ahhj1 the following quotations were made3 ,briggs' layers1 #b4jj and #b4ge per box4 ,california raisins1 in lots of #bej boxes and upwards1 common layers1 #b4ej and #b4be per box2 ,london layers1 #b4ej per box4 #ahha4--;,in ,november of #ahha1 ,malaga ruled high in the ,east1 and in consequence prices were generally higher here1 quotations for the ,california article running #b4ej for wholes1 #b4ge for halves1 #c4jj for quarters1 and #c4be for eighths1 in lots of one hundred boxes4 ,london layers1 twenty-five cents per box more4 #ahhb4--;,in #ahhb prices ran #b4cg and #b4ge4 ,during all the period just reviewed1 the duty was two and a half cents per pound on raisins2 but in ,march1 #ahhc1 the duty was reduced to two cents1 and yet importations for that year were only #fcc boxes1--a rather singular fact4 ,the reduction in duty does not seem to have had a very bad effect on prices1 because1 as is easily evident from the small importation1 no competition to speak of was encountered in the local market1 and1 as in that year the imports at ,new ,york from ,spain were many thousands of boxes short1 ,eastern competition was reduced to a minimum4 ,prices here ruled through the year at an average of from seven to eight cents a pound1 anything especially choice bringing better prices4 #ahhc4--;,in #ahhc ,california made a big stride forward in packing and curing1 and fancy raisins were put up in layers and cartoons4 ,the ,dehesa brand and other fancy brands made their appearance1 and as high as one dollar was paid for quarters of five pounds each1 and ,t4 ,c4 ,white's and ,miss ,austin's brands became famous4 #ahhd4--;,in #ahhd1 the year following that in which the duty was reduced to two cents1 the following prices prevailed3 ,in ,january the following quotations are recorded3 ,malaga layers1 #c4ej for wholes1 #e4jj for halves1 and #e4ej for quarters in frames4 ,valencia raisins1 fifteen cents per pound4 ,loose ,muscatels1 #a4fj4 ,london layers1 #d4jj4 ,briggs1 wholes #b4ej1--usual advance of twenty-five cents on fractions4 ,blowers1 wholes ----1 quarters #c4ej1 eighths #c4ge4 ,other raisins1 #b4ej in large lots2 quarter and eighth boxes twenty-five cents higher4 ,in ,august the following were the quotations3 ,malaga layers1 #c4ej for wholes1 #d4jj for halves1 and #d4ej for quarters in frames4 ,valencias1 fifteen cents per pound4 ,loose ,muscatels1 #a4ij4 ,london layers1 #c4jj4 ,briggs1 wholes #a4dj1 halves #a4ge1 quarters #b4be1 eighths #b4ge4 ,blowers1 wholes #b4be1 halves #b4ej1 quarters #b4ge1 eighths #c4jj4 ,in ,october the following quotations are to be found3 ,common layers1 #a4jj to #a4be for wholes1 #a4ej for halves1 #a4ge for quarters1 #b4be for eighths4 ,london layers1 #a4ce to #a4ej for wholes1 #a4ie for halves1 #b4jj for quarters1 #b4ej for eighths4 ,in ,november1 #ahhd1 the following comment is made3 ,the ,california raisin pack will probably be #ajj1jjj boxes4 ,there would have been much more but for the ,october rains1 that prevented proper curing4 ,the crop in ,europe is short1 too1 and prices are much higher than they were a year ago4 ,it is said that #ae1jjj boxes have been sold for the ,east4 ,we quote3 ,malaga layers1 #c4ge for wholes1 #d4jj for halves1 and #d4ej for quarters in frames4 ,valencia raisins1 fifteen cents per pound4 ,loose ,muscatels1 #a4ij4 ,london layers1 #d4jj4 ,briggs1 wholes #a4ge1 halves #b4jj1 quarters #b4ce to #b4ej4 ,blowers1 wholes #b4jj1 halves #b4be1 quarters #b4ej1 eighths #b4ge4 ,california layers1 wholes #a4ej1 halves #a4ge1 quarters #b4jj4 #ahhe4--;,in #ahhe the market showed a gratifying ability to absorb at profitable rates a good article1 for prices ran3 ,california common layers1 #a4ge for wholes1 #b4jj for halves1 #b4be for quarters4 ,briggs1 wholes #b4jj1 with an advance of twenty-five cents on fractions4 ,blowers1 #b4be for wholes1 with an advance of twenty-five cents on fractions4 #ahhf4--;,in #ahhf quotations show that only extra choice ,malagas were imported1 and that1 too1 for a limited trade4 ,prices were3 ,malaga layers1 #d4jj for wholes1 #d4be and #d4ge for halves and quarters4 ,valencia raisins1 fifteen cents per pound4 ,london layers1 #c4jj4 ,california layers1 wholes #a4ge1--usual advance of twenty-five cents on fractions4 ,briggs1 wholes #b4jj1 halves #b4be1 etc4 ,blowers1 wholes #b4be1--usual advance on fractions4 ,for #ahhf the market is reviewed as follows3 ,the past year has been the greatest for ,california dried fruit that the ,state has ever seen4 ,there has been an increase in every item1 and a specially heavy increase in the matter of raisins1 the production of which has increased so fast that they have become a leading article of merchandise4 ,where we were large importers and generous consumers1 more in proportion to our size than any one else in the world1 we have almost totally ceased importation and are among the largest producers and exporters in the world1 next to ,spain itself4 ,the total receipts of imported raisins at ,new ,york for the season of #ahhf-hg were as follows3 #iaa1haf boxes of ,valencias1 #dbg1icf boxes of ,malagas1 #djj half boxes of ,malagas1 #hh1feg boxes of ,sultanas4 ,the ,california pack is this year almost doubled1 and shows great improvement in quality and packing4 #ahhg4--;,in ,october1 #ahhg1 prices were quoted as follows3 ,london layers1 per box1 #b4jj to #b4be4 ,loose ,muscatels1 from #a4ej to #a4hj4 ,riverside1 ,el ,cajon and ,fresno raisins of excellent quality are now in the market1 and ,butler and ,forsyth raisins in ,fresno begin to rival the very best imported brands4 ,many large packing-houses are established in ,fresno1 ,riverside and ,el ,cajon4 #ahhh4--,the pack reaches in ,california #hej1jjj boxes1 and the ,fresno as well as the ,riverside raisins are very large and choice4 ,forsyth and ,butler raisins take the lead1 some of the choicest layers bringing as high as one dollar per five-pound quarter box4 ,only #aab1jjj boxes of ,malaga raisins are imported to the ,united ,states4 ,in ,october1 #ahhh1 the following prices were obtained for imported raisins at auction sale in ,new ,york3 #fde boxes best ,london ,layers1 #c4be to #c4ab2 #cdh ,imperial ,cabinets1 #c4ce to #c4bj2 #bjj fine ,dehesa ,bunches1 #d4ej to #c4ge2 #ej ,imperial ,dehesa ,bunches1 #e4fe2 #ajd ,dehesa ,bunches1 #d4je to #d4jj2 #ajj ,finest ,selected ,clusters1 #d4de to #d4dj2 #ej ,finest ,royal ,clusters1 #d4ge2 #c ,imperial ,excelsior ,dehesa ,loose ,muscatels1 #e4jj2 #adj ,imperial ,loose ,muscatels1 #c4cj to #b4ae2 #a ,imperial ,excelsior ,dehesa ,clusters1 #e4ej2 #i ,imperial ,dehesa ,clusters1 #e4ab to #e4jj2 #b ,dehesa ,dessert ,fruit1 #d4aj2 #a1aid ,finest ,valencia ,layers1 #h to #h cents2 #hii ,finest ,valencia ,raisins1 #g to #f cents2 #aej half boxes ,finest ,valencia ,layers1 #h to #h cents2 #bdf boxes ,finest ,sultanas1 #h to #h cents4 ,at the same time ,california layers were quoted at from #a4hj to #b4be for medium grades1 while for ,dehesa and ,imperial quarter boxes from eighty cents to one dollar were realized4 ,raisins in sweatboxes were bought by packers at five cents per pound1 prices not rated according to quality4 #ahhi4--,the crop of #ahhi was not as large as at first calculated1 on account of loss through unusual and heavy rains4 ,it was especially the second crop which suffered4 ,the first crop was good1 and brought good prices1 average layers bringing from #a4ge to #b4be per box of twenty pounds4 ,great improvement is made in packing and labels1 and our average raisins are better than the average imported ,malagas4 ,our choicest layers1 however1 do not yet equal in size1 curing and packing the choicest ,malagas1 and no efforts have been made to compete with them4 ,there are at least four higher grades packed in ,malaga which we do not produce here4 ,during last season raisins in sweatboxes have ruled higher than before1 and have been bought by packers at from three to seven cents4 #ahij 7to ,july74--,the crop promises to be as large as last year4 ,it is greatly in demand1 and representatives of ,eastern and ,california dealers have already bought up the most of the coming crop at prices averaging one-half a cent more per pound than last year4 ,from the above statistics we learn that through the production of raisins in ,california the price of sun-dried raisins to the consumer on this coast has been lowered from #c4jj1 #c4ge1 #d4jj and #d4ej in #ahgc to #b4jj and #b4ej in #ahij4 ,the importation of ,malaga raisins in the ,united ,states has greatly diminished1 while that of ,valencia or 8dipped0 raisins has increased4 ,in #ahgc1 the ,united ,states imported #ce1bga1cab pounds of raisins1 for which it paid #b1bib1idh1 while in #ahhh our importation was #dj1cdj1aag pounds1 or about five million pounds more1 for which we paid #b1jih1ejc1 or about #bjj1jjj less4 ,exports of ,valencia ,raisins from #ahej to #ahhi1 according to ,english estimates3 ,,year4,england4,america4 ,other ,total ,places4 ,tons4 ------------------------------------ #ahej #i1dbc #afe -- #i1ehh #ahea #h1dia #bhe #ghg #i1efc #aheb #h1hdd #cbj -- #i1afd #ahec #g1hhc #ii #gj #h1jeb #ahed #g1bjf #bif #ej #g1eeb #ahee #g1dfd #gcf #he #h1bhe #ahef #h1iji -- #ab #h1iba #aheg #i1dhe -- -- #g1ijj #aheh #ac1edb #fed #ahb #ad1cgh #ahei #i1edf #afc #aac #i1hbb #ahfj #g1beg #b1hca #ded #aj1edb #ahfa #h1jgb #fc #adc #h1bgh #ahfb #g1efd -- #bch #g1ijj #ahfc #ab1bij #abe #ajj #ab1eae #ahfd #h1fee #ch #ahb #h1hge #ahfe #i1hfc #cfb #ab #aj1bcg #ahff #ab1gce #djc #dgc #ac1faa #ahfg #ab1gja #ffh #agg #ac1edf #ahfh #ad1bic #c1jie #gid #ah1ahb #ahfi #h1dcd #a1heg #be #aj1caf #ahgj #aj1jfj #b1baj #aaj #ab1chj #ahga #ab1egh #e1baj #fbe #ah1dac #ahgb #ae1fgg #d1jhh #ece #bj1cjj #ahgc #aj1gif #b1ifj #gaj #ad1dff #ahgd #ac1gbd #e1eac #dci #ai1fgf #ahge #ab1efh #f1eij #eie #ai1gec #ahgf #ae1bgb #c1haf #fgf #ai1gfd #ahgg -- -- -- -- #ahgh -- -- -- -- #ahgi #ae1bca #i1ebe #a1bdd #bf1ajj #ahhj #ac1jbf #h1igg #hib #bb1hie #ahha #ag1ejg #aj1afi #ifi #bh1fbe #ahhb #ah1aba #ba1eic #a1gcb #da1cdf #ahhc #ai1fdd #af1gbb #c1ihc #dj1cdi #ahhd #aj1baj #i1fhf #d1bhi #bd1ahe #ahhe #aj1bej #i1cig #c1eif #bc1bdc #ahhf #ae1aid #ae1fhg #af1aac #cf1iid #ahhg #af1fdh #ah1hca #c1dgi #ch1ieh #ahhh #ae1ebd #ab1bde #d1fee #cb1dbd #ahhi #ab1jjj #ad1fde #a1gbd #bg1cfi ------------------------------------ ,exports of ,malaga ,raisins from #ahfd to #ahhi3 ,,year4 ,u4,s4 ,brit- ,great ,france4 ,north ish ,brit- ,europe4 ,col- ain4 on's4 ---------------------------------------- -- #ahfd #hgi1gid #de1ijfbeh1dehacg1cgi #ei1fei #ahfe #hgi1gid #ge1gjhbfi1jgbaga1gdc #fd1cai #ahff #ijg1cje #gb1bjhbbj1gefagh1hfb #fb1jgf #ahfg #iff1gbd #if1abdaff1gcgabi1cia #eh1bbb #ahfh #a1jec1gbfabe1djgbbb1dbfafc1cjf #fd1bfb #ahfi #gfg1cba #eh1bfeage1fjbaag1fab #hb1dgb #ahgj #a1cca1icgabj1jcibaf1jae #ij1aic #eg1fhg #ahga #a1adg1fcc #ih1hagahc1iafafa1abc #fi1hjj #ahgb #a1cbe1gje #ie1jbdchc1hijbcj1jdf #gb1ghh #ahgc #a1cfh1hbb #de1diebda1cbeaif1bci #ii1dbd #ahgd #a1cbj1jjj #dc1dijbdj1jjjbjj1jjj #ii1ejj #ahge #igf1jjj #db1jjjbga1jjjbjc1jjj #ih1jjj #ahgf #a1cba1jjj #eb1jjjceg1jjjbgf1jjjaae1jjj #ahgg #a1bej1jjj #ef1fjjbej1jjjcjj1jjjajj1jjj #ahgh #a1ahb1jhh #eh1bdbaid1dgaccj1gfg #ii1ffa #ahgi #a1adf1bbh #cj1eihbcg1feicfh1dbjajg1hhh #ahhj #a1aae1aja #df1gagagd1abfbig1dabajh1bbb #ahha #a1jdc1gbg #ca1gcjada1daebea1chbaja1hbh #ahhb #ifg1ega #ch1dcaagf1cdibgg1becacj1fdf #ahhc -- -- -- -- -- #ahhd -- -- -- -- -- #ahhe -- -- -- -- -- #ahhf -- -- -- -- -- #ahhg -- -- -- -- -- #ahhh -- -- -- -- -- #ahhi #abj1jjj -- -- -- -- ---------------------------------------- -- ,,year4 ,south ,sun- ,total ,total ,am4 dries4 ,boxes4 ,tons4 ---------------------------------- #ahfd #aji1gdabji1jjja1bjj1jjjac1bjj #ahfe #if1fehbee1jjja1hjj1jjjai1hjj #ahff #aae1cjeaia1jjja1gej1jjjai1bej #ahfg #aaf1gfbace1jjja1fgj1jjjah1cgj #ahfh #ajc1jhbbae1jjja1iej1jjjbb1dej #ahfi #fg1fcd #hj1hjja1cej1jjjad1hej #ahgj #aac1geebgj1jjjb1bjj1jjjbd1bjj #ahga #hg1bdbbgd1jjjb1bjj1jjjbd1bjj #ahgb #aai1jdb --#a1ibj1jjjba1abj #ahgc --#adj1jjjb1ejj1jjjbg1ejj #ahgd -- --#b1afj1jjjbc1gfj #ahge -- #ih1jjja1fgj1jjjah1cgj #ahgf -- #ia1jjjb1beb1jjjbd1ggb #ahgg -- --#b1bjj1jjjbd1bjj #ahgh #ih1dbibaa1jjjb1ahj1jjjbc1ihj #ahgi #fc1fhhagj1jjjb1abe1jjjbc1cgb #ahhj #ge1defaig1jjjb1jae1jjjbb1afe #ahha #ha1aifadg1jjja1hjj1jjjai1hjj #ahhb #ih1jjgagh1jjja1bjj1jjjac1bjj #ahhc -- -- -- -- #ahhd -- -- -- -- #ahhe -- -- -- -- #ahhf -- -- -- -- #ahhg -- -- #hej1jjj #i1cej #ahhh -- -- #hej1jjj #h1bej #ahhi -- -- #gej1jjj -- ---------------------------------- ,first ,cost of ,crop of ,valencia ,raisins1 according to the 8,california ,fruit ,grower30 #ahhd1 from #d4jj to #f4jj per hundred pounds4 #ahhe1 8 #e4jj to #f4jj 8 8 8 #ahhf1 8 #c4jj to #e4jj 8 8 8 #ahhg1 #d4jj 8 8 8 #ahhh1 from #b4jj to #d4jj 8 8 8 #ahhi1 #c4ej 8 8 8 ,production and ,distribution of ,smyrna ,raisins from #ahdd to #ahhd1 according to ,u4 ,s4 ,consular ,reports3 #ahdd #h1jjj tons4 #ahfh #ai1jjj 8 #ahga #dh1jjj 8 #ahgb #ca1jjj 8 #ahgi #ge1jjj 8 #ahha #di1jjj 8 #ahhd #ie1jjj 8 ,according to ,english estimates1 the raisin crop of ,smyrna only reached #bg1jjj tons in #ahgf1 and was divided as follows3 ,red ,raisins4--,chesme #e1ajj tons4 ,vourla #e1jjj 8 ,yerly #b1hjj 8 ,carabourna #a1fjj 8 ------ #ad1ejj tons4 ,sultanas4--,chesme #g1djj tons4 ,vourla #c1ajj 8 ,yerly #a1aej 8 ,carabourna #hjj 8 ----- #ab1dej tons4 ------ #bf1iej tons4 ,this crop was distributed as follows3 ,red ,raisins4--,england #b1fii tons4 ,north of ,europe #f1dhh 8 ,trieste #b1bfj 8 ,russia and ,turkey #b1iie 8 ----- #ad1ddb tons4 ,sultanas4--,england #g1ide tons4 ,north of ,europe #a1ebe 8 ,trieste #b1hbj 8 ,russia1 etc4 #bhe 8 ----- #ab1ege tons4 ------ #bg1jag tons4 ,the ,world's ,raisin ,production in #ahhi3 ,greece #abe1jjj tons4 ,smyrna #abj1jjj 8 ,valencia #bh1jjj 8 ,lipari1 ,calabria and ,pantellaria #ae1jjj 8 ,california #aj1jjj 8 ,malaga #h1jjj 8 ,scattered #e1jjj 8 ,chile #a1jjj 8 ------------- #cab1jjj tons4 ,the above does not include dried wine grapes from ,italy1 ,california and ,algiers1 nor any raisins made in ,australia 7,victoria74 ,statement ,showing the ,quantity and ,value of ,currants1 ,figs and ,raisins ,imported and ,entered for ,consumption in the ,united ,states from #ahgc to #ahgh3 ,,year ,,raisins4 ,,currants1 ,,end- ,,zante ,,and ,,all ,,other4 ,,ing ---------------------------------------- -- ,,june ,,quantity4 ,,value4 ,,quantity4 ,,value4 #cj4 ---------------------------------------- - ,pounds4 ,dollars4 ,pounds4 ,dollars4 #ahgcce1bga1cabb1bib1idh #hcad1ada1gigeff1chf #di #ahgdcf1dai1ibbb1edd1fje #ieai1cai1aiageb1fid #jj #ahgecj1eja1cafb1ddc1aee #ejai1ccd1dehgga1chd #ef #ahgfcb1bba1jfeb1dbe1bgg #adbj1iaa1jfahef1dbe #fb #ahggcb1dai1fcgb1aji1ccc #fjag1aeb1ffdgdi1dhh #jj #ahghcb1ica1gcfa1ijd1hff #acag1ida1cebggf1hbg #jj ---------------------------------------- ------ ,,year ,,figs4 ,,end- ,,ing ------------------- ,,june,,quantity4 ,,value4 #cj4 ------------------- ,pounds4 ,dollars4 #ahgcg1iie1jceejf1bje #de #ahgde1fcj1bibcia1cjj #af #ahged1fei1hfjceg1hbc #ii #ahgfe1jef1ggicfa1hce #ec #ahgge1hhi1jaacih1ihb #bb #ahghc1hgc1hhdbfb1dbh #ae ----------------------- ,statement ,showing the ,quantity and ,value of ,currants1 ,figs and ,raisins ,imported and ,entered for ,consumption in the ,united ,states1 with ,rates of ,duty1 etc41 from #ahgi to #ahhh3 ,,raisins4 ,,year ,,quantity4 ,,value4 ,rate ,,amount ,,of ,additional ,,end- of ,,duty and ,,ing ,duty4 ,,collected4 ,discrim- ,,june inating #cj4 ,duty4 ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,pounds4 ,dollars4 ,per lb4 ,dollars4 ,dollars4 #ahgich1ebc1ecea1idc1ida #adb c4 #ifc1jhh #db #ib #ea #ahhjci1edb1ibeb1bgd1gfc #jjb c4 #ihh1egc #ai #dh #dc #ahhaci1fed1geeb1gaa1gga #gdb c4 #iia1cfh #id #hj #ej #ahhbdc1ggi1hfgc1bfj1jcc #gdb c4 #a1jid1dif #ga -- #ahhcea1dhg1chic1die1eii #deb c4 #a1bhg1ahd #gg #bj #gj #ahhdef1fgf1fehc1edc1iaf #aeb cts4 #a1acc1ecc #ae #eb #gj #ahheci1ggh1fieb1gbh1hdg #dfb cts4 #gie1egc #ij #bdg #ce #ahhfcg1iii1cjfb1ghb1eii #gfb cts4 #gei1ihf #ab #ej #jj #ahhgdj1ffj1fjcb1big1dfi #cjb cts4 #hac1bab #jf #cd #jj #ahhhdj1cdj1aagb1jih1ejc #jjb cts4 #hjf1hjb #cd #hj #aj ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,,currants1 ,,zante ,,or ,,other4 ,,year ,,quantity4 ,,value4 ,rate ,,amount ,,of ,additional ,,end- of ,,duty and ,,ing ,duty4 ,,collected4 ,discrim- ,,june inating #cj4 ,duty4 ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,pounds4 ,dollars4 ,per lb4 ,dollars4 ,dollars4 #ahgiag1dje1cdg #ebj1hca #jga ct4 #agd1jec #dg -- #ahhjah1jjg1dib #fjj1fjc #dja ct4 #ahj1jgd #ib -- #ahhaba1fca1eab #hde1ggc #jja ct4 #baf1cae #ab -- #ahhbcb1eib1bcaa1chh1hhf #jja ct4 #cbe1ibb #ca -- #ahhcca1aga1agaa1bdg1ejd #jja ct4 #caa1gaa #ga -- #ahhdcb1gdc1gaba1bbj1ege #afa ct4 #cbg1dcg #ab -- #ahhebe1ecd1ejg #gbc1dae #jja ct4 #bee1cde #jg -- #ahhfbb1fbc1aga #gdd1ghd #jja ct4 #bbf1bca #ga #aag #hj #ahhgbi1aif1cica1jfb1cbf #jja ct4 #bia1ifc #ic -- #ahhhcj1fcf1dbda1agf1ecb #gfa ct4 #cjf1cfd #bd -- ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,,figs4 ,,year ,,quantity4 ,,value4 ,rate ,,amount ,,of ,additional ,,end- of ,,duty and ,,ing ,duty4 ,,collected4 ,discrim- ,,june inating #cj4 ,duty4 ---------------------------------------- --------------- ,pounds4 ,dollars4 ,per lb4 ,dollars4 ,dollars4 #ahgi #c1cfi1dge #bdg1jge #jfb c4 #hd1bcf #hi -- #ahhj #f1bff1dac #ddj1ejg #jjb c4 #aef1ffj #cd -- #ahha #c1dbj1dbg #cgi1chb #eeb c4 #he1eaj #gb -- #ahhb #h1hgd1ahf #fgh1cda #hgb c4 #bba1hed #gj -- #ahhc #e1cde1cbd #dhi1ajh #chb c4 #acc1fcc #ji -- #ahhd #g1hdj1fcd #ejd1ecb #jbb cts4 #aef1hab #fh -- #ahhe #g1ggd1dib #eaf1jhc #fcb cts4 #aee1dhi #hd #f #ej #ahhf #f1ihh1fdb #dii1ihe #hjb cts4 #aci1ggb #hd -- #ahhg #h1geb1hih #dhh1fcb #jjb cts4 #age1jeg #if #acg #jj #ahhh #i1ife1ehd #die1eda #ejb cts4 #aii1caa #fh -- ---------------------------------------- ---------------- ,statement of ,consumption of ,currants and ,raisins per ,head of ,total ,population in #ahhd3 ,united ,kingdom of ,great ,britain4 #d4ch pounds4 ,united ,states of ,north ,america4 #a4gj 8 ,prices ,ruling in the ,california ,raisin ,districts3 ,it is not my intention to give here a regular prospective estimate of the cost of a raisin vineyard and the profits to be derived therefrom4 ,such an estimate1 applicable to every case1 cannot be made out2 about it not two raisin-growers with equal experience would agree4 ,below ,i simply give isolated statistics of costs of the various operations necessary in the raisin industry4 ,each one can figure for himself1 and my advice is to add liberally to the calculated expenses1 if disappointment would be avoided4 ,as to the profits of a raisin vineyard1 the reader will by this time understand how it might vary1 how it must depend upon nice little circumstances1 never foreseen and only to be taken advantage of or counteracted by the experienced grower4 ,the high statements which have been given in these pages as samples of how much might be gained from an acre of raisin-vines can never be counted on as regular4 ,from fifty to several hundred dollars per acre may be obtained as net profit by care1 skill and favorable circumstances1 but an average of seventy-five dollars per acre can be considered a conservative sum1 which the owner of a good irrigated vineyard may calculate on as a safe net profit4 ,many do not reach even that4 ,but1 even with that profit per acre1 how many horticultural industries can be counted on to produce better results8 ,very few1 if any4 ,for the benefit of those who desire figures to guide them1 the following statistics are offered4 ,they have been carefully compiled in company with ,t4 ,c4 ,white1 one of the most prominent raisin-growers the ,state has ever had4 ,these statistics refer especially to the ,fresno district1 but they will be found to differ but little from those elsewhere in this ,state4 ,land suitable to raisins can be had at from fifty to two hundred dollars per acre4 ,no one not thoroughly acquainted with the requirements of raisin land should attempt to rely on his own judgment alone in making a selection4 ,vines1 already rooted1 at from ten to twenty dollars per thousand vines4 ,an average would be fifteen dollars4 ,the cost of rooting vines is from one dollar to two dollars and fifty cents per thousand1 according to locality and circumstances4 ,cuttings1 from two to three dollars per thousand1 more or less1 according to size and quality4 ,planting rooted vines1 one cent per vine4 ,planting cuttings1 half a cent per cutting4 ,plowing yearly1 one dollar and fifty cents per acre4 ,harrowing1 fifty cents per acre4 ,leveling land for irrigation1 according to the quality of the land4 ,leveling the land in from one-half to three-quarter acre checks1 including small ditches1 etc41 can be done for from ten to fifteen dollars per acre1 if the land is fair4 ,rougher land will cost twenty-five dollars or thereabouts1 and if the land is rolling and contains hardpan the expense may reach from fifty to one hundred dollars per acre4 ,the more 8naturally0 level the land is the better suited it is to raisin-vines under irrigation4 ,irrigation and cultivation1 until the vines come into bearing1 including suckering and pruning1 all in large tracts of from forty to one hundred acres1 ten dollars per acre4 ,if in smaller tracts the expense will be larger4 ,pruning when the vines are in bearing1 from two to three dollars per acre4 ,sulphuring twice1 two dollars per acre4 ,sulphur costs from two to three cents per pound4 ,it takes about one ton to twenty-five acres and one man can sulphur from five to six acres a day4 ,topping1 about fifty cents per acre4 ,trays1 twenty-four by thirty-six inches1 cost ten cents in shooks1 nailing one cent1 nails one cent1 total about twelve cents per tray4 ,sweatboxes1 fifty cents apiece when ready4 ,packing-boxes3 ,wholes of twenty pounds1 in shooks1 six cents1 nailing and nails two cents1 total eight cents each4 ,halves of ten pounds1 in shooks1 four cents1 nailing and nails one and one-half cents1 total five and one-half cents4 ,quarter boxes of five pounds1 in shooks1 three and one-half cents1 nailing and nails one and one-half cents1 total five cents each4 ,twenty pounds of layer raisins will contain about one-half pound of stems4 ,cost of curing cannot be calculated4 ,it depends upon the manner in which it is done4 ,picking3 ,one man can pick from twenty-five to fifty trays of twenty pounds each a day1 at a cost of say from two to three cents per tray1 or about a half a ton of grapes a day1 equal to a cost per ton of two dollars and fifty cents4 ,this places the grapes on the trays1 but does not assort them4 ,by assorting the grapes when picking1 the cost is increased1 but better raisins and more good raisins are obtained4 ,turning3 ,two men can turn twenty acres of grapes a day4 ,packing ,london ,layers3 ,one man can pack 8carefully0 ten wholes or forty trays 7of five pounds each7 per day4 ,cost about twelve and a half cents per box4 ,packing ,dehesas3 ,one man can pack ten quarters of five pounds each a day4 ,cost twelve and one-half cents per quarter box4 ,this includes facing4 ,packing ,loose3 ,one man can pack one hundred boxes per day4 ,facing-plate 7,t4 ,c4 ,white's73 ,large plate1 size nine by eighteen inches1 five dollars per plate4 ,cartoon plate1 size five by ten inches1 two dollars and fifty cents per plate4 ,manilla paper for sweatboxes1 one hundred and fifty pounds per ream at fifteen dollars per ream1 size thirty-six by forty-eight4 ,the sheets to be cut in two to fit the boxes4 ,stemming3 ,steam stemmers can separate and assort fifty tons a day4 ,hand stemmers run by two men can separate about five tons per day4 ,papers for boxes cost1 according to quality1 three cents per box1 more or less4 ,,through ,,the ,,california ,,raisin ,,districts4 ,,through ,,san ,,joaquin ,,valley ,,to ,,fresno4 ,we are on our way up the valley4 ,the train left ,san ,francisco in the morning4 ,we have crossed the bay and rounded the ,contra ,costa ,mountains1 and ,mount ,diablo1 with its majestic twin peaks1 lies already behind us4 ,we have just crossed the ,san ,joaquin river not far from its mouth2 the west side of the valley is on our right2 on the left looms up the ,sierra ,nevada1 far away it is true1 but grand and imposing1 gradually decreasing1 as it were1 towards the south1 finally to disappear among the clouds at the farther end of the valley4 ,it is in the middle of ,august2 the day is warm1 but there has been a shower in the mountains1 as is usual at this season of the year1 a sprinkling of rain has purified the atmosphere in the foothills1 which stand out clear and bright1 a contrast to the dusty road in the center of the valley1 over which the smoking train carries us at a rapid speed4 ,on both sides of us stretch apparently endless plains1 thirty miles wide1--to the ,coast ,range on one side1 to the ,sierra ,nevada on the other1--plains dry and yellow1 parched in the brilliant sun1 shaded by no clouds1 but cooled by a steady breeze from the northwest following us up the valley4 ,up1 we say1 but it is hardly any more up than down1 the ascent being about one foot to the mile2 it is rather a journey over one of the most level plains on the continent1 but still the popular usage insists upon saying 8up the valley40 ,acres and acres of already harvested grainfields are seen on both sides1 crossed by roads at right angles2 here and there are stacks of grain which have not yet been threshed1 or heaps of straw1 where the threshing engine has done its work2 on almost every section of land we see a farmhouse and barn1 a few gum-trees or cottonwoods1 and many a windmill and elevated tank informs us where the farmer gets his water for his house and his scanty trees4 ,all this we see under a blazing sun and a quivering air4 ,this is the great ,san ,joaquin valley1 the fertile center of ,california4 ,of the much spoken of irrigation of ,california1 we see almost nothing2 the land is dry and thirsty1 the soil is loose1 and the engine forces the dust in a cloud before us4 ,nothing green is seen anywhere except a few scattered trees far1 far apart4 ,here and there we pass a little town with wooden houses and dusty streets1 with wooden churches whose spires do not pierce the sky4 ,we cross many streams1 several of which are dry1 or have sluggish waters1 while some wind their way down the valley between banks covered with willows and cottonwoods4 ,yet there is something grand in this immense stretch of open1 level country1 with its frame of snowy mountains1 with its fertile fields waiting for the winter's rain or irrigating ditch to produce abundantly of almost anything that can be grown in any temperate country in the world4 ,the numerous grain stacks speak of the fertility of the soil and of abundant harvests1 while the vegetation along the rivers indicates that water is all that is needed to make this large valley like a fruitful garden4 ,we have passed ,lathrop and ,modesto and numerous smaller stations between2 the picture is everywhere the same4 ,at ,atwater we met the first signs of irrigation1 and saw young vineyards and orchards on either side1 and as we approach ,merced we pass large irrigating ditches flowing with water1 and in the distance many houses and farms4 ,the country is getting greener1 and the deep color of the soil is a sign that it is rich and fertile4 ,at ,merced there is a ,yosemite air4 ,the large ,el ,capitan ,hotel stands out like a landmark1 and the garden with its flowers and shade trees1 and the marble fountain with its rippling waters1 speak loudly of beauty and refinement4 ,close to ,merced are situated some of the new promising colonies which are making raisin-growing one of their specialties1 and in whatever direction we look we see signs of such new enterprises1 all young1 of course1 as irrigation has only lately been brought in here1 where no dense settlements could exist without it4 ,much of the land is yet held in very large tracts1 but they are being rapidly subdivided and sold out to actual settlers as fast as there is any demand for them4 ,to our right lies a splendid body of perfectly level land occupied by the ,yosemite ,colony with many settlers already on the land1 whose new and cosy cottages mark their future homes4 ,in the distance1 on the slope of the low hills1 stand out prominently a number of houses1 some of them quite pretentious1 white and gleaming in their new dress4 ,this is the ,rotterdam ,colony1 a settlement of ,hollanders who have only lately arrived here4 ,there is not a colony anywhere which promises to be more interesting1 and which is likely to prove a greater success4 ,the ,dutch as a people had succeeded with colonization long before any other nation began a similar work1 and1 as immigrants to this ,state1 they are most desirable4 ,industrious1 saving1 intelligent and persevering1 with good land1 plenty of water at all times of the year1 and with a good location which insures health and comfort1 there is no reason why they should not succeed4 ,the colony is most beautifully situated on high sloping ground1--a veritable mesa land overlooking the vast ,merced plains1 and only four or five miles distant from the city4 ,these ,hollander colonists are the very best kind of settlers the ,state can get1--not the ignorant peasantry of ,europe1 but intelligent and well-educated people1 which any community can be proud of4 ,there is great activity in the colony just now4 ,thousands of acres are covered with magnificent grain1 which1 without any more rain1 would give a profit of from twenty to twenty-five dollars per acre1 and thus materially help to pay for the land4 ,a hundred or more horses and mules with their drivers are plowing and harrowing the soil2 and such a plowing is not often seen anywhere4 ,the plows are set about a foot deep1 and the work is done by the canal company just to help the settlers along and give them a good start4 ,what more can they expect8 ,good treatment is in ,merced dealt out to everybody1--a good policy which should be followed in every new colony in the land4 ,we stop at the newly-built house of ,mr4 ,canne1 a gentleman of middle age with a large family1 and hearty and pleasing1 as is so characteristic of the ,dutch4 ,his house is large1 very comfortable and airy1 with large verandas overlooking the country far and wide4 ,inside everything is cosy and neat1 with lots of mementoes from quaint old ,holland1 with colored china on the walls and odd tables and odder bric-a-brac1 family heirlooms from generations back4 ,the old grandma1 with her eighty-one years1 has come along with the younger folks1 happy as they1 and1 as they1 meeting bravely and with confidence new times and experiences in the new country which they have chosen as their home4 ,our wishes for good luck are not needed2 it is sure to come when such people are settled upon such land1 and when everybody enjoys everybody else's good-will4 ,the land which is now being broken is to be planted to olives1 almonds1 oranges1 peaches and vines1--a very good selection indeed1 and one which cannot fail to prove profitable4 ,the deep red soil on the mesa will grow almost anything1 and with proper care and management this colony must in the near future become one of the most attractive and prosperous in the ,state4 ,the ,rotterdam ,colony is bounded on one side by the now famous and often described ,crocker and ,huffman reservoir4 ,those who believe that a reservoir in the foothills is not the proper thing should come and take a look at this one1 and be convinced that it is4 ,the location is a most favorable one1 being ninety feet above the town of ,merced1 and elevated sufficiently to irrigate the whole of the level surrounding district1 containing two hundred and sixty thousand acres4 ,the water covers now about six hundred and forty acres which were formerly a real and natural valley1 across the mouth of which the dam checking the water was thrown4 ,the average depth of water is about thirty feet1 while in some places it is fifty odd feet deep4 ,the statistics of this reservoir and dam have been given often enough1 but more or less correctly4 ,the dam checking the water is four thousand feet long1 two hundred and seventy-five feet wide at the base1 twenty feet on the top and sixty feet high in the center4 ,it took four hundred mules and two hundred and fifty men two years to build it4 ,the reservoir and canal tapping ,merced river cost together two million dollars to build1 and the work was constructed in such a substantial and scientifically correct manner1 that it will be likely to last for ages4 ,there is no other irrigation system in the ,state that is as well planned and carried out4 ,this can and must be said to the honor of the constructors4 ,the canal which taps the river is twenty-seven miles long1 from sixty to seventy feet wide on the bottom1 one hundred feet on the top1 and has fall enough to carry four thousand cubic feet of water per second4 ,we have already remarked that the country between the dam and the city of ,merced is a magnificent and level body of land1 all eminently suited for irrigation4 ,from the water tower in the reservoir1 we overlook all this land1 now in its spring dress a very beautiful sight indeed4 ,the vast sheet of water1 like a placid lake1 in which the ,sierra ,nevada reflects its snowy peaks1 the prairie extending far and wide1 divided between luxuriant grainfields and unbroken lands now covered with their spring carpet of flowers in the colors of the rainbow1--yellow1 white1 blue1 violet1 red and shades of each1 and dotted over with the new settlers' homes1 freshly built and freshly painted1--what more lovely view could we wish1 a sight of beauty and of plenty4 ,as we drive back to town1 we are more than at first impressed with the lay of the land4 ,the surface is level and without hills or knolls1 but is cut through by many natural channels or creeks from fifteen to twenty feet deep1 insuring a natural drainage1 invaluable in a country where irrigation is required4 ,the soil in this part of ,merced county appears to be made up entirely of alluvial deposits from the various creeks which in winter irrigate the plains with their natural overflow4 ,the largest of these creeks is ,bear creek1 its deep channel resembling rather an irrigation ditch constructed on the latest engineering principles than a natural stream4 ,its banks are even and slanting1 while its bed is deep below the surface4 ,but our time to stay was short4 ,we have left ,merced and many smaller towns behind us1 crossed many more dry streams1 and passed the large vineyards at ,minturn1 where sherry and port of excellent quality are made4 ,we have again crossed the main channel of the upper ,san ,joaquin1 not far from where it emerges from the ,sierra ,nevada1 its silvery waters winding their way over the thirsty plains between steep and barren banks4 ,we have crossed a few irrigating ditches full to overflowing with water1 and see a few orchards and vineyards with their bright green scattered about on the yellow plains4 ,there is suddenly a general stir in the cars1 hats and bundles are taken down from the racks1 most of the passengers prepare to move1 the locomotive whistles1 houses and trees are seen on both sides through the car windows1 the train comes to a standstill1 there is a hum of voices1 a waiting crowd swarms around the cars1 a throng of people pushes in1 and another throng pushes out4 ,we are among the latter1 as we are now in ,fresno1 the largest raisin center on the continent4 ,fresno1 as seen from the railroad station1 is not as inviting as it might be1 and the thousands of travelers who pass by on the cars1 headed farther south1 can judge but little of the town and the district behind it4 ,the country is so level1 that the only way to get a good view of the country is to ascend some elevated building1 the courthouse being the highest1 and through its location the best suited building for the purpose4 ,the early forenoon1 before the noonday sun has acquired its full power1 is the best time for this4 ,once up there1 the view is decidedly magnificent1 and more extensive than we had ever expected while below4 ,under us lies a lovely park of trees1--umbrella1 elm1 locust and fan palms1 covering about four blocks4 ,from it stretch the regular streets in all directions1 lined by cottages as well as with costly dwelling-houses1 shaded with stately trees of various kinds4 ,the business portion of the town presents itself particularly well1--large and costly hotels1 with comforts that the tired travelers enjoy so much1 imposing bank blocks of brick and stone1 with towers and ornamental roofs1 solid structures with continuous lines of stores1 etc41 mark this part of town4 ,for a mile in every direction the town stretches out1 the center thickly built1 the outskirts with sparsely scattered houses4 ,adjoining these the country begins1--vineyards as far as we can trace1 groups of houses shaded by trees in different tints of green1 while broken rows of endless poplars traverse the verdant plains and lose themselves in the distant horizon4 ,the ,sierra ,nevada1 with their snowclad summits1 and the ,coast ,range in the west1 cloudy and less distinct1 form the frame for two sides of this attractive picture1 while to the north and the south the open horizon1 where sky and plains meet1 limits the extensive view4 ,the street-car lines of ,fresno do not run very far out in the country1 and to see the latter we must procure a team4 ,the colonies or settlements of small farms immediately join the town limits2 we are thus with one step out in the country4 ,on either side we see continuous rows of vineyards1--the leaves green and brilliant1 the vines planted in squares and pruned low1 with the branches trailing on the ground4 ,to begin with1 the houses stand closely1 almost as in a village4 ,as we get farther out there is a house on every twenty-acre farm1 or every one-eighth of a mile4 ,the cottages are neat and tasty1 surrounded by shade trees1 while rose-trees and shrubbery adorn the yard1 and climbers shelter the verandas from the sun4 ,at every step1 almost1 we pass teams going in various directions1--teams loaded with raisin boxes1 teams with raisin trays1 teams crowded with raisin pickers hurrying out to the vineyards1 teams driven by raisin-growers or colonists generally1 who rush to and from town to transact business connected with their one great industry4 ,everywhere is bustle and life2 every one is in a hurry1 as the grape-picking has begun1 and the weather is favorable2 no one has any time to lose4 ,some of the avenues are lined with elm-trees1 others with fig-trees1 with their luscious1 drooping fruit1 others again are bordered with evergreen and towering gums1 with weeping branches and silvery bark4 ,every acre is carefully cultivated2 there is room for only a few weeds4 ,as far as we drive the same scene is everywhere1 a scene like that in the outskirts of a populous city1 where villas and pleasure grounds alternate with the cultivated acres1 here those of the raisin-grower1 and where every foot of ground is guarded with zealous care and made to produce to its utmost capacity4 ,it is a pretty sight1 a sight of thrift and intelligence1 of enterprise and of success1 of wealth and of refinement1 found nowhere else outside of the fruit-growing and raisin-producing districts of ,california4 ,the raisin harvest has just begun2 the vineyards are full of workers1 grape-pickers are stooping by every vine1 and are arranging the grapes on small square or oblong trays1 large enough to be easily handled2 teams with trucks are passing between the vines distributing the trays or piling them up in small1 square stacks at every row4 ,some trays with their amber grapes lie flat on the ground in long continuous rows between the vines1 others again are slightly raised so as to catch as much of the sun as possible4 ,in some vineyards the laborers are turning the partially cured and dried raisins by placing one tray on top of another1 and then turning them quickly over4 ,in other places1 again1 the trays with the raisins already cured are stacked in low piles1 so as to exclude the sun and air1 and at other stacks a couple of men at each are busy assorting the grapes1 and placing the various grades in different sweatboxes1 large enough to hold one hundred pounds each4 ,in every vineyard1 large and small1 we find the hands at work1 and every one able and willing to do a day's work is engaged to harvest the large crop4 ,the most of the pickers are ,chinese1 at least in the larger vineyards1 while in the smaller vineyards1 where large gangs of men are not absolutely necessary1 white men and boys are generally employed4 ,the fame of the raisin section and the harvest has spread far and wide1 and at picking time laborers gather from all parts of the ,state to take part in the work1 and find remunerative wages at from #a4be to #a4ej per day4 ,the country now swarms with pickers of all nationalities1--,germans1 ,armenians1 ,chinese1 ,americans1 ,scandinavians1 etc41 and as the schools have closed in order to allow the children to take part in the work1 boys of all sizes are frequently seen kneeling at the vines4 ,the crop this year is very heavy1 many vines yielding two trays or even three1 containing twenty pounds each1 and1 as the trays are generally placed in alternate rows between the vines1 we see1 as we pass1 continuous lines of them filled with grapes in various stages of curing1 from the green to the amber-colored and the dark of the fully-cured raisin4 ,the aroma from the drying berries is noticeable1 and the breeze is laden with the spicy and pronounced odor of the ,muscatel raisins4 ,the average size of a colony lot is twenty acres4 ,many settlers own two or three lots1 a few owning four or five4 ,but it must not be understood that the whole of these lots are planted to raisin grapes4 ,while most of the larger tracts are almost exclusively planted to raisin grapes1 the smaller farms of twenty acres contain as a rule only a few acres of vines1 the balance being occupied by alfalfa1 berries1 garden1 fruit trees1 and yard for houses and barns4 ,from three to fifteen acres of raisin-vines are found on every twenty-acre farm2 none is without its patch of raisin-vines4 ,we step off and inspect many of the places1 large as well as small4 ,magnificent vineyards are owned by ,t4 ,c4 ,white1 one of the oldest and most successful vineyardists1 and by other parties1 only second in importance to his4 ,the vineyard of the late ,miss ,austin is yet in its prime1 the evergreen trees and hedges being as inviting as in days of old4 ,new vineyards which have not yet come into bearing are seen on every side1 while in places whole orchards or single rows of trees have yielded to the axe to be replaced by the better-paying raisin-vines4 ,some of the best-paying and largest vineyards are found east of ,fresno ,city4 ,from the very outskirts of the city we pass through raisin vineyards1 very few fields being planted with anything else4 ,near the town some vineyards have given place to town lots1 and whole villages are growing up in the old vineyards4 ,we pass by the large vineyard of ,frank ,ball1 containing about #abj acres1 all in vines except a small reserve for house1 barn and alfalfa field4 ,adjoining on the same road is the ,bretzner vineyard of forty odd acres1 the vines loaded with grapes4 ,we turn to the left and1 passing the vineyards of ,merriam and ,reed1 see on our left the magnificent ,cory vineyard of eighty acres1 bordered by a wonderfully beautiful row of umbrella trees1 with crowns as even as veritable gigantic umbrellas1 and through the foliage of which not a ray of light can penetrate4 ,a little farther on1 also to the left1 is the ,gordon vineyard1 lined by fan palms and fig trees4 ,a large sign across the main road announces that we now enter the ,butler vineyard1 the largest and most famous vineyard in the ,state1 with its six hundred acres nearly all in vines1--the largest vineyard in one body and owned by one man in the world4 ,magnificent avenues of poplars1 magnolias and fan palms stretch in various directions leading to the outbuildings1 of which the packing and drying houses appear most prominently4 ,mr4 ,butler's home is one of the most attractive1 shaded by umbrella trees and fantastic fan palms1 and surrounded by flowers and evergreens4 ,from his vineyard alone over five hundred carloads of raisins have been shipped1 the yearly product being over one hundred thousand boxes of raisins1--a thousand tons4 ,the vineyard now swarms with laborers2 the teams wait in long lines to load the ready raisin-boxes1 while the spaces between the vines1 as far as we can see1 are almost covered with continuous rows of trays1 all loaded with ,muscat grapes in all stages of drying4 ,we travel constantly eastward2 on both sides are raisin vineyards1 large and small4 ,the four hundred acres owned by the ,fresno ,vineyard ,company are devoted to wine grapes1 and large wineries and cellars built of adobe show the wealth and extensive business of the place4 ,no vacant land anywhere1 nothing but vineyards1 the only breaks being groves of trees shading the homes1 wine cellars or packing-houses of the proprietor4 ,farther to the north lies in an unbroken row the well-known ,eisen vineyard1 where the first raisins were made in this district1 but where now principally wine is produced2 the ,nevada and ,temperance ,colonies1 devoted mostly to raisins2 the ,pew1 the ,kennedy1 the ,forsyth1 ,woodworth's1 ,duncan's1 ,goodman's and ,backman's raisin vineyards1 all splendidly cared for and lined by fig trees4 ,of these the ,forsyth vineyard deserves more than a passing notice1 as it is more inviting to an hour's rest than any other4 ,containing #afj acres1 nearly all in vines1 it is one of the best properties of the county4 ,the place shows an uncommon taste and refinement1 and is beautified by avenues of poplars and magnolias1 by groves of acacia and umbrella trees1 by palms and flowers1 and by roses and climbing plants4 ,a pond with its lilies1 overhung by weeping willows and shaded by stately elms1 is an unusual sight even in this county of abundant irrigation4 ,the packing-houses and dryer all display a taste and practical arrangement hardly seen elsewhere4 ,a climb to the top of the tank-house is well worth the trouble4 ,the view becomes wonderfully enlarged2 we overlook the level plains1 all in vines1 with houses and groves scattered about like islands in a sea1--no wild1 unbroken country anywhere4 ,in the distance is ,fresno ,city1 to the north the view is hemmed in by new vineyards and colonies1--a mass of trees and vines in straight and regular rows4 ,the courteous owner conducts us through his packing-house and shows us how the bunches are placed in layers and carefully made to fit every corner in the box1 how the boxes are covered with papers and artistic labels and finally made ready for the market4 ,as we pass out we get a glimpse of the equalizing room1 crowded to the ceiling with sweatboxes1 in which the raisins assume an even and uniform moisture4 ,and what luscious bunches they are1 large1 sweet1 thin skinned and highly flavored4 ,malaga produces nothing better1 and much not as good4 ,and1 when we are all through tasting and admiring1 we are invited into the cosy and artistically furnished dwelling1 where in the cool shade the lunch and the rest are as welcome and interesting as the vineyards and packing-houses outside4 ,as we turn again towards town1 we pass the well-kept ,goodman vineyard1 after which we enter the large ,barton vineyard1 now partly owned by an ,english syndicate4 ,the old #fdj acres are nearly all in wine grapes1 while several hundred acres of young raisin grapes have lately been added4 ,one of the most extensive wine cellars in the ,state is found here1 all kept in splendid shape1--hardly a speck of dirt1 not a foot of waste land seen anywhere4 ,the mansion is stately1 situated on a small hill surrounded by fine groves of gum-trees1 evergreen hedges and ornamental grounds4 ,should we care to go farther east1 we might visit the ,eisen vineyard1 where the first ,muscats were planted in the county4 ,the famous avenue is half a mile long1 and one of the most beautiful in the ,state1 lined on both sides with blooming and beautiful oleanders alternating with poplars over a hundred feet high4 ,we might also visit the ,locan vineyard and orchard1 and admire the orange-trees1 which speak of what the country can produce in this line4 ,but the time is too short2 we might travel a week over this level but beautiful country1 and every day1 every minute1 see something new and interesting among all these vineyards1 with their packing-houses1 and raisins exposed on trays to dry4 ,when we return to town1 a visit to the packing-houses is one of the most interesting that can be made4 ,of these packing establishments ,fresno has four or five1 besides several in the colonies or in the larger vineyards4 ,three of these packing-houses are the largest in the ,state4 ,the building of each one of them1 though large1 is full and overcrowded4 ,women at long tables pack the raisins in boxes1 at other tables men weigh and assort raisins and take them out of the large sweatboxes in which they left the field4 ,at some tables fancy packing is done1 and women 8face0 the boxes by placing large selected raisins in rows on the top layers4 ,at another table the raisin-boxes are covered with fine colored labels1 then nailed and made ready for shipment4 ,some four hundred men and women are busy with this work under one roof1 all earning wages of from one to two dollars a day each4 ,we catch a glimpse of the equalizing room1 where fifty tons of raisins are stored at one time for a week or more in order to become of even moisture1 the floor being sometimes sprinkled with water to make the air sufficiently moist4 ,as we go out we see the raisin-boxes already packed being loaded on cars and shipped east by the train-load1 from four to six such raisin trains leaving every week1 each train of from ten to twenty cars4 ,on the other side of the packing-house is a continuous row of teams from the country1 all loaded with raisins1 brought by the country growers to the packers in town4 ,it takes a gang of men to receive1 weigh and unload them4 ,in another department we see the large stemmer and grader1 which runs by steam1 and stems and assorts from thirty to forty tons per day1 the clean and uniform raisins running out in a continuous stream1 each grade in separate boxes4 ,there is a restless activity on every side4 ,the large raisin crop this year is very large2 it must be handled in a few months1 and every grower and packer is pushing the work to his utmost ability4 ,when we consider that most of the crop1 which this year will reach five hundred thousand boxes1 comes from the country immediately surrounding ,fresno ,city1 and that the ,san ,joaquin valley is #bej miles long by #ge miles wide1 almost all the land capable of being highly cultivated and of producing abundant crops of one thing or another1 then alone can we realize what the future has in store for this wonderful valley1 an agricultural empire in the very center of ,california4 ,,from ,,los ,,angeles ,,to ,,santa ,,ana4 ,we are fairly out of ,los ,angeles when the character of the scenery changes4 ,the railroad here runs through one of the most fertile counties in the ,state1--the rich bottom lands being formed by the deposits of ages from the overflow of rivers and creeks from the ,sierra ,madre range4 ,not an acre of waste land is to be seen anywhere4 ,everything is clothed in the softest green1 and only in the far distance are seen the hills and higher mountains of a brownish violet color1 with the boldest outlines against the sky4 ,a more diversified farming district is seldom seen4 ,orchards of prunes1 walnuts1 apples and figs are met with on either side of the track1 here and there expansive vineyards with their characteristic green1 or groves of straight and stately gums1 like immense square blocks of verdure1 planted all along from the nearest fields to the far distant hills4 ,we pass in succession ,ballona1 ,florence1 ,downey and ,norwalk4 ,the country around the two latter places seems especially attractive1--orchards as far as we can see1 vineyards and native pastures4 ,we pass villages and farmhouses1 here and there a more pretentious villa1 and1 in some spots more lovely than the surrounding1 many a mansion has been erected with luxury and taste4 ,we are soon in ,orange county1 and the scene changes some1 the soil being1 if possible1 more fertile4 ,we pass large orange groves of the deepest green1 and immense fields of corn1 squashes1 pumpkins1 peanuts1 beans1 and here and there walnut groves and plantations of young fig trees4 ,anaheim1 ,orange and ,santa ,ana come in quick succession2 we are in the center of a raisin district of the very greatest interest4 ,we can hardly realize the change4 ,not having been here since the boom1 everything seems almost new4 ,santa ,ana has grown to be the queen of the valley1 and is undoubtedly1 together with its two sister cities1 ,orange and ,tustin1 one of the most prosperous as well as lovely places to be found in the beautiful ,south4 ,as we board the street car and ride up town from the depot1 we realize the change even more4 ,on every side are signs of wealth and refinement1 of new ideas and new capital1 both mostly imported from the ,east4 ,broad avenues one hundred feet wide1 on either side1 lined with trees of various kinds1 cultivated fields immediately beyond1 which1 with cottages1 villas and churches1 all speak of a prosperous and intelligent population4 ,santa ,ana has her share of these stately structures4 ,the ,brunswick is as fine and substantial a building as any one could wish1--lofty and airy and of imposing architecture1 large rooms and spacious halls4 ,the boom that has been so much misjudged has done much more than settle up the country and bring capital4 ,it has left behind substantial improvements and a taste for architecture1 the arts and sciences1 which can but be of permanent value to the country4 ,it brought the country at one bound from its former frontier life and characteristics to a high degree of civilization and refinement4 ,it brought capital1 soil1 climate and energy together in a way that is hardly found anywhere else out of our ,state4 ,the boom is over1 but the benefits of the boom are yet here1 and are permanent4 ,santa ,ana1 ,orange and ,tustin are like three precious stones in a ring of verdure4 ,only a few miles apart1 they are like the villas on the outskirts of a central imaginary city1 from which the wealthy and poor likewise fled to a more retired country life1 to enjoy both seclusion and society1 both the pleasures of country life and the advantages of an active city1 where every luxury and necessity can be found at the door of every home4 ,santa ,ana has a fine1 large1 central business street1 with new and costly brick blocks containing stores of every description4 ,in this climate1 however1 we can see no necessity for ice1 and the manufacturer and mixer of cool drinks can but find his business unprofitable4 ,up and down this street a line of cars runs all day long at fixed hours1 connecting with other lines in ,tustin and ,orange4 ,a trip or two on any of the lines is one of real pleasure4 ,tustin is only two or three miles away1 nearer the hills4 ,the car1 an open one with many seats1 winds its way under shady lanes on either side1 bordered by large and graceful pepper trees covered with spicy and fragrant blossoms4 ,here and there we see alongside the pavement an enormous sycamore tree1 a monument of olden days and the native vegetation of the country4 ,on both sides of the avenue are sidewalks of cement1 and they who prefer walking can do so for miles under the shady trees without getting dusty or becoming heated by the sun4 ,these sidewalks are marvels of beauty and comfort4 ,on one side are old and graceful trees with drooping limbs1 on the other are well-kept cypress hedges trimmed square and even1 or long natural barriers of ever-blooming geraniums in numerous varieties1 of every favorite shade of color from crimson to palest pink4 ,over the hedges we look into blue-grass lawns1 green and well kept and exceedingly attractive4 ,suddenly we are in the middle of ,tustin ,city4 ,a beautiful1 even magnificent bank building on one corner1 a store on the opposite1 two or three smaller shops and the inevitable splendid and elaborate hotel1 and the town is fully described4 ,immediately adjoining are the beautiful and evergreen lawns and trees1--the city and country actually combined4 ,a trip to ,orange reveals the very same features1 only we pass through a more fertile country1 with vineyards and orchards on every side1 orange groves of various ages1 walnut orchards1 fields of tall corn1 peanuts1 beans and melons4 ,between all wind the shaded avenues with pepper and gum1 cypress1 pine or yellow flowering grevillea4 ,the soil is everywhere of the richest kind1 of a color between ashy green and chocolate4 ,nowhere have we seen such magnificent ,indian corn1--whole fields where the stalks are from twelve to sixteen feet high4 ,orange is a more pretentious town than ,tustin1 but hardly any more beautiful1 and far less secluded and quiet4 ,there are two large and fine hotels1 the one of brick being in town1 while the other1 the family hotel1 lies in the suburbs in bowers of evergreen trees and gardens4 ,in the middle of the town there is a plaza with a fountain and an exquisite little garden well planned and better kept4 ,the lawns are like the softest velvet1 and are bordered with blue and green flowers1 with beds of sweetest mignonette1 while bananas and palms spread their stately foliage in the center4 ,the climate of this part of ,southern ,california is excellent4 ,the thermometer stands at midday at eighty in the shade2 in the evening there is always a breeze4 ,many of those ,i meet complain as usual1 and greet me with the inevitable1 8,how warm it is to-day10 and our as inevitable answer is1 that we cannot feel it1 and that it just seems delightful to us4 ,people here observe and feel the changes of temperature much more than we do farther north4 ,with us they share the habit of complaining even if there is nothing to complain of4 ,the vineyards of ,santa ,ana have suffered much from a vine disease which may be compared with consumption or the ,oriental plague in man4 ,but every one thinks here that the pest will run its course and become harmless1 and even now some of the vineyards are being replanted with fresh vines4 ,the oranges do eminently well1 but they must be sprayed and constant watch kept for the red scale imported here from ,australia by an enterprising nurseryman4 ,the plantations of walnuts are being rapidly extended1 and nurseries of young walnut trees just appearing above the ground are seen in many places1 the plants probably amounting to millions4 ,the walnut generally planted is the seedling soft-shell and the common ,santa ,ana walnut1 than which there is none choicer and more valued on the coast4 ,prunes are also a favorite crop1 and pay well if not allowed to overbear1 in which case the succeeding crop will be small4 ,the same may be said of the apricot4 ,these trees are here fine and healthy1 and of a deeper and finer green than is seen almost anywhere else2 but last year the trees bore too much1 and this year the crop is by far not what it should be4 ,the resources of this country are such that the partial failure of a single crop will cause no serious injury4 ,new resources are developed every day2 there are few plants that do not thrive here4 ,in the gardens as well as in the fields we see the tender semi-tropical plants1 which cannot stand any frost1 growing close to varieties from the ,north4 ,bananas1 date palms1 walnuts and oranges grow in the same field with peaches1 apples and prunes4 ,pepper and camphor trees and the tender grevillea are on one side of the avenue1 while on the other side we may find elm1 eucalyptus or even the beautiful umbrella4 ,irrigation is practiced on every farm4 ,fifteen thousand acres are covered by water stock1 but not all irrigated yet4 ,just now the orange groves are irrigated1 and ,i observe their methods4 ,the land is always leveled before anything is planted1 as there is too little water here to waste any on unlevel land4 ,one way to irrigate an orchard is to plow furrows in between the rows of trees1 and then let the water run in them4 ,another way is to check the whole orchard with small levees1 inclosing thus a little square around every tree1 and the square check of one tree meeting the same of the adjoining tree4 ,this is actually flooding the land4 ,deciduous trees and vines grow without irrigation1 but to get a good crop irrigation is necessary4 ,the large1 dry and rocky creek beds speak of the water that is wasted in winter time in flowing to the sea4 ,practically nothing of it is then saved4 ,irrigation districts under the ,wright law are formed and forming1 and everybody seems hopeful that in course of time there will be water enough to irrigate all the land that is good enough to be irrigated4 ,some of the finest ranches in the ,state lie right at the feet of ,santa ,ana4 ,the ,san ,joaquin ranch contains one hundred thousand acres1 ,i am told1 and it is not yet cut up1 and thus some of the best land around ,santa ,ana is yet only used as pasture4 ,the owners failed to sell in the time of the boom and must now wait until the land that is already covered with ditches will be fully settled before they can sell1 but the time1 we predict1 is not very far off4 ,,santa ,,ana ,,to ,,san ,,diego4 ,a railroad trip from ,santa ,ana to ,san ,diego offers many points of interest4 ,it carries us through both the most highly cultivated and through the absolutely vacant1 not to say barren1 lands4 ,we leave the orange grove and walnut plantations of ,santa ,ana1 and are carried almost immediately past the lovely and shaded ,tustin1 where pepper groves and lime hedges1 gardens and splendid villas1 combine nature with art1 taste and enterprise to create a veritable oasis for those favored ones who can remain there4 ,we rush for a few minutes through these highly cultivated lands1 and suddenly find ourselves out on a wide1 open plain1 comprising about eighty thousand acres1 without a house to be seen anywhere1 with no orchards1 no vineyards1 no signs of civilized life4 ,and still the soil is the richest1 the native vegetation of grasses the most luxuriant4 ,the soil is apparently subirrigated1 and could grow almost anything the farmer might plant there4 ,along the horizon1 stretching from the mountains way down on the plains like an immense plumed serpent in its wavy and coiling track1 is seen a continuous band of sycamore trees1 outlining the bed of a stream4 ,it is like stepping out of one room into another4 ,what can be the reason of the sudden change8 ,this vast body of land1 containing over #abf1jjj acres1 is an old ,mexican grant1 the remnant of one of those ,mexican cancers1 which to such an extent has retarded the development of ,california4 ,sure enough1 we see wire fences everywhere1 and cattle with spreading horns and sheep without number4 ,but we see no sign of the cultivator1 no horses1 no signs of progress4 ,the owner held onto the land1 probably expecting it to bring a price many times the sum it was worth4 ,he died1 and so died the boom1 and now the land is under administration4 ,when the time comes that this large ,san ,joaquin grant can be sold to farmers in small tracts1 it will very greatly increase the cultivable area of ,orange county4 ,but we pass on1 leaving the open country2 we are soon in among the rolling lands1 among foothills not unlike those of the ,sierra ,nevada in the ,san ,joaquin valley4 ,to the left are the ,san ,bernardino ,mountains1 here and there a peak of boldest outline1 and streams and caons winding their way to the sea4 ,at ,el ,toro a number of passengers got off to take the stage to ,laguna1 a seaside hotel1 where the farmers and business men of every color1 from the heated interior valleys1 delight to spend a day in fishing1 hunting for abalones1 or in watching the breakers roll against the sandy beach4 ,a little farther on we stop at ,el ,capistrano1 or rather at ,san ,juan ,capistrano1 the old ruined mission1 situated in the most beautiful little valley1 with its winding and sycamore shaded creek4 ,the mission must have been one of the very largest in the ,state4 ,the ruins are yet very extensive1 consisting of long and regular adobe walls1 and one-half of a yet magnificent looking church1 in the regular ,spanish style of architecture4 ,a rather large size town of ,mexican houses1 with a ,mexican population1 and venerable fig trees1 tall and wavy palm trees1 and large but unkempt gardens1 give the place a rather more important look than it perhaps deserves4 ,there is but little sign that the boom was ever here4 ,still the valley is so beautiful and evidently so fertile1 that it needs only work and taste to make it equal to the very best4 ,we see yet the old mission pear trees1 large and untrimmed1 not unlike our drooping oaks1 loaded with pears to such an extent that there appears hardly room for a blackbird to get through4 ,the mission grapevines are all dead4 ,gigantic vines1 which covered trellises and arbors1 and which perhaps bore tons of grapes1 with trunks as heavy as the body of a boy1 are there yet1 but without leaves and young shoots2 they are dead1 having surrendered to the vine pest of the country4 ,after leaving ,capistrano we follow the little creek to the sea4 ,the valley is from one-half to one mile wide4 ,here and there are flourishing little vineyards1 but mostly pastures and cornfields or patches of beans4 ,at last we reach the sea1 the ,pacific1 calm and blue1 with breakers lashing the shore4 ,to the right we leave the rocky promontory of the ,capistrano ,mountains1 and for an hour or more run on the very beach4 ,in stormy weather the spray of the breakers must wet the cars1 which run only a stone's throw from the water's edge4 ,this part of the route is the most interesting and the most refreshing to one coming from the interior plains4 ,we are now in ,san ,diego county4 ,the shore is abrupt and bluffy1 the hills bordering on the sea4 ,at ,oceanside we meet the first of the boom towns1 one of those that sprang up for pleasure and profit1 towns of magnificent villas1 broad streets and avenues1 lined with infant blue gums1 with rows and hedges of the ever-bright geraniums1 and with large and splendid-looking hotels1 with airy balconies1 verandas and lookout towers1 swept by the fresh breezes of the sea4 ,the vicinity of every such station is heralded by the characteristic white stakes that mark the town lots1 and by rows of small1 intensely blue1 gums2 by a sprinkling of cottages1 small and large1 perhaps a mile or two before the whistle of the steam-engine brings us to a standstill4 ,the first things that meet our eye at every station are large and splendid lawns1 young plantations of palm trees and other plants characteristic of the ,southern coast climate1 flowers of brightest hue1 all started by the enterprising immigrants who came here to buy climate1 sun and air1 and to enjoy the breakers and the ocean every day in the year4 ,after ,oceanside1 we touch at ,carlsbad and ,del ,mar1 both seaside resorts with magnificent villas costing from twenty to forty thousand dollars each1 and with fine but young plantations and gardens4 ,i was especially charmed with ,del ,mar1 with its large1 tasteful hotel on the bluff1 and quite a large colony of villas and mansions in various sizes and styles close around1--a bright and charming picture1 a place where a traveler feels at home at once1 where he would like to pass the balance of all the days he can spare from business and toil4 ,the scene changes again as the cars carry us through the foothills1 along the bed of creeks1 or across lagoons connected with the sea1 or over gaping chasms4 ,we look down deep into the valleys below1 where shady sycamores and white cottages mark the farmers' homes1 and where vine-clad hills offset the native brown of the country4 ,i am surprised to see how the grapevines thrive so luxuriantly so very close to the shore4 ,in some places there are fine and thrifty vines within a stone's throw of the breakers1 only protected by a slight undulation in the ground from the most direct wind4 ,of course1 grapes on those vines cannot be expected to be very sweet2 it is wonderful enough that they are there at all4 ,the water supply of this part of ,san ,diego county has been very much underrated4 ,the railroad crosses perhaps a dozen different creeks1 all showing living water1 and which are far from being entirely dried up4 ,with a ,supreme ,court more enlightened1 and with proper legislation as to the needs of the country1 ,san ,diego county may yet be able to store water enough to irrigate very large areas of land1 where colonies of thrifty farmers may create and maintain prosperous orchards and vineyards as a support and backbone to the many pleasure resorts4 ,but we are out of the hills4 ,smiling and glistening in the evening sun lies ,san ,diego ,bay1 with the elevated ,point ,loma1 the ever-present breakers on the bar1 and away out on the low peninsula the gigantic and turreted pile of the ,hotel del ,coronado1 to say nothing of ,san ,diego itself1 with its miles of marked town lots and villas4 ,but ,i shall not endeavor to describe this town and its bay and climate4 ,the latter may possibly not be excelled anywhere2 the former lacks a most essential thing1--an abundance of trees and vegetation4 ,still1 with the water that has lately been brought here the trees and flowers will come soon enough we hope1 when green lawns1 bananas and palms will be ready to tell the tale1 and young plantations will be seen on the hills and around roadway homes4 ,but ,i forget ,i am bound for ,el ,cajon and its raisin vineyards1 and must catch the train4 ,,el ,,cajon4 ,the country lying between ,san ,diego and ,el ,cajon does not at this time of the year present many attractive features4 ,the little train1 consisting of a locomotive1 tender and a passenger car1 wriggles itself between brown1 rolling hills1 over small caons1 dry and sandy1 without any other vegetation than grass1 and here and there a few evergreen shrubs4 ,close to ,san ,diego we pass along the ,chollas valley and creek1 where an attempt has been made at colonization1 as we understand it in the ,san ,joaquin valley4 ,the land is divided up in ten and twenty-acre tracts and dotted over with small and unpretentious cottages1 as well as with fine and expensive mansions4 ,young orchards of pears1 olives1 prunes1 oranges and figs are seen wedged in between vacant and unbroken land4 ,in the river bottom are ,chinese gardens1 with windmills1 and patches of cabbage1 corn and small truck4 ,much of this land is irrigated with water from the ,sweetwater dam1 some twelve miles away on the ,sweetwater river4 ,on the bottom land there are a few ,muscat vineyards1 for the supply of the ,san ,diego market4 ,i noticed the grapes there4 ,they were of the ,muscat of ,alexandria variety1 very large and fine both as to bunch and berry1 and very sweet4 ,i have seen no finer ,alexandrias anywhere4 ,but we have hardly time to observe this cultivated spot before we are out again among the rolling hills4 ,the engine pants heavily1 and we are constantly ascending4 ,the same low hills everywhere1--no settlers1 no gardens1 no plantations of any kind4 ,the soil is brown adobe mixed with gravel and small boulders2 in fact there is nothing to see and admire4 ,for twenty miles there are two or three small stations1 but there were no station houses to be seen nor any settlements around4 ,the railroad is apparently made to tap a better country in the interior4 ,but even in this uninhabited country the boom started to penetrate in earnest4 ,large signs announcing the sale of town lots1 wide streets once plowed up across each other at right angles1 square blocks which are plowed around or otherwise mapped out1 here and there a white post with a number and a name1 and we have a good idea of a town where the lots sold for #bej apiece or more4 ,all at once the engine whistles1 the area widens and we see in front of us a large1 flat valley1 apparently almost circular1 from four to five miles across1 bounded by lower and higher hills1 behind which a few higher peaks look down gray and solemn4 ,this is ,el ,cajon4 ,we step out on the platform of the station1 and the view is fine4 ,the valley lies below us1 the bottom is apparently flat1 but in reality slightly undulating and somewhat sloping towards the center4 ,rows of vines begin at the station1 and from here vineyards stretch in all directions for miles and miles1 sometimes in large blocks of regular shape1 then again in irregular patches among otherwise cultivated lands half way up on the lower hills4 ,dotted all over the valley are farmhouses in all styles1 elegant and tasty or plain and simple1 enough only to keep out the rain and the sun4 ,around every such cluster of buildings there is a little plantation of eucalyptus and cypress1 and a few ornamental plants4 ,here and there at long intervals is seen a row of gums1 black and somber1 as if they were on duty as shields from wind and fog4 ,we are soon in the bus on the way to town4 ,the roads are straight and well kept1 bordered with young eucalyptus and cypress1 and with vineyards on both sides with the rows of vines remarkably distinct2 we can follow each one of them distinctly for several miles over the undulating ground until they end on the steeper slopes of the hills1 or run into the little caons bordering the valley4 ,el ,cajon has no pretentions to being a town2 it is an unassuming and quiet little village1 whose inhabitants1 when they speak of 8town10 always mean ,san ,diego1 twenty miles away4 ,el ,cajon has a dozen houses1 all told1 one of each kind of the most necessary stores and shops1 but ,wells1 ,fargo ,co4 have not yet discovered this quiet place4 ,nevertheless1 it has two hotels1 one small and unassuming1 which runs a bus to the station1 and where everybody seems to meet2 the other1 large and pretentious1 both as to bay-windows and name1--,corona del ,cajon1 but apparently void of much internal life4 ,the railroad to ,el ,cajon was finished only some eight months ago4 ,if it had been running three years ago during the ,southern boom1 the valley would perhaps to-day be rivaling ,pasadena and ,riverside in thrifty farms and residences4 ,el ,cajon is the most important raisin-producing district in ,san ,diego county1 and so exclusively and to such an extent have the raisin grapes been planted here that we hardly see anything else4 ,vineyards as far as we can see in all directions2 vineyards in the rolling bottom of the valley2 vineyards also on the steeper slopes of the hills2 nothing else than ,muscats of ,alexandria for business1 and only a few other vines around the cottages for home use4 ,a drive through the valley brings us in close contact with what we saw from the more elevated station4 ,one vineyard joins the other1 with only a road between1 and there are no rows of poplars and only very rarely a row of eucalyptus or cypress4 ,the view is open on every side1 and from every point we can see over the valley and the low hills surrounding it4 ,the vines have at this time of the year left off growing and have assumed a dark green color1 not relieved by any young and more vividly colored shoots4 ,the grapes hang ripe under the branches1 and the trays are in many places distributed in piles over the field4 ,there are two packing-houses in the valley2 the one now under way is #dj by #acj feet1 being built of redwood1 and apparently most carefully put up4 ,i see no sign of irrigation anywhere1 and every one tells me that it is not required4 ,but ,i cannot help thinking that a little water judiciously used would have kept the vines growing much longer1 and would have naturally increased the crop1 which now only averages two and one-half tons of green grapes per acre4 ,there are many very beautiful mansions in the valley1 surrounded by very praiseworthy attempts at landscape gardening1 but the absence of water for irrigation makes itself felt everywhere1 both in regard to the size of the plants and their color4 ,water can be had in abundance at a depth of from only twelve to eighteen feet1 and windmills and reservoirs would do much towards a substitute for ditches4 ,as we drive through the valley and up the divide between ,el ,cajon and the ,sweetwater valley1 the view is very attractive indeed1--on one side the many well-kept vineyards of ,el ,cajon1 on the other1 way below us1 the narrow and winding valley of the ,sweetwater4 ,the ,sweetwater valley1 or rather continuation of valleys1 is much smaller than ,el ,cajon1 perhaps only a quarter or half mile wide1 but it is more favorable to raisins1 grapes or vegetation of any kind4 ,olive orchards of good size trees1 vineyards with large and yet growing vines1 cornfields and pastures1 and the winding and shaded little creek in the center of the valley1 give the latter a freshness and beauty not surpassed anywhere4 ,on our way on the railroad as well as through ,el ,cajon valley1 we have frequently passed alongside of or under the now famous ,cuyamaca flume1 carrying water to ,san ,diego and ,coronado4 ,this flume is a fine structure1 running sometimes in the ground1 sometimes again on elevated trestle-work over the ravines1 or spanning the gaps between lofty hills4 ,the whole length of the flume is thirty-six miles1 and the cost of construction was #aab1jjj4 ,its size is five feet1 ten inches wide1 and sixteen inches deep1 but by an addition of two more boards the depth of the water can be increased to three feet1 ten inches1--a large body of water for this country1 where water is comparatively scarce4 ,the flume heads in a magnificent dam at the head of ,san ,diego river1 and it would suffice to irrigate quite a large stretch of country if the people were only willing to use the water4 ,but the farmers here have been so repeatedly told that the land absolutely needs no irrigation1 and indeed would be ruined by the same1 that the most of them now fully believe this to be the case4 ,the water is therefore not diverted anywhere along the route of the flume1 and even in ,el ,cajon and other places1 where the crop of almost every kind of fruit would be doubled by judicious irrigation1 no effort to use the same is made4 ,i could find no one who irrigated1 and as a consequence the company that owns the flume have not yet put in the extra boards that would more than double the carrying capacity of the flume4 ,one of the most interesting places in ,san ,diego county is the famous ,sweetwater dam4 ,it takes only two and one-half hours to visit it and return1 and a trip to it will repay the trouble4 ,we start out southeast and cross to ,national ,city1 only a few miles from ,san ,diego1 and really a suburb of that town4 ,national ,city is decidedly new1 an attempt at something grand1 which it will take sometime to finish4 ,the most interesting thing there1 in a horticultural sense1 is the olive orchards of ,kimball ,brothers4 ,they are scattered in two or three places1 and comprise about fifty acres altogether4 ,the trees are as large as good size apple trees1 bushy and silvery1 and are heavily laden with fruit4 ,the land around each tree was checked up1 each tree having a little square for itself1 and a ,chinaman with a hoe was busy irrigating4 ,in one corner of the orchard was a large circular reservoir five or six feet high1 and perhaps twenty feet across1 to facilitate the irrigation4 ,the train starts from here directly in among the hills1 following the bed of the ,sweetwater river4 ,the bottom land is now being settled up by farmers and gardeners1 who were busy taking their first lessons in irrigation4 ,the plantations of course are very young1 the irrigation works having been finished quite recently4 ,at ,sunnyside there are a few older orchards of oranges and olives1 but1 as a whole1 the country is uncultivated4 ,five minutes more and we are at the dam4 ,there is no station1 except a little wooden platform1 and we had to scramble over a rough hill to get down to the dam4 ,the gorge there is probably one hundred feet wide and several hundred feet deep1 with almost perpendicular sides4 ,there is no other vegetation visible than grass and a few low shrubs scattered around4 ,it is a most excellent place for a dam4 ,the ,sweetwater dam is built almost entirely of masonry and cement1 and1 both as regards construction and size1 is one of the very best in the world4 ,it is built in the shape of an arch1 with the convex part up stream1 and gives an impression of solidity and safety not always found in structures of this kind4 ,the masonry dam is forty-six feet wide at the bottom1 at the top twelve feet4 ,the length of the top is #cdj feet1 and at the bottom of the caon the base of the dam is about one hundred feet1 while the height is about ninety feet in the center4 ,at one end of the dam is a wasteway and gates for letting the water out in case of a flood4 ,the gates slide on an inclined plane1 and consist simply of three-inch boards with pegs in each end1 which are caught by a hook when they are to be raised4 ,the capacity of the wasteway is said to be fifteen hundred cubic feet per second1 or as much as the ,sweetwater river is ever likely to carry1 even during flood time4 ,for one who is accustomed to headgates and waterways in the ,fresno canals1 this waterway looks very small indeed4 ,but the engineers say it is large enough1 and we suppose they must be right4 ,the water is delivered through a large iron pipe thirty-six inches in diameter1 covered for some distance down the caon with masonry4 ,for #bi1hjg feet1 this pipe line runs down the valley or on the mesa lands adjoining it4 ,it will deliver fifty million gallons of water per day1 and can now irrigate ten thousand acres of land4 ,the whole cost of construction was #ejb1jjj1 and the time consumed in building was two years4 ,the reservoir1 as it now stands1 is a magnificent sheet of water with tributary watersheds of #ahf square miles1 and a water surface of about three and one-half square miles4 ,it is a grand illustration of the enterprise of the ,san ,diego capitalists1 of the skill and success of the ,california engineers1 and of what may possibly be accomplished on nearly every stream in ,san ,diego county4 ,it is a structure of which any country might be proud1 and which has few equals and no superiors anywhere in the world4 ,on our way back we meet a picnic party of schoolgirls1 who with their teachers have spent the day in the country4 ,they fill the cars with smiles and chat1 with flowers in bouquets and garlands1 in baskets and by the armful4 ,we are treated to flowers and to beautiful ,muscat grapes culled from the vineyards1--enormous bunches and berries almost as large as plums4 ,these grapes are a revelation to me1 grown here within the reach of the fogs of the ocean1 and irrigated with water from the dam or flume4 ,verily1 ,i have never seen choicer grapes anywhere1 and ,i am satisfied that they could not be surpassed by any for raisins4 ,what a fertile country this will be when irrigation is better understood and more practiced4 ,could we but see it when that time comes4 ,,riverside4 ,there is no place in ,southern ,california where the effects of a close and intelligent study of horticultural matters are so visible as in ,riverside4 ,money alone may build villas and mansions2 but the intelligent and ever watchful horticulturist alone can1 out of climate1 soil1 water and capital1 produce a ,riverside4 ,it is charming beyond description2 it must be seen to be realized4 ,the best time to get a full and good view of ,riverside is early in the morning1 just at sunrise1 and there is no better place to view it from than the hill on which the ,hotel ,rubidoux was to have been built4 ,i arose before sunrise1 and struggled up the steep hillside4 ,it well repaid me for the trouble1 as few more beautiful views can be had4 ,the whole settlement can be taken in at a glance1--the town close by imbedded in orange groves and vineyards1 and the dense verdure of the country stretching for ten miles down the valley1 and almost connecting with the yet farther off ,south ,riverside4 ,on the eastern side we see the ,san ,bernardino ,mountains1 with the 8,old ,greyback10 and between the mountains and the settlements a lower range of steep hills appear1 which in a continuous range either bar the way or like isolated islands shoot boldly up from the mesa land4 ,the ,riverside colony forms a continuous settlement along the mesa1 skirting the river1 the deep green of the orange orchards harmonizing splendidly with the lighter green of the vineyards4 ,at close intervals there are houses in every direction1 with the bluest smoke rising straight up from their chimneys1 and thence carried in long1 tiny bands and columns down the valley just level with the tree tops4 ,it is a pity the hotel on this hill was never finished--a great many more would then have enjoyed the almost unequaled view4 ,an extension of the main business street in town leads up to this hill4 ,on both sides of the street there are fine orange orchards and neat houses1--real country homes1 sidewalks of cement where rows of fan-palms take the place of regular shade trees along their sides4 ,the business portion of ,riverside is confined to two streets crossing each other at right angles4 ,if we stand in the center of this crossing we take it all in1 the houses extending a block and a half in the four different directions4 ,some of the houses and brick blocks are very large and expensive1 while many again are smaller1 but all are costly and elegant1 with new and perhaps startling ornamental designs4 ,whatever ,southern ,california does1 it does well1 and even the cheapest structures have an air of character and taste which can hardly be too much admired4 ,when one speaks of ,riverside he means the whole settlement that is irrigated1 and to live in ,riverside may mean to live in town1 or it may mean a suburban residence ten miles away4 ,in the latter locality the benefits of the country are happily combined with the luxuries of city life4 ,street cars run from the center of the business part of town down to the end of the settlement4 ,it is a cheap way to view the settlement to board one of these early cars4 ,you can see as much as any one may care to see1 but of course cannot stop and examine4 ,the whole drive is one not to be matched anywhere else4 ,from the moment you leave town you pass orchards and vineyards separated from each other by only a road or cypress hedge4 ,every foot of ground is taken up4 ,the main effort of all the settlers appears to be to make everything attractive1 from the very sidewalk to the elaborate garden and the villa4 ,nearer town1 every street has sidewalks of cement1 and bordering them are continuous hedges of cypress trimmed in various styles1 and in front of every house are lawns and plats of shrubbery and flowers1 as neatly kept as if visitors were expected day or night4 ,some of the villas partake of the character of mansions1 with towers1 balconies and painted windows1 while here and there in some of the finest orchards are yet seen some of the first houses built1 small and unpretentious4 ,the individual tastes of the owners are clearly discernible4 ,one has a row of palms running along his sidewalk1 another has palms and grevilleas1 while others prefer the pepper and gum4 ,the manner of trimming the hedges is charming2 it has here become quite an art4 ,some hedges have square1 others roofed tops1 and at every corner there is a little pillar of cypress with diamond or globular top1 not at all artificial or stiff4 ,the vast majority of the plantations consist of orange groves4 ,the color of the trees is splendid1 every leaf being bright and shining1 and there is no sign of smut or scale4 ,the large and upright ,seedlings are easily distinguished from the smaller but bushy ,navels4 ,the tendency is now to plant mostly the latter1 and most of the old ,seedling trees are being budded over4 ,the original ,navel tree1 which is the prime cause of the prosperity of ,riverside and of the fame of its oranges1 is yet standing by a modest cottage1 which appears not to have kept pace with the times4 ,the tree is small1 perhaps twelve feet high1 having been constantly cut back for buds4 ,from this tree have sprung all the rest4 ,no other ,navel tree imported from ,brazil or ,australia resembles it in quality of fruit or in bearing capacity4 ,it is probably a chance 8sport0 originally imported by the ,agricultural ,department at ,washington1 its companion trees being different in the most essential points which make this variety so valuable and so famous4 ,this beautiful and choice orange1 now generally known as the 8,washington ,navel10 is slightly oblong or egg-shaped1 and the skin is very smooth1 with no ridges at the poles1 the latter being characteristic of the other ,navel varieties4 ,the crop of ,navels this year is good4 ,many growers expect from three to four boxes to the tree1 and1 as each box brings from three to four dollars1 it is evident the business pays4 ,the valuable and permanent improvements everywhere show this to be the case2 the account books of the grower need not be searched to demonstrate it4 ,here and there we also see a lemon orchard with its larger trees of a different green4 ,a few years ago many lemon orchards were dug up1 as no one understood the secret of saving the lemons till the warm season1 when alone they can bring a good price4 ,but at last one of the growers wrung the secret from ,nature1 and now buys up all the young lemons he can find and stores them away to be used from six to ten months later1 just when they are most in demand4 ,in company with that courteous horticulturist1 the editor of the ,riverside ,press1 ,e4 ,w4 ,holmes1 we visited this gentleman1 ,g4 ,w4 ,garcelon4 ,to him is due much credit for having discovered the process4 ,he presented us with lemons of the small and proper size that had been picked green eight months ago4 ,they were equal to the best imported1 both as to smallness of size1 acidity1 thinness of skin and quality of juice4 ,these lemons bring now five dollars per box1 at which price lemon culture proves more profitable than that of the orange4 ,the only variety that should be planted is the ,lisbon lemon1 the ,eureka having too bitter a peel1 and the much recommended ,villa ,franca being round and thus unacceptable4 ,we passed several vineyards1 the ,muscat vines being large and the vineyards well kept4 ,the grapes are just ripening1 but it will be some two weeks yet before they are ready to cut4 ,the only variety grown here is the ,muscat of ,alexandria1 the real ,gordo ,blanco being unknown1 or at least not generally planted4 ,the far-famed ,magnolia avenue is near at hand4 ,the center is occupied by a continuous row of old pepper trees1 with gracefully drooping branches1 under which the cars run4 ,the outside rows are different in various places1 generally palms with alternating grevilleas1 or gum or pepper trees4 ,the custom now is to replace the outside trees with palms1 and many of the stately gums are being cut away4 ,beyond the sidewalks are the trimmed cypress hedges1 and behind them orange orchards1 only interrupted by open lawns and gardens partially hiding the tasty dwelling-houses of the horticulturists4 ,all that we see1 now so luxuriant and beautiful1 is the effect of water on the otherwise barren plains4 ,everything is irrigated several times a year by means of flowing water brought from distant points1 from the mountain caons1 or from the artesian wells in the river bottom higher up1 several miles away4 ,the canals are all on the highest ground1 and are dug on technical principles4 ,there is no washing and no filling up1 no broken-down gates and overflowing and stagnant ponds4 ,some ditches are cemented1 and look magnificently clean1 without any weeds or mud4 ,the water in them is like the water of a spring1 clear and pellucid4 ,in course of time all the ditches will be cemented1 the cost for doing the work being paid for in a short time by the water saved and the absence of the necessary cleaning out4 ,riverside is indeed to be envied its ,chinatown4 ,the latter was1 some years ago1 moved a mile from town into a hollow1 and now every house there is surrounded by cypress hedges and windbreaks of cypress and gum4 ,moreover1 every house there is connected with the sewerage system1 and the usual smell is not noticed on the outside4 ,indeed1 one can drive by and not know the nature of the town1 for it looks like any other country village1 almost hidden in evergreens4 ,in a few weeks the raisin harvest will commence1 and from that time on ,riverside1 along its whole extent1 will be life and bustle4 ,when the grapes are all in1 the oranges will be ready for harvesting1 and the country will again boast of its thousands of carloads of the golden fruit4 ,,redlands4 ,we have reached the object of our journey in the upper end of the ,san ,bernardino valley4 ,one of the features of ,south ,california1 not ,southern ,california1 as we in the center all used to say1 is the motor roads1 not electric motors1 but regular little steam engines1 that will pull you anywhere1 and which will not shock you with anything except perhaps with their smoke4 ,such motor roads lead almost everywhere1 connecting the outlying colonies way up in the mesa with the headquarters on the regular railroad4 ,and these motor roads are neither neglected1 nor do they go begging for customers and freight4 ,they are as much or more patronized even than the regular railroads1 and they pay well4 ,the cause of this is evident4 ,they are more accommodating2 they can without inconvenience stop wherever required1 and passengers get on or off at almost every corner4 ,the little train stops with equal readiness at the call in front of the rich man's villa1 to enable him and his family to embark1 as at the poor man's garden1 to allow him to get on with a load of greens or with a basket of eggs4 ,thus managed1 it rushes along with short and frequent stops1 always full of passengers and freight4 ,going up the ,san ,bernardino valley from ,riverside is a trip that no one should neglect4 ,it takes us through one of the best improved parts of ,south ,california1 through a veritable garden spot1 with a radius of six or seven miles4 ,from ,riverside we pass for several miles over the level mesa land1 just brought into cultivation through the new ,gage canal system4 ,over two thousand acres have been planted here within the last two years to oranges1 lemons and vines1 and the fine and regularly planted trees with the large distances between show us how much the new settlers have been able to profit from the experience of the older ones4 ,for several miles there are young plantations1 each with its neat and substantial residence and outhouses1 indicating that the settlers mostly are people of some means and of much refinement and taste1--just the class of people that we all would choose for our nearest neighbors4 ,everywhere are school-houses of artistic designs1 most magnificent ones in the older settlements1 smaller but tasty ones in those of almost yesterday4 ,as we pass along the mesa1 the upper ,san ,bernardino valley1 closed in by steep and lofty mountains1 lies on our right1 and in front the ,santa ,ana river courses through the center of the valley1 with its vast broad river bottom covered with wild vegetation1 pastures or cultivated fields4 ,we cross several ditches1 one laid in cement1 with the water running in them as clear as that in the washbowl4 ,once across the river bottom we are almost directly at ,colton on the ,southern ,pacific ,railroad4 ,the first thing that attracts our attention is the beautiful plantation on the railroad reservation4 ,fine green lawns1 fountains1 beds of evergreens and flowers1 the whole inclosed in pepper trees1 gives the traveler immediately the impression that something beautiful in the way of gardening can be accomplished1 where there is only a will and a taste4 ,such beautiful places everywhere in the ,south show that the people who came here1 came not alone to make money1 but also to enjoy life and to cultivate those pleasures and occupations which help to prolong and beautify the same4 ,from ,colton up to ,san ,bernardino the whole country is settled up and resembles the outskirts of a large city1 where the business men have their suburban residences4 ,the level and gradually sloping mesa is dotted over with little hills and knolls1 just the place for a residence4 ,every such place has been taken advantage of1 and fine residences with towers1 balconies and airy awnings crown every little eminence1 each one through its peculiar situation seemingly dominating the valley4 ,san ,bernardino has been greatly benefited by the boom4 ,the old and the new are there in strong contrast1 the new decidedly predominating4 ,magnificent brick blocks grace the principal business streets1 and the nearest streets crossing them1 blocks that must have cost large sums of money1 and which for design and substantial structure can nowhere be surpassed in any city of this size4 ,the fine large hotels erected lately are kept up with style and even splendor4 ,the large ,stewart ,house is not inferior to the best town hotel that can be seen anywhere1 and its interior arrangements1 with a large covered court1 are most admirable4 ,my stay in ,san ,bernardino was only too short2 a long stroll around town and a little longer shake hands with the veteran journalist and horticulturist1 ,l4 ,m4 ,holt1 took all the time ,i had to spare4 ,from ,san ,bernardino to ,redlands is but half an hour's ride through the bottom lands of the ,santa ,ana river4 ,we approach rapidly the upper end of the valley1 where the elevated mesa spreads out all around like a perfect ampitheater1 backed by the loftiest mountains in ,southern ,california4 ,the mesa is now in close view1 and ,redlands1 ,lugonia1 ,terracina1 ,crafton1 all different points of the same settlement1 lie in front of us at an elevation of about fifteen hundred feet above the sea1 like a map or extensive panorama1 where roads1 orchards and houses are so clearly and distinctly seen that they can be observed at a glance4 ,the mesa land here slopes about four hundred feet to the mile1 and the different orchards or settlements lie apparently one above the other1 all in full view4 ,if ,i am asked for the place in this part of the country with the finest view1 with the freshest air1 with the purest water1 and with the coolest breezes1 and where business and the comforts of life can be combined1 ,i will say1 and say it again1 ,redlands4 ,in all these points there is nothing here that surpasses it1 and few are the places indeed that even can pretend to equal it4 ,from whatever point we stand1 be it at the lower end of the railroad depot1 at any orchard or home in the center of the settlement1 or at the upper end close to the rolling hills1 from every point we see every other point1 some below1 some above us1 all equally distinct4 ,and this extensive and magnificent view1 that requires no tedious and tiresome climbing to see1 extends away down the valley for sixty miles1 over slightly rolling hills1 over level mesas with their dark-green orchards and vineyards1 over the steeper hills1 over the lofty ,sierra ,madre range in the northwest4 ,if we turn to the right we are immediately met by the snowy peaks and the bare walls of the ,san ,bernardino range1 here and there cut by the caons and gorges of the tributaries of the ,santa ,ana river4 ,the business part of ,redlands is as neat and tasty as any1--brick blocks and cement sidewalks1 horse cars1 and water under pressure4 ,no explanation is required to be made of the quality of the ,redlands climate and soil4 ,a trip over the settlement will reveal all to any one with open eyes4 ,orange orchards1 young of course1 but thrifty1 on every side1 alternating with ,muscat vineyards1 according to the taste of the owner2 beautiful homes of the horticulturists1 the stately mansions of the bank presidents and those that became wealthy quickly1 and the grand view common to all1--these are some of the good things this settlement enjoys4 ,the water for irrigation is all under pressure1 either coming to the surface in open flues or in iron pipes4 ,the orange orchards are being irrigated everywhere1 in a way which should make a ,san ,joaquin valley man stare4 ,iron pipes are laid all over the orchard1 and at the beginning of every row of trees there is a faucet4 ,these faucets are all opened at the same time1 and a tiny stream of water issues forth and runs on each side of the young orange trees down to the other end of the check4 ,it is left to run for several days at a time4 ,at the other end of the check the water is not wasted1 but runs into a little wooden spout at every row of trees and through the same into a cement ditch which carries the water to another place4 ,the system of irrigation is simply perfect2 if it were not so1 the land could not be irrigated4 ,with this system there is no waste1 no weeds1 no malaria1 no hoeing nor other work of any kind4 ,irrigation is here as easy as the washing of your hands in a patent washstand3 you open the faucet and let the water run4 ,the general opinion by people not acquainted with the colony is that water here is very scarce2 this is a mistake4 ,there is water enough to irrigate all the land2 most of it is now only running to waste to the sea2 to be utilized it must only be stored4 ,the ,bear valley reservoir1 when perfected1 as it soon will be1 will hold water enough to irrigate over twenty-six thousand acres of ground1 which is about all the irrigable land tributary to ,redlands4 ,there are other reservoir sites in the mountains1 and the possibilities of future irrigation can hardly be comprehended4 ,although young1 only four years old1 the upper ,san ,bernardino colonies produce already considerable quantities of fruit4 ,six thousand acres are now under cultivation1 eight hundred of which are in ,muscat grapes1 the balance mostly in oranges and other fruits4 ,last year they produced fifty carloads of grapes and forty carloads of raisins1 and altogether about #adi carloads of fruit1 dried or fresh4 ,no better showing could be expected of any place1 and there is no better advertisement of the resources of the country4 ,i have yet a thing to add1 a thing to praise4 ,everywhere in the ,south magnificent drives are laid out1 avenues are planted with shade trees1 evergreens and palms1 street cars take you everywhere1 and the comforts of pedestrians and riders are always assured4 ,the roads are all sprinkled1 and the dust is an unknown quantity except in by-lanes and corners1 where the sprinkler cannot reach4 ,riverside sprinkles the whole of her business streets1 and her ,magnolia avenue effectively and continually for about ten miles down the valley4 ,other places do the same1 perhaps only not to as liberal an extent4 ,in many places the tired pedestrian finds little wooden benches to rest on under a shady tree1 close to a fountain of drinking water1 all placed there by the kind society1 ,w4 ,c4 ,t4 ,u4 ,comparisons are not in place2 but how many times ,i have wished such a thing had been met with in some other places ,i know of where the sun is just as hot1 and where the dust is just as deep4 ,,an ,,hour ,,in ,a ,,packing-,,house4 ,the following sketch of a ,fresno packing-house1 where already cured raisins are bought and packed1 may prove interesting to those of my readers who have not had time or opportunity to visit any similar establishment4 ,the same kind of work is going on in each packing-house1 whether it be large or small1 except that the number of hands are varied4 ,in the two or three largest packing-houses in ,fresno1 as many as four hundred hands are sometimes employed at one time when the work is pressing2 as it slackens1 less hands are used4 ,these large city packing-houses are all situated close to the railroad2 they buy the raisins already cured and dried from the colonists1 who bring them in sweatboxes to town4 ,the time of the greatest activity is from the last week in ,august to ,october #aeth4 ,the largest of these city packers are ,messrs4 ,cook ,langley1 who own packing-houses both in ,riverside and ,fresno2 ,schacht1 ,lemcke ,steiner1 successors to ,george ,w4 ,meade1 the oldest packing-house in ,fresno1 superintended by ,h4 ,w4 ,shram2 ,chas4 ,leslie ,co41 ,griffin ,skelley1 etc4 ,the pioneer packing company of ,fresno1 known as the ,fresno ,raisin ,fruit ,packing ,company1 is doing at this time a large business4 ,every day five or six carloads of raisins are sent away1 while a string of from twenty to thirty1 two and four horse teams are waiting outside of the weighing shed to have their raisins weighed and received4 ,these raisins come both from large and small vineyards from all over the country1 but principally from the colonies1 where they are the products of twenty-acre vineyards4 ,some of the best raisins in fact came from the smallest vineyards1 where they had the best care1 and where the owner has given the vineyard all his time4 ,mr4 ,h4 ,w4 ,shram1 the superintendent of this large and old packing-house1 has had years of experience in the packing business1 and has followed the ,fresno raisin business from its infancy4 ,as soon as the raisin boxes are unloaded they are immediately weighed4 ,it takes eight men to attend to this part of the business1 one weighing and one clerk to keep accounts4 ,the dried wine grapes1 such as ,zinfandel1 ,malagas1 and even ,sultanas1 are immediately wheeled into the stemmer-house to be separated from the stems and cleaned4 ,this stemmer is one of the largest in the ,state1 and the only one of its kind as regards construction4 ,it stems1 cleans and assorts1 in from three to four different grades1 sixty tons of raisins a day4 ,nine men are working this machine1 some feeding1 others pushing wide but shallow boxes under the spouts1 others again wheeling them away when full4 ,the steam engine of ten horse-power and boiler are fired principally with separated stems1 refuse raisins1 and stones of peaches and apricots4 ,the separated dried grapes are packed and shipped in eighty-pound sacks1 and go in this way to the ,east1 or even to ,europe4 ,every day one or two carloads of these dried grapes are shipped4 ,the ,muscatel layers1 however1 go first to the sweating-room1 before anything is done with them4 ,this sweating-room is one hundred by fifty feet1 and has the walls and floor filled around with one foot in thickness of sawdust1 so as to prevent the outside air from entering4 ,this sweating room is constantly filled with raisin boxes from floor to ceiling1 and seldom contains less than forty tons of raisins at one time4 ,it takes from ten to thirty days to equalize the moisture in the raisins as well as to properly soften the stems so that the grapes will not fall off4 ,this is of the utmost importance4 ,if it is not done the stems will break and the berries fall off1 and instead of a first-class layer raisin we would only get a first-class loose4 ,after having sweated for several weeks the raisins are brought out to be assorted4 ,we see several rows of oblong tables1 each one with a border around like a deep and large tray1 and with a hole at each end in which the loose raisins are pushed4 ,it takes eighteen of these tables to receive the grapes to be assorted1 and as it also takes six girls at each table1 it is evident the work is one of great importance4 ,only girls are used1 as boys and men could not as properly do the work4 ,it takes a girl's nimble fingers to handle the raisins1 so that none break4 ,they are also more patient1 and are1 in every way1 suited for the work4 ,as the raisins are being assorted1 the different grades are clipped from the same bunches1 and placed in different trays4 ,thus one and the same bunch may contain four different grades of raisins4 ,each one is separated at these tables1 to make different brands of raisins4 ,the trays1 with five pounds of raisins each as they leave the graders1 are placed in large piles on the floor1 and are from there taken away at leisure1 first to be packed and afterwards to the press4 ,this is a department of its own4 ,it takes great experience to press the raisins just so much1 that they will look well1 but not so much as to burst4 ,a broken raisin will sugar and spoil1 and would cause complaint and dissatisfaction4 ,the public is constantly being educated as to what fine raisins are1 and now wants only the best4 ,each tray is pressed1 and it takes four trays to make up a box of twenty pounds4 ,a tray is placed over the box1 the sliding bottom is pulled out1 and the whole cake of raisins with paper and all drop in the box below4 ,after the raisins are assorted they have to be packed4 ,twenty girls are occupied with this1 the most pleasant1 but also the most skillful1 work in the packing-house4 ,no bad raisins go in here1 and if any there should be1 they are separated and placed with a lower grade1 as even one or two raisins would spoil an otherwise good box4 ,this requires a great deal of care and attention1 but the girls are being educated1 and the same ones are re-engaged from year to year4 ,fresno is getting an army of girls educated for the business1 and we find much less trouble now to get the raisins well packed than a few years ago1 when everything was comparatively new4 ,now there is hardly a girl in any of the colonies who does not know something about raisin-packing1 and who is able to make good wages during packing time4 ,several cents a tray are paid for packing1 and many girls earn two dollars a day1 while none earn less than one dollar a day4 ,the first quality raisins are packed under the ,lion ,brand1 while the second quality goes by the name of the ,golden ,gate4 ,both brands are equally popular and are readily sold4 ,the loose raisins are as important as the bunches and layers4 ,the ,american housewife has learned that she gets more for her money if she buys loose raisins than if she buys layers1 which always contain a large percentage of stems4 ,loose raisins are therefore now very popular4 ,the loose raisins have all been sweated1 and the best of them have come from large1 fine bunches1 from which they have simply dropped off1 and magnificent they look indeed as they are separated and graded into several grades1 the largest of course to make the very choicest brands4 ,the process of packing is quite different from that of packing layers4 ,in loose1 the boxes are simply filled with fifteen pounds of loose raisins2 then a tray containing five pounds1 and which has been faced1 is placed on top1 this making up twenty-pound boxes4 ,the facing is a most important and interesting work4 ,it takes from forty to fifty girls to do it1 and only expert hands are allowed at the facing tables4 ,the facing consists in placing large1 fine and flatted raisins in layers on top of the box1 as an advertisement that the contents underneath are equally carefully assorted and choice4 ,a careful and skillful facer can face forty boxes a day1 while from twenty to thirty boxes is a low average4 ,mr4 ,shram buys raisins and dried grapes from every one who has any that are really choice4 ,for ,feherzagos three to three and one-half cents are paid1 for ,malagas four cents1 and for ,muscatels three and one-half to five cents1 according to quality4 ,all the work in the packing-house is done by piece work1 and from two to five cents are paid for different qualities of the work1 such as assorting1 picking over1 picking and facing4 ,four hundred girls and boys are daily employed4 ,the present raisin pack1 ,mr4 ,shram affirms1 is the best of any he has ever handled4 ,they are shipped to every large town in the ,east1 and are constantly increasing in demand4 ,besides raisins1 ,mr4 ,shram handles peaches1 figs1 apricots1 and in fact any dried fruit we have4 ,tons and tons of ,adriatic figs are brought from the colonies every day at six cents per pound1 an enormous price when we consider the yield of a fig tree4 ,but1 says ,mr4 ,shram1 they are in demand1 and as long as we can sell them again when packed and sweated to advantage we can afford to pay a good price4 ,when sufficient boxes are packed1 they are loaded in cars and made up into trains exclusively loaded with raisins4 ,the various packing-houses combine to do this4 ,generally during the packing season two such train-loads are sent away every week1 each one consisting of from ten to fifteen cars of raisins1 each car containing one thousand boxes4 ,five hundred and thirty such cars were shipped from ,fresno last year 7#ahhi74 ,some of the packers packed one hundred thousand boxes each4 ,,raisin ,,growers ,,and ,,their ,,vineyards4 ,the following sketches are intended to convey to those not living in the raisin districts of our ,state an idea of the men who have made a specialty of the raisin industry1--men through whose experiences and intelligent work others are now profiting4 ,while the raisin growers and packers can now be counted by the hundred1 and while all of them have in some way contributed to the development of the industry1 and as such deserve to be mentioned in the annals of this industry1 it has only been practicable to here refer to a few of the most prominent4 ,where exactly to draw the line was not easy to decide1 and my intention has been not to slight or neglect any one1 and should any one find himself omitted he should account for it through my ignorance of real facts4 ,i should especially have wished to add to these short notes more extensive accounts of the work and vineyards of ,r4 ,b4 ,blowers of ,woodland1 of the late ,g4 ,g4 ,briggs of ,davisville1 and of ,robert ,mc,pherson of ,mc,pherson1 but ,i have not been able to procure the necessary data4 ,these three gentlemen have all greatly contributed to the development of the high standing of the raisin industry in this ,state4 ,g4 ,g4 ,,briggs4 ,mr4 ,briggs was the first large raisin-grower in the ,state1 and owned vineyards in both ,solano and ,yolo counties aggregating seven hundred acres or more4 ,subirrigation by means of perforated pipes1 in which the water was made to circulate under pressure1 was first tried extensively in ,mr4 ,briggs' vineyard at ,davisville1 by which means the grape crop was almost doubled4 ,later on ,mr4 ,briggs planted extensively in the ,washington ,colony at ,fresno1 but he died before his vineyard there came into bearing4 ,he is said to have imported raisin grapes direct from ,spain1 and a grape now growing in the vineyard of ,g4 ,e4 ,freeman at ,fresno is said to be of that variety4 ,it resembles the ,muscat of ,alexandria in growth1 but the berries are those of the ,gordo ,blanco4 ,mr4 ,briggs advised to give the raisin-vines more room1 and following his ideas several vineyards as well as his own were planted with the vines ten by sixteen feet4 ,r4 ,b4 ,,blowers4 ,r4 ,b4 ,blowers of ,woodland1 ,yolo county1 planted his first vines in #ahfc1 and produced his first raisins in #ahfg4 ,from #ahgj to #ahgc he planted the principal part of his vineyard4 ,he was the first one in ,california to do any really careful packing1 and he may justly be said to be the father of the raisin industry in this ,state4 ,mr4 ,blowers was the first to irrigate the raisin-vines by means of pumping and flooding1 for which purpose he constructed his afterwards so famous well4 ,the first successful raisin dryer was invented and built by him at a time when every one else doubted the propriety and desirability of drying grapes by artificial heat1 and the dryer thus constructed has never yet been surpassed4 ,one of the characteristics of the ,blowers dryer was the blower or suction fan1 by which means the air was changed in the dryer1 the moist air being sucked out1 while dry air was allowed to rush in4 ,mr4 ,blowers improved nearly every branch of the raisin industry1 and studied every operation1 such as plowing1 irrigation1 curing and packing1 more thoroughly than any one ever did before or has done after him4 ,mr4 ,blowers' raisins were the best in the ,state at their time1 and wherever exhibited received the first premium4 ,at the ,world's ,fair at ,philadelphia1 they received the first premium1 and attracted much attention4 ,i may add that ,mr4 ,blowers is the inventor or at least the perfector of the 8face-down0 method of packing1 the best method for packing raisins4 ,mr4 ,blowers has published a short essay on raisins1 referred to elsewhere in this book4 ,,robert ,mc,p,h,e,r,s,o,n4 ,robert ,mc,pherson was for ,southern ,california what ,g4 ,g4 ,briggs and ,r4 ,b4 ,blowers were for the ,northern part4 ,the ,mc,pherson vineyard extended once over #cfj acres of land1 and one year he shipped over one hundred thousand boxes4 ,many of the practical devices for irrigating1 curing and packing raisins now generally in use in the southern part of the ,state were invented by him4 ,the ,mc,pherson vineyard was situated in ,orange county in the southern part of this ,state4 ,robert ,mc,pherson was certainly the largest and most prominent raisin-grower in ,southern ,california4 ,he is now no longer in the business4 ,t4 ,c4 ,,white4 ,the 8,raisina0 vineyard was the first thoroughly conducted raisin vineyard in ,fresno4 ,it was planted by ,t4 ,c4 ,white in #ahgf1 '#gg and '#gh1 and from that time gradually extended until it contained one hundred and twenty acres1 of which sixty-five acres are in ,muscatel grapes of the variety known as ,gordo ,blanco1 brought there from the ,blowers vineyard at ,woodland4 ,the vineyard also contains some ,seedless ,sultanas and ,white ,corinths4 ,the soil of the vineyard is white ash1 the location two miles south of ,fresno1 in the old ,central ,california ,colony4 ,the soil is now partly subirrigated4 ,t4 ,c4 ,white has done a great deal to develop and perfect the packing and curing of raisins1 and he has also given much time and study to the other branches of the industry1 such as growing1 pruning and cultivation4 ,through the study of the imported ,spanish raisins1 as well as of those produced by ,r4 ,b4 ,blowers1 ,mr4 ,white succeeded in packing a very superior brand1 which has never been surpassed in this ,state4 ,the brands packed at the ,raisina vineyard were as follows3 ,dehesa ,clusters1 ,london ,layers1 ,california ,layers1 ,loose ,muscatels1 and cartoons of two and one-half pounds4 ,the largest pack at one time was thirteen thousand boxes of twenty pounds each4 ,in order to 8face0 the boxes accurately and rapidly1 ,t4 ,c4 ,white invented the facing-plate elsewhere described in this book4 ,experiencing considerable difficulty in properly facing his ,dehesas1 it occurred to him that a block or plate might be made with cavities in which the raisins could be placed quickly and without danger of being disturbed4 ,his idea was entirely original1 and the facing device as made by him is a perfect machine which has not been improved upon4 ,this device is now covered by patents4 ,in packing ,t4 ,c4 ,white employed the ,blowers' method1 or the 8face-down0 method1 which he so improved upon that it has not since been excelled4 ,many of the fine points in raisin curing and packing were perfected by him1 and the raisin industry will always be benefited by the work he has done4 ,below ,i give a list of the premiums taken by ,t4 ,c4 ,white's raisins at various fairs3 #ahhe1 silver medal and special first premium for best raisins at the ,mechanics' ,fair in ,san ,francisco2 #ahhf1 first premium and gold medal at the ,mechanics' ,fair in ,san ,francisco2 #ahhh1 first premium and one hundred dollars for best raisins at the ,state ,fair4 ,same year they received first premium and gold medal at the ,fresno ,district ,fair2 #ahhi1 first premium at the ,fresno ,district ,fair4 ,,miss ,m4 ,f4 ,,austin4 ,the story of ,miss ,m4 ,f4 ,austin and her success with the ,hedge ,row ,vineyard reads like a beautiful tale4 ,a schoolteacher by occupation1 ,miss ,austin possessed many prominent qualities and elevated ideas1 among others that horticulture should become a business for women as well as for men4 ,acting upon these ideas1 ,miss ,austin removed to ,fresno in #ahgh in company with a lady friend and teacher1 ,miss ,l4 ,h4 ,hatch1 and she began immediately to improve her ,hedge ,row ,vineyard1 a part of which had been planted two years before by ,bernhard ,marks1 the founder of the ,central ,california ,colony4 ,the vineyard was gradually extended until it contained one hundred acres1 nearly all in ,gordo ,blanco vines4 ,miss ,austin must be given credit for having improved upon many operations in the vineyard and in the packing-house4 ,she first discovered that under proper conditions the sulphuring should be done in the flowers of the grapevines4 ,by this method she one year largely increased her crop of grapes4 ,in packing she showed her womanly taste and refinement1 and not only succeeded in producing superior ,layer and ,dehesa raisins1 but made several innovations in packing which to this day are imitated4 ,among these we may mention the packing in cartoons1 and in small ornamented paper bags1 which latter were again placed in paper boxes4 ,miss ,austin and ,t4 ,c4 ,white were the originators of fancy packing in this ,state4 ,the largest pack of the ,hedge ,row ,vineyard was seventy-five hundred boxes1 while the total of one year's pack reached sixteen thousand boxes4 ,miss ,austin built the first raisin dryer in ,fresno1 and demonstrated that machine-dried raisins were a success if not a necessity as regards the last crop4 ,the pluck and intelligence of ,miss ,austin soon became extensively known1 and many were the ladies who1 imitating her1 engaged in horticulture and in the raisin industry4 ,fresno county and the ,state at large owe her a debt of gratitude for what she has done4 ,those who had the pleasure and honor of her friendship lost in her a dear and faithful friend1 a brilliant and intelligent companion1 and a person who had few equals in any path of life4 ,,joseph ,t4 ,,goodman4 ,the owner of the ,floreal vineyard arrived in ,fresno in #ahgi1 and purchased a then already started plantation1 which1 however1 he soon greatly remodeled1 enlarged and improved4 ,mr4 ,goodman1 formerly one of the brilliant newspaper men and literary writers of this coast1 and publisher of the ,territorial ,enterprise of ,virginia ,city1 ,nevada1 has probably more than any other man studied the characteristics and requirements of the raisin grapes4 ,his vineyard1 while not the largest1 is in our opinion the best cared for in the ,state1 and newcomers could perhaps not do better than learn from it4 ,it now comprises one hundred and twenty acres1 mostly in ,gordo ,blanco4 ,for the curing of the grapes1 thirty thousand trays or more are needed1 while a separate packing-house and tray-shed are prominent features of the vineyard4 ,the land was all leveled with great care before planting1 and every check can be flooded if necessary4 ,the soil is the very richest1 being the chocolate-colored loam1 which in ,fresno is considered the best and strongest soil for ,muscat grapes4 ,the location of the vineyard is the old sink of ,red ,bank creek1 in the same district where ,forsyth's and ,butler's vineyards are situated4 ,as regards planting1 pruning1 sulphuring1 topping and other vineyard operations1 ,mr4 ,j4 ,t4 ,goodman is an authority from whose verdict there is no appeal4 ,the ,floreal vineyard always bears good crops1 which must be exclusively attributed to the care given the vineyard and to the judgment with which all operations there are conducted4 ,mr4 ,goodman has invented several appliances for facilitating the vineyard work1 most prominent among which ,i may mention the vineyard truck1 by the means of which the expenses of harvesting and some other vineyard labors are greatly reduced4 ,he also suggested the facing-plate independently of ,t4 ,c4 ,white4 ,a4 ,b4 ,,butler4 ,the largest raisin vineyard in ,fresno county or in the ,state of ,california1 as well as in the world1 is owned by ,a4 ,b4 ,butler4 ,the vineyard is situated about three miles southeast of ,fresno1 on the sink of ,red ,bank4 ,it contains about six hundred acres1 nearly all of which is planted in ,muscat grapes of the ,gordo ,blanco and ,alexandria varieties1 and a few ,sultanas4 ,the vines are planted at various distances1 such as ten by sixteen feet1 and six by twelve feet1 etc4 ,the pruning is all 8low standard10 except the ,sultanas1 which are staked four feet high4 ,the only trees in the vineyard consist of two or three avenues of fig and poplar interspersed with fan palms1 while some poplar trees line the outside boundaries of the vineyard4 ,the first vines were set in #ahgi1 and since that time the planting has been carried on until the whole six hundred acres are now in vines in full bearing4 ,mr4 ,butler himself superintends the general work of the vineyard1 and during the packing time carefully watches the packing4 ,the latter is accomplished in a large building containing packing-rooms1 storerooms1 steam dryer1 separator1 box factory and storeroom for labels4 ,the dryer has a capacity of fifty tons charge of green fruit1 and is considered one of the best in the ,state4 ,there are two dryers1 the large one just mentioned and one smaller1 of twenty-five tons capacity1 situated in the center of the vineyard4 ,the ,butler raisins are celebrated all over the continent1 and are most excellently packed4 ,the labels used are very fine and are manufactured to order in ,france4 ,the principal brand packed is 8,butler's ,cluster ,raisins40 ,mr4 ,butler acquired much experience in ,spain1 where he spent considerable time studying the raisin business4 ,the output of the vineyard has been as high as one hundred thousand boxes per year4 ,similar to the other vineyards in this district1 the soil of the ,butler vineyard is among the very best in the county1 all now subirrigated4 ,mr4 ,butler is the largest packer in the ,state1 and his raisins have gained a continental reputation4 ,as regards ,spanish methods of packing1 ,mr4 ,butler is better posted than any other packer in the ,state4 ,an interesting essay on ,mr4 ,butler's experiences in ,california and in ,spain is published in monthly ,california for ,march1 #ahij4 ,the crop this year promises to be of extra quality4 ,,william ,,forsyth4 ,the owner of the ,forsyth vineyard and the producer of one of the two finest brands of raisins in this ,state arrived in ,fresno in #ahha1 and planted his present vineyard of one hundred and sixty acres in #ahhb and #ahhc4 ,the vineyard is situated in the sink of ,red ,bank creek1 some four miles east of ,fresno1 and consists of heavy reddish or chocolate-colored soil of unusual richness4 ,the vines used are almost entirely the ,gordo ,blanco variety1 with a few ,sultanas4 ,the land is all leveled1 was irrigated the first year only1 and is now subirrigated and drained1 requiring no further irrigation of any kind4 ,the vines1 set eight by eight feet1 are pruned low1 and given short spurs4 ,the outbuildings consist of a packing-house1 and equalizing or sweating house combined1 thirty-five by one hundred and seventy feet4 ,a dryer of late pattern1 with steam boilers and flues1 has a capacity of forty tons at a charge4 ,the houses for the laboring men as well as the ,colonel's dwelling-house are most elegant and complete1 and show the care and refined taste of the owner4 ,over fifty thousand trays for drying the raisins are used in curing1 the trays being three feet square1 large enough to hold thirty pounds of grapes4 ,the grove of palms1 ornamental and shade trees1 the flowers and shrubbery surrounding the ,colonel's home in the center of the vineyard1 are all models of beauty and testify to the culture and prosperity of one of our foremost raisin-growers4 ,the vineyard produces yearly from fifty to sixty thousand boxes of twenty pounds each1 of the highest quality of raisins4 ,the raisins are remarkable for their high grade and even packing4 ,the brands are3 ,forsyth's ,imperial ,clusters1 the 8,tiger0 brand and the 8,forget-me-not0 brand4 ,during the packing and picking season some two hundred and fifty hands are employed daily in the various departments1 all under the direct supervision of ,colonel ,forsyth himself1 who has gained his experience both by practical work in ,california and by visits to the raisin districts of ,spain4 ,during the latter he has gained much experience about foreign methods1 which he has not been slow to apply in his own business4 ,as regards location1 the ,forsyth vineyard is not surpassed by any1 and as regards appointments it is the most complete and handsome establishment that can be found anywhere4 ,the ,forsyth raisins excel in quality of berry1 grade1 uniformity of size and in the elegance and care with which they are packed4 ,they stand at the head of the ,california raisin product4 ,col4 ,forsyth has been appointed ,commissioner for ,california at the ,world ,fair in ,chicago1 #ahib4 ,a4 ,d4 ,,barling4 ,among our younger raisin-growers and packers1 ,mr4 ,a4 ,d4 ,barling occupies a prominent place4 ,a sketch of his life and connection with the raisin industry is most interesting4 ,he came to the raisin district with only a dollar in his pocket4 ,to-day he is a wealthy grower and packer1 whose raisin brand is among the best in the ,state4 ,mr4 ,barling1 formerly of ,michigan1 was educated at ,ann ,arbor4 ,in #ahgc he left college and started ,west1 settling in ,merced county1 ,california4 ,there he became connected with the ,farmers' ,canal ,co41 as their chief engineer1 which position he held for seven years1 and in that capacity conducted the water of the ,merced river down to ,livingston on the ,s4 ,p4 ,r4 ,r4 ,from ,merced he went to ,mexico in the employ of the ,mexican ,central ,railroad1 but returned to ,san ,francisco1 ,california1 in #ahhb4 ,here he had charge of the construction of the large wharf at ,alameda point1 then being constructed by the ,s4 ,p4 ,r4 ,r4 ,co4 ,becoming tired of working for a salary1 ,mr4 ,barling went to ,fresno and rented a lot in the ,central ,colony4 ,by dint of hard work1 not having any capital at all to start with1 he and his wife saved one thousand dollars1 with which they purchased the present ,el ,modelo vineyard1 paying forty-five dollars per acre for the rough land in #ahhe4 ,mr4 ,barling and his wife went to work with a will and set out the land in ,muscat cuttings1 but through unfortunate and unforeseen circumstances all the first planting was lost4 ,undaunted they replanted in #ahhf with great success1 and to-day they own one of the finest and best-paying #aej-;acre vineyards in the county1 having yearly added new territory to the first purchase4 ,last season they packed sixteen thousand boxes of ,muscat raisins1 and established the ,el ,modelo brand1 which in the market is considered second to none1 and which has established an enviable reputation for its packers4 ,this year's pack is estimated to reach fifty thousand boxes of twenty pounds each4 ,mr4 ,barling's thorough education and skill and experience as an engineer has materially contributed to his success4 ,he has also held the position of assistant cashier in the ,fresno ,loan ,savings ,bank for the last five years4 ,,frank ,h4 ,,ball4 ,the ,ball ,vineyard adjoins the town of ,fresno1 and is situated in the rich red lands1 the sink of old creeks4 ,the one hundred and twenty acres in ,muscatels are among the best cared for in the district4 ,mr4 ,ball possesses the faculty of doing the necessary work at the right time and doing it thoroughly4 ,the crop is annually sold in the sweatboxes to packers in ,fresno ,city1 no raisins being packed on the vineyard4 ,mr4 ,ball is the author of an excellent essay on raisin-grape growing and curing1 published in the ,california for ,july1 #ahij4 ,his methods of culture and curing are the best1 and the raisins produced by them are not surpassed by any in the ,state4 ,mr4 ,ball is one of our most successful raisin-men4 ,,san ,,joaquin ,,valley ,,raisin ,,packers1 #ahhi4 ,,name4 ,,location4 ,,brands4 ,,local ,,agents ,,eastern ,,agents ,,and ,,addresses4,,and ,,addresses4 ---------------------------------------- -------------------------- ,american ,raisin,fresno4 ,eagle1 ,star4 ,noble ,bros41 ,delafield1 ,co4 ,fresno4 ,mc,govern ,co41 ,chicago4 ,barling1 ,a4 ,d4 ,fresno4 ,el ,modelo1 ,townsend1 ,delafield1 ,golden ,gate4 ,mc,govern ,mc,govern ,co41 ,san ,co41 ,chicago1 ,francisco4 ,new ,york and ,st4 ,louis4 ,barton ,estate ,fresno4 ,peacock4 ,co4 ,butler1 ,a4 ,b4 ,fresno4 ,butler's ,h4 ,m4 ,newhall ,j4 ,k4 ,armsby ,cluster4 ,co41 ,s4 ,f4 ,co41 ,chicago1 etc4 ,cal4 ,raisin and,fresno4 ,seal1 ,eclipse4,williams1 ,c4 ,m4 ,webber ,fruit ,co4 ,brown ,co41 ,co41 ,chicago4 ,s4 ,f4 ,camp1 ,g4 ,w4 ,armona4 ,cook ,langley4,fresno4 ,horseshoe1 ,cook ,ariel ,lily1 ,eureka4 ,langley1 ,los ,meinrath1 ,angeles4 ,kansas ,cy4 ,chicago4 ,cook1 ,h4 ,e4 ,fresno4 ,cook's4 ,s4 ,l4 ,jones ,co41 ,s4 ,f4 ,curtis ,fruit ,oleander4,greyhound1 ,san,h4 ,m4 ,newhall ,j4 ,k4 ,armsby ,co4 ,joaquin4 ,co41 ,s4 ,f4 ,co41 ,chicago1 etc4 ,forsyth1 ,fresno4 ,imperial1 ,townsend1 ,delafield1 ,william ,tiger1 ,forget-,mc,govern ,mc,govern me-not4 ,co41 ,san ,co41 ,chicago1 ,francisco4 ,new ,york and ,st4 ,louis4 ,fowler ,fruit ,fowler4 ,pride of ,cal41,brown ,may1 and ,raisin ,comet4 ,fresno4 ,packing ,co4 ,fresno ,fruit ,fresno4 ,lion1 ,golden ,schacht1 ,rossiter ,raisin ,co4 ,gate4 ,lemcke ,skidmore1 ,new ,steiner1 ,s4 ,f4,york4 ,fresno ,raisin ,oleander4,american ,flag4,brown1 ,may ,co4 ,co41 ,fresno4 ,gould1 ,e4 ,h4 ,malaga4 ,olivet1 ,el ,d4 ,l4 ,beck ,u4 ,h4 ,dudley ,monte4 ,son1 ,s4 ,f4 ,co41 ,new ,york4 ,griffin ,fresno4 ,griffin ,griffin ,delafield1 ,skelley4 ,skelley's4 ,skelley1 ,s4 ,f4,mc,govern ,co41 ,new ,york4 ,holton1 ,s4 ,b4 ,selma4 ,golden ,west4 ,townsend1 ,delafield1 ,mc,govern ,mc,govern ,co41 ,san ,co41 ,chicago1 ,francisco4 ,new ,york and ,st4 ,louis4 ,leslie1 ,chas4 ,fresno4 ,liberty1 ,geo4 ,john ,h4,geo4 ,john ,royal4 ,leslie1 ,h4 ,leslie1 ,fresno4 ,chicago4 ,mau1 ,sadler ,fresno4 ,sierra ,park1 ,co4 ,parrot4 ,miller1 ,james4 ,fresno4 ,paige ,morton4,tulare4 ,p4 ,m41 ,brown,paige ,co4 ,morton1 ,s4 ,f4 ,reese1 ,j4 ,w4 ,fresno4 ,cartoons4 ,rodda ,fowler4 ,maple ,park4 ,townsend1 ,delafield1 ,nobmann4 ,mc,govern ,mc,govern ,co41 ,san ,co41 ,chicago1 ,francisco4 ,new ,york and ,st4 ,louis4 ,viau1 ,n4 ,malaga4 ,viau's4 ,viau1 ,s4 ,p4 ,malaga4 ---------------------------------------- -------------------------- ,,literature4 ,the literature of the raisin industry is a very scant one1 and as far as ,i have been able to ascertain not a single work especially devoted to this industry has appeared in any language4 ,the various cyclopedias contain articles on raisins1 but they are all more or less confused and unreliable1 and of no great use to any one who wishes only reliable information1 and who must depend upon the same for practical purposes4 ,as regards ,california1 much information has been given about raisin growing and curing in almost every newspaper published in the ,state4 ,to mention them all would be to enumerate all the papers of the ,pacific ,coast4 ,i can here refer only to a few of the principal ones1 where the student who has time and inclination to follow up the subject may find material for a more detailed history of the raisin industry than the one ,i have written4 ,first among these papers ,i must mention the ,pacific ,rural ,press1 edited by that distinguished horticulturist1 ,professor ,e4 ,j4 ,wickson1 and published by ,messrs4 ,dewey ,co4 of ,san ,francisco4 ,in the files of this weekly1 from #ahgc to the present time1 #ahij1 may be found scattered many interesting articles referring to our subject4 ,a paper contemporaneous with it was the ,san ,francisco ,merchant1 which contained many interesting articles on raisins and raisin grapes1 especially during the period from #ahha to #ahhg4 ,in the issues of the ,press and ,horticulturist of ,riverside1 ,san ,bernardino county1 ,california1 we find during a series of years occasional notes and articles referring to the raisin industry of that section of the country4 ,as regards the ,santa ,ana and ,orange county district1 the ,anaheim ,gazette will prove the most reliable guide1 as recording the rise and decline1 and1 as we believe1 also the revival1 of the raisin industry of that section4 ,the ,yolo ,democrat and the ,woodland ,mail published at ,woodland1 ,yolo county1 have devoted much space to the raisin industry of that section4 ,in ,fresno county the ,fresno ,republican1 between the years #ahhb and #ahhg1 contained weekly a separate department for viticulture and horticulture edited by the author of this book1 and that paper has ever afterwards devoted much space to recording the progress of the raisin industry of the country4 ,the ,fresno ,expositor1 the oldest paper in ,fresno county1 has contained much information about raisin grapes and vineyards since #ahgc1 when the first raisin-vines were planted in the county4 ,during the period from #ahhh to #ahij1 this paper contained almost daily editorials upon the raisin industry1 mostly contributed by this author4 ,the ,california ,fruit ,grower1 a weekly horticultural paper mentioned below1 has since its beginning a few years ago made dried fruit its specialty1 and has contained many important articles on our industry1 and in its columns may be found the most reliable raisin statistics published in this ,state4 ,the ,san ,francisco ,examiner contained in #ahhh a series of articles on raisins1 contributed by this author4 ,the ,san ,francisco ,chronicle has from time to time given much space to the raisin industry1 and its horticultural editor1 ,george ,f4 ,weeks1 has most ably contributed to the dissemination of knowledge about our ,california raisins4 ,a special raisin edition of this paper appeared ,february #b1 #ahij4 ,another ,san ,francisco paper1 the ,journal of ,commerce1 contains much information as regards raisin statistics and the progress of the raisin industry generally1 and its files may be consulted with much interest and profit4 ,among ,eastern journals ,i wish only to call attention to the ,fruit ,trade ,journal published at ,new ,york up to date 7,june1 #ahij72 it contains weekly statistics of raisin sales1 etc41 all of great interest to the grower and packer4 ,an important contribution to the history of the raisin industry is the work by ,professor ,e4 ,j4 ,wickson1--8,california ,fruits1 and ,how to ,grow ,them40 ,it contains several chapters on grapes1 most conscientiously written and very reliable4 ,this book will always remain as a standard work of reference upon the subject4 ,professor ,e4 ,w4 ,hilgard has during a number of years published essays upon topics related to our industry1 all most valuable to the practical grower4 ,they are enumerated below4 ,i may also mention the ,rural ,californian1 published in ,los ,angeles4 ,it devotes from time to time some space to the raisin industry of the southern part of the ,state4 ,in the ,reports of the ,state ,board of ,horticultural ,commissioners will be found several papers upon the raisin industry1 all mentioned below4 ,similarly the ,reports of the ,state ,board of ,viticultural ,commissioners contain several important and very interesting essays on raisins1 etc41 which are duly mentioned below4 ,in these reports we find articles by ,t4 ,c4 ,white and ,w4 ,b4 ,west and others1 as well as interesting discussions by growers4 ,the ,california1 a journal of rural industry1 which commenced publication this year 7#ahij71 and is issued weekly and monthly1 makes the raisin industry a specialty4 ,it has already contained many articles contributed by our most successful growers1 such as ,a4 ,d4 ,barling1 ,t4 ,c4 ,white1 ,a4 ,b4 ,butler1 ,frank ,ball1 ,wm4 ,forsyth1 etc41 and also by this author4 ,in the way of illustrations1 ,california is fortunate to possess a most exquisite work on grapes4 ,we refer to the very fine colored prints of ,california grape varieties published by ,edward ,bosqui4 ,among the number are our ,muscat of ,alexandria and ,seedless ,sultana4 ,each one of these plates is a work of art1 than which there is nothing superior produced anywhere4 ,below follows an enumeration of books1 which to a greater or less degree refer to the raisin industry4 ,for access to many of them ,i am indebted to the kindness of the proprietor of the ,sutro ,library1 ,mr4 ,adolph ,sutro1 of ,san ,francisco1 and to his librarian1 ,mr4 ,george ,moss4 ,,ansted1 ,d4 ,t43 ,ionian ,islands in #ahfc4 ,london1 #ahfc4 ,,arquimbau1 ,,john ,d41 ,united ,states ,consul at ,denia3 ,raisins in ,denia4 ,united ,states ,consular ,reports1 ,no4 #da1 pages #fha and #fhb4 #ahhd4 ,mr4 ,arquimbau is the largest packer in ,valencia4 ,,audibert1 ,,joseph3 ,les ,raisins ,secs4 ,paris1 #ahhd4 ,this work treats almost exclusively of dried grapes imported from ,turkey and ,greece to ,france for wine-making4 ,,ball1 ,,frank ,h43 ,my ,work in the ,raisin ,vineyard4 ,,ms4 to be published in ,california for ,july1 #ahij4 ,,barling1 ,a4 ,d43 ,culture and ,curing4 ,in ,vol4 ,i1 ,no4 #d1 of monthly ,california1 a ,journal of ,rural ,industry1 ,el ,verano1 ,cal42 also in same weekly ,no4 #ad1 ,april #ab1 #ahij4 ,,beaujour1 ,f43 ,tableau du ,commerce de la ,grce4 ,paris1 #ahhj4 ,,blowers1 ,r4 ,b43 ,report on ,raisin-making in ,california4 ,first ,annual ,report of the ,state ,board of ,viticultural ,commissioners4 ,san ,francisco1 #ahha4 ,pages #ac to #ae4 ,,borde1 ,,andrew3 ,breviary of ,health4 #aedb4 ,,bulletin1 ,,the ,,san ,,francisco3 ,published by ,messrs4 ,pickering and ,fitch1 ,san ,francisco4 ,the ,bulletin was the first of the large ,san ,francisco papers to devote time and space to the horticultural and viticultural interests of ,california1 and its weekly issues between #ahge and #ahij have been full of valuable information upon these subjects4 ,,california1 a ,journal of ,rural ,industry3 ,published by ,the ,california ,company1 ,san ,francisco4 ,gustav ,eisen1 ,horticultural ,editor4 ,contained a series of articles on ,raisins1 by the author1 commencing ,january1 #ahij1 to date 7,june1 #ahij74 ,,champin1 ,,aim3 ,vine ,grafting4 ,translated by ,j4 ,h4 ,wheeler1 in ,second ,annual ,report of the ,chief ,executive ,viticultural ,officer to the ,board of ,state ,viticultural ,commissioners for the year #ahhb-hc1 ,appendix ,,iii4 ,sacramento1 #ahhc4 ,,chipman1 ,,gen4 ,n4 ,p43 ,report ,upon the ,fruit ,industry of ,california4 ,published by the ,board of ,trade4 ,san ,francisco1 #ahhi4 ,,chronicle1 ,,the ,,san ,,francisco3 ,published by ,m4 ,h4 de ,young1 ,san ,francisco4 ,this large daily paper contains in the weekly and ,sunday issues much valuable information about horticultural subjects4 ,the issue of ,feb4 #b1 #ahij1 was especially devoted to the raisin industry1 and was most ably edited by ,george ,f4 ,weeks1 its horticultural editor4 ,,colmet3 ,dictionary of the ,bible4 #ahch4 ,grapes of ,eschol1 seedless4 ,,coryat1 ,,thomas3 ,crudities4 ,london1 #aggf4 ,,davy1 ,,john3 ,notes and ,observations on the ,ionian ,islands and ,malta4 ,london1 #ahdb4 ,,directory ,,of ,,the ,,grape-,,growers ,,and ,,wine-,,makers ,,of ,,california2 compiled by the ,state ,board of ,viticultural ,commissioners of ,california4 ,sacramento1 #ahhh4 ,,dodoens1 ,,rembert 7,dodonaeus ,rembertus73 ,histoire des ,plantes4 ,antwerp1 #aeeg4 ,,dowlen1 ,e43 ,several ,reports on the ,mysterious ,vine ,disease to the ,state ,board of ,viticultural ,commissioners of ,cal42 published in the ,san ,francisco ,merchant and ,viticulturist during #ahhi-ij4 ,these reports of carefully conducted experiments are highly interesting4 ,,eisen1 ,,gustav3 ,raisin-grape ,growing4 ,a series of articles on the ,growing1 ,curing and ,packing of ,raisin ,grapes4 ,published in the ,san ,francisco ,examiner1 both in the daily and weekly1 during the months of ,september and ,october1 #ahhh2 also a series of articles on ,raisins1 in ,california for #ahij4 ,,english ,,sources3 ,under this heading ,i have referred to a pamphlet on ,dried ,fruits1 by an unknown ,english author1 privately printed and circulated4 ,the part pertaining to raisins is very detailed and contains much information of which ,i have made free use in this book4 ,it was kindly placed at my disposal by ,mr4 ,thomas ,nelmes1 of ,pasadena4 ,the book being without title and the author unknown1 ,i cannot refer to it in any other way4 ,the pamphlet appears to have been printed in #ahgf4 ,,examiner1 ,,the ,,san ,,francisco3 ,published by ,w4 ,r4 ,hearst1 ,san ,francisco4 ,contained during the months of ,sept1 and ,oct41 #ahhh1 a series of articles upon ,raisin-grape ,growing by the author of this book4 ,in ,march1 #ahij1 appeared a special ,fresno number1 with much information about the raisin industry 7author unknown74 ,,farlow1 ,w4 ,g43 ,on the ,american ,grapevine ,mildew4 ,bulletin of the ,bussey ,institution1 ,march1 #ahgf4 ,boston1 ,mass4 ,,galloway1 ,b4 ,t43 ,the ,journal of ,mycology4 ,published by the ,u4 ,s4 ,department of ,agriculture1 ,washington4 ,several volumes published in serial to date1 #ahij4 ,contains articles on ,grape ,fungi1 etc4 ,,grasset ,,de ,,saint ,,sauveur1 ,,jacques3 ,voyage dans les ,iles et ,possessions des ,venetiennes4 ,paris1 #ahjj4 ,,grocer ,,and ,,country ,,merchant1 ,,the ,,san ,,francisco3 ,published by ,briggs and ,harrington1 ,san ,francisco4 ,devotes much attention to raisins1 as well as to other rural industries of ,california4 ,,hackluyt1 ,,richard1 ,,rev43 ,principal ,navigations1 ,voyages and ,discoveries made by the ,english ,nation4 ,london1 #aehi4 ,,harkness1 ,h4 ,w43 ,fungi on the ,pacific ,coast4 ,bulletin of the ,california ,academy of ,sciences4 ,vol4 ,,ii1 #ahhf to #ahhg4 ,san ,francisco1 #ahhg4 ,,hartema1 ,,ludovicus ,,de3 ,in ,hakluyt4 ,principal ,navigations1 ,soc4 ed41 p4 #gg4 ,mentions seedless raisins from the ,town of ,reame in ,arabia ,felix4 ,,heap1 ,g4 ,h41 ,united ,states ,consul-,general at ,constantinople3 ,fruit ,culture in ,turkey4 ,united ,states ,consular ,reports1 ,no4 #da1 pages #gbf to #gdj4 #ahhd4 ,,hilgard1 ,e4 ,w43 ,alkali ,lands1 ,irrigation and ,drainage1 etc4 ,university of ,california1 ,college of ,agriculture1 ,appendix ,,vii1 ,report for the year #ahhf4 ,sacramento1 #ahhf4 ---- ,investigation of ,california ,soils4 ,appendix ,i1 ,report of the ,professor in ,charge1 etc4 ,university of ,california1 ,college of ,agriculture4 ,sacramento1 #ahhb4 ---- ,the ,rise of ,alkali in the ,san ,joaquin ,valley4 ,university of ,california1 ,agricultural ,experimental ,station1 ,berkeley1 ,cal4 ,bulletin ,no4 #hc4 ---- ,abnormal ,deposits on ,vine ,leaves4 ,in same4 ,bulletin ,no4 #gj4 ---- ,mysterious ,death of ,vines4 ,same4 ,bulletin ,no4 #gj4 ---- ,sulphuring of ,vines4 ,same4 ,bulletin ,no4 #ef4 ---- ,irrigation1 ,drainage and ,alkali4 ,bulletin ,no4 #ec4 ---- ,examination of ,tule1 ,marsh and ,alkali ,lands4 ,bulletin ,no4 #bh4 ,,le ,,brun 7or ,,bruyn7 ,,corneille3 ,voyage au ,levant1 ,delft1 #agjj4 ,mentions seedless raisins in ,persia4 ,,lithgow1 ,,william3 ,adventures and ,peregrinations4 #afad4 ,,locke1 ,,john3 ,histoire de la ,navigation4 ,paris1 #agbb4 ,,marston1 ,h4 ,c41 ,united ,states ,consul at ,malaga3 ,fruit ,culture in ,malaga4 ,united ,states ,consular ,reports1 ,no4 #da pages #fhb to #fhi4 #ahhd4 ---- ,malaga ,raisins4 ,united ,states ,consular ,reports1 ,no4 #aj4 ,republished in said ,reports1 ,no4 #da1 pages #fia to #fic4 #ahhd4 ,,mas ,,et ,,pullat3 ,le ,vignoble4 ,paris1 #ahgf-gg4 ,on page #gc1 tome ,i1 we find a figure of a ,muscat of ,alexandria with round berries1 and which undoubtedly is nearly related to the ,gordo ,blanco4 ,it is not the true ,muscat of ,alexandria4 ,as synonyms are given ,gordo ,blanco and 7,don ,simon ,roxas is referred to as authority7 also ,uva ,zibeba4 ,the latter is undoubted the same as our ,muscat of ,alexandria4 ,another synonym is ,muscatel ,romano1 which again is only another name for ,gordo ,blanco4 ,the ,french authors have undoubtedly everywhere confounded the two varieties4 ,in the same work1 page #ca1 tome ,i1 we also find the ,white ,corinth referred to as the currant grape of ,zante1 which is erroneous4 ,,moryson1 ,,fynes3 ,itinerary1 containing ,twelve ,years' ,travels through ,turkey1 ,france1 etc4 #afag4 ,,niebuhr1 ,,carstens3 ,description de l',arabie 7,trans1 from ,german74 ,copenhague1 #aggc4 ,mentions 8,kishmish0 seedless raisins from ,arabia4 ,,nouveau ,,duhamel ou ,trait des ,arbres et ,arbustes4 ,paris1 #ahae4 ,on pl4 ,no4 #fe1 tome #g1 figures ,muscat d',alexandria4 ,this variety differs from our ,muscat of ,alexandria by having the berries less tapering1 like the 8,malaga40 ,on pl4 #gb1 tome #g4 there is a figure of ,white ,corinth1 but the bunch is too loose to be characteristic4 ,,pacific ,,rural ,,press3 ,edited by ,prof4 ,e4 ,j4 ,wickson4 ,published by ,dewey ,co41 ,san ,francisco2 weekly4 ,it contains in its pages occasional references to the raisin industry4 ,the issue of ,mays1 #ahgg1 contained an article on ,huasco ,grapes of ,chile4 ,,pallas3 ,voyages dans pl4 ,provinces de l',empire de ,russie4 ,i1 b #ac1 8,kyshmish0 seedless raisin grapes from ,astrachan4 ,,pierce1 ,n4 ,b43 ,the ,mysterious ,vine ,disease4 ,essay read before the ,state ,horticultural ,convention in ,los ,angeles1 ,march1 #ahij4 ,published in ,california1 a ,journal of ,rural ,industry1 ,vol4 ,,iii4 ,no4 #ah1 pages #b and #c1 #ahij4 ,,plinius3 ,historia ,naturalis4 ,lib4 xiv cap4 iv1 a1 mentions raisins such as ,duracin and ,amineans2 cap4 ii1 b1 ,muscadella and ,apiari2 c1 ,corinth grapes4 ,,randolph1 ,,bernard3 ,present ,state of ,morea1 ,island of ,zante1 etc4 #afhi4 ,,reports ,,of ,,the ,,state ,,agricultural ,,society ,,of ,,california3 ,first ,raisins ,produced in ,california4 ,sacramento1 #ahfc4 ,page #hh4 ,,reports ,,of ,,the ,,state ,,board ,,of ,,horticulture ,,of ,,california3 ,biennial ,report for #ahhe and #ahhf2 also ,appendix for #ahhg4 ,sacramento1 #ahhg4 ---- ,third ,biennial ,report4 ,sacramento1 #ahhh4 ---- ,official ,report of the ,tenth ,fruit-growers' ,convention of the ,state of ,california1 etc4 ,sacramento1 #ahhi4 ---- ,official ,report of the ,eleventh ,fruit-growers' ,convention1 etc4 ,sacramento1 #ahhi4 ---- ,annual ,report of the ,state ,board of ,horticulture4 ,sacramento1 #ahij4 ,,richardson1 ,,charles3 ,dictionary of the ,english ,language4 #ahcf4 ,,roxas1 ,,don ,,simon3 ,essai sur les ,varits de ,vignes de l',andalusia4 ,gordo ,blanco is here designated as the raisin grape of ,malaga4 ,,scribner1 ,f4 ,,lamson3 ,report to the ,mycological ,section of the ,department of ,agriculture4 ,in the ,reports of the ,department of ,agriculture4 ,washington1 ,d4 ,c41 #ahhf4 ,,stevens1 ,w4 ,e41 ,united ,states ,consul at ,smyrna3 ,fruit ,culture in ,asia ,minor4 ,pages #gdd to #gdh of ,united ,states ,consular ,reports1 ,no4 #da4 ,june1 #ahhd4 ,,sturtevant1 ,e4 ,,lewis3 ,seedless ,fruits4 ,memoirs ,torrey ,bot4 ,club1 ,vol4 ,i1 ,no4 #d4 ,new ,york1 #ahij4 ,,tablado1 ,,jos ,,hidalgo3 ,tratato del ,cultivo de la ,vid1 y ,modo de ,mejorarla4 ,madrid1 #ahgc4 ,this1 the standard authority on viticulture in ,spanish1 refers only briefly to the ,gordo ,blanco as the raisin grape of ,malaga1 and gives as synonyms ,muscatel ,romano and ,muscatel ,real1 but the description of the grape is unsatisfactory4 ,,tavernier1 ,,jean ,,baptiste3 ,six ,voyages in ,turquie1 etc4 #afgf4 ,,the ,,california ,,fruit-,,grower3 ,published by ,b4 ,n4 ,rowley1 ,san ,francisco2 weekly ,horticultural ,journal4 ,contained during #ahhi and #ahij several articles on raisins1 among others3 ,white ,muscat of ,alexandria1 in ,no4 #b1 ,vol4 ,,vi2 ,statistics of ,malaga ,raisins2 also article on ,currants1 by ,l4 ,c4 ,crowe1 etc4 ,,vernge1 ,f4 ,,de ,,la3 ,mmoire sur la ,maladie de la ,vigne4 ,bordeaux1 #ahec4 ,i ,pl4 ,,warner1 ,,richard3 ,antiquitates ,culinari1 #agia4 ,mentions 8,the ,forme of ,curry10 #acij4 a work in which 8,raysons of ,coraunte0 are first mentioned in ,english4 ,,west1 ,w4 ,b43 ,raisin-making in ,spain4 ,first ,annual ,report of the ,state ,viticultural ,commissioners4 ,san ,francisco1 #ahha4 ,pages #cc to #ci4 ---- ,raisins and ,shipping ,grapes4 ,essay read before the ,third ,annual ,state ,viticultural ,convention in ,san ,francisco1 ,december1 #ahhd4 ,published by the ,san ,francisco ,merchant in #ahhd4 ,,wheeler1 ,j4 ,h43 ,bleaching ,seedless ,sultana ,raisins4 ,annual ,report of the ,board of ,state ,viticultural ,commissioners for #ahhg4 ,sacramento1 #ahhh4 ---- ,grafting to ,muscats4 ,appendix #ad to the ,annual ,report of the ,chief ,executive ,viticultural ,officer for the year #ahhh4 ,sacramento1 #ahhh4 ,contains reports from forty-eight grape-growers as regards their views and success with the grafting of muscats4 ,,wheler1 ,,sir ,,george3 ,journey in ,greece4 #afhb4 ,,white1 ,t4 ,c43 ,raisins--,drying1 ,packing and ,preparing for the ,market4 ,report of ,sixth ,annual ,state ,viticultural ,convention of ,california4 ,sacramento1 #ahhh4 ,,wickson1 ,e4 ,j43 ,california ,fruits1 and ,how to ,grow ,them4 ,dewey ,co41 ,san ,francisco1 #ahhi4 ,this1 the standard work on fruit-growing in ,california1 contains much reliable information about the raisin industry of ,california4 ,,index ,,page ,acarnania #bi ,acres in ,raisins #dh1 #afi tolico #bi ,agrotis #aja ,aidin #ca ,albuol #ab ,alfilerilla #ii ,algarve #i ,alicante #aj1 #ae ,alkali #gb ,andalusia #h1 #i ,antidotes for ,alkali #gd1 #ge ,arabs #bb ,argentine ,republic #ei ,argos #bi ,arizona #acd ,armona #bad ,arquimbau1 ,j4 ,d4 #ba ,arundo donax #bj ,ash-trough #aca ,assorting #ach1 #aei ,austin1 ,m4 ,f4 #ci1 #abb1 #baj ,australia #aa1 #ei ,australian ,salt ,bush #gd ,average ,price #ba ,back-furrowing #aae ,bag-holders #aeg ,bags #aea ,bairdir #ca ,ball1 ,frank ,h4 #bac1 #baf ,barling1 ,a4 ,d4 #bac1 #baf ,baskets #ah ,bearing ,quality #gi ,belvidere #i1 #aj1 #cf ,bermuda ,grass #gd ,bidwell1 ,gen4 ,j4 #dd ,bittern #gc ,borates #gb ,boxes #aef1 #ahj ,brands of ,raisins #ae1 #ea ,briggs1 ,g4 ,g4 #ch1 #da1 #db1 #hi1 #bjh ,black ,currants #ij ,black-knot #ajb ,black ,smyrnas #aj ,bleeding #bf1 #abh ,blowers1 ,r4 ,b4 #ch1 #db1 #bjh1 #bji ,bluestone #ie ,butler1 ,a4 ,b4 #bj1 #abf1 #baa1 #bab1 #baf ,butte ,county #dd ,calcium ,chloride #gc ,calabrian ,raisins #i1 #aj1 #cf ,california #ig ,california ,dipped #aj1 #adi ,california ,malagas #aj ,california ,raisin ,districts #ch ,california ,sultanas #aj ,california ,sun-dried #aj1 #acc ,caezos #bj ,canvas ,covering #ade1 #adf ,carabourna #ca1 #agf ,carbonate of ,lime #gb1 #gd ,care of ,currant ,cuttings #be1 #bg ,care of ,vines in ,smyrna #cb ,cartoons #aef ,cascalina ,currants #cj ,castellon #ae ,castille #h ,catacolo #cj ,catcher #adj ,caterpillars #ajj ,cephalonia #bg1 #bi ,chains #aca ,chaintre ,system #abg ,chandler1 ,s4 ,r4 #aba ,chapman1 ,w4 ,s4 #ch ,chemicals #gd ,chenopodium #gd ,chesme ,raisins #aj1 #ca1 #cd1 #agf ,chico #dd ,chile ,guano #ac ,chile ,raisins #aa1 #cf ,chios #bc ,choice ,layers #ae ,clark1 ,r4 ,g4 #ci ,clay for ,grafting #bf ,cleaning #acg1 #afj ,cleats #adi ,climate #ab1 #ag1 #cj1 #cg1 #dj1 #da1 #dh1 #ef1 #fj1 #fg ,coast ,vineyards #ff1 #fg ,college ,city #dd ,collins1 ,w4 ,e4 #dh ,color #gi ,colure #eg1 #ic ,colusa ,county #dd ,consumption of ,currants #bi ,cooking #ah1 #aci ,cooper1 ,ellwood #adg ,copper ,sulphate #ie ,corauntz #f ,corens #f ,corinth #g1 #bb ,corone #bi ,cortez of ,cadiz #h ,corynthe #g ,cos #ca1 #fg ,cost of ,valencia ,raisins #agf ,cost of ,vineyards #bh1 #ce1 #aac ,cotton ,sacks #ea ,covering #abc1 #ade ,cowdung #bg ,crimea #ch ,crocker-,huffman ,reservoir #ahh ,crop #dj1 #db1 #dg1 #ej1 #ed1 #afi ,cropping #gd ,cross-plowing #aae ,crow1 ,l4 ,c4 #bi ,crusades #aa1 #bc ,cucamonga #dh ,cullera #ae ,cultivation #aae1 #aca ,curing #ah1 #bg1 #cj1 #cc1 #cg1 #ed1 #eh1 #acc1 #aea ,currants #f1 #aj1 #bb1 #ajf1 #aji1 #aaj1 #aaa1 #agh ,cutter-sleds #aaf1 #aca ,cuttings #agi ,damage to ,raisins #fa ,davy1 ,dr4 #fa ,dehesa ,raisins #g1 #i1 #ac1 #ae1 #hg1 #ij ,deilephila #ajj ,delano #de ,delmas1 ,a4 and ,d4 ,m4 #ch ,denia #i1 #ae1 #af ,dibble #acj ,dipped ,raisins #f1 #aj1 #ai1 #cc1 #adi ,discoloration #aci ,diseases #af1 #gc1 #ic ,disposing of ,crop at ,denia #bj ,distances of ,vines #ac1 #ah1 #be1 #cj1 #df1 #ajd ,dodoens #g ,double ,plow #aad ,dowlen1 ,e4 #ig ,downy ,mildew #ie ,drainage #hd ,dried ,grapes #aj ,dryers #adg ,drying #ad1 #bj1 #bb1 #cc1 #cg1 #eh1 #acc1 #aci1 #aea ,drying ,floors #ad1 #adf1 #adg ,drying in the ,shade #aj ,dry ,season #fj ,duracin #bb ,duty #agg1 #agh ,eisen ,vineyard #ch ,el ,cajon #ci1 #ee1 #fb1 #fc1 #acd1 #aie1 #aif ,elche #ae ,elem ,raisins #aj ,elevating the ,trays #adb ,equality ,price #ba ,equalizing #afb ,erodium #ii ,erythroneura #db1 #ih ,escondido #ei ,estremadura #h ,etiwanda #dh1 #eb ,exhausting the ,soil #gf ,exports #bb1 #cd1 #aae1 #agf ,extent of ,district #ae1 #cj1 #de ,facing #aeg1 #afj ,fall ,rains #fj ,faro ,raisins #aj ,feher ,szagos #ib ,fertilizing #ge ,figliatra #bi ,figs #agg1 #agh ,filling #aff ,finest ,dehesa #ae ,first ,crop #ace ,flat ,stacking #adc ,flavor #ij ,flooding #ha ,floreal ,vineyard #hi ,fogs #df1 #ff ,follower #aeg ,foreign ,districts #aj ,forsyth1 ,wm4 #ci1 #bab1 #baf ,fowler #de1 #bad ,frames #aef ,freeman1 ,george ,a4 #hi ,fresno #ci1 #dd1 #acd1 #ahd1 #ahe1 #ahf1 #ahg ,frost #fc ,furrowing for ,irrigation #hb ,gandia #af1 #bb ,gargaliano #bi ,gastuni #bi ,gila ,river ,valley #ei1 #acd ,glauber ,salt #gc ,goodman1 ,j4 ,t4 #ci1 #hh1 #baa ,gordo ,blanco #ac1 #de1 #ej1 #hg1 #hh ,gould1 ,e4 #da ,grading #aea1 #aec1 #afd ,grafting #be1 #aag ,graham1 ,george #ba ,grasset1 ,st4 ,sauveur #bc ,grasshoppers #ajb ,great ,reasons #e ,grecian ,islands #i1 #gd ,gridley #dd ,grocers ,company #f ,guadalaviar #ah ,gypsum #gc1 #ge ,hakluyt #bc1 #bd ,happy ,valley #dd ,haraszthy1 ,a4 #ch ,hardpan ,soils #gj1 #ga ,harkness1 ,w4 ,h4 #ie1 #if1 #ig ,harrowing #agi ,health of ,vines #gi ,heap1 ,g4 ,h4 #cd1 #fg ,heat for ,drying #aci ,highlands #dh ,hilgard1 ,e4 ,w4 #baf ,historical #e1 #bb ,hoeing #aag1 #aca ,holland #g1 #bi ,huasco ,raisins #cf1 #hi ,hurdles #fa ,ideal ,conditions #fg ,imbat #ca ,imperial ,clusters #dg ,imperial ,dehesa #ae ,importation #cj1 #ch1 #agi ,injury to ,raisins #fe1 #aci ,insect ,pests #ic ,ionian ,islands #bc1 #bf1 #fa ,irrigation #ag1 #ah1 #cg1 #di1 #ed1 #fj1 #gg1 #he ,italian ,raisins #cf ,ithaca #bd1 #bi ,jabea #af ,jackson1 ,byron #aej ,jalon #af ,jaraco #af ,jerrea #af ,jucar ,river #ah ,kalamata #bi1 #cj ,karabournou #ca ,kaweah ,river #df ,kells1 ,r4 ,c4 #aba ,kern #de1 #df1 #acd ,kettles #aej ,kyparissia #bi ,labeling ,press #aeg ,labels #afi ,labor #ae ,labors of the ,year #abd ,la ,mancha #ad1 #fe ,land ,scraper #aje ,land ,plaster #gc ,large ,black ,raisins #ce ,large ,red ,raisins #ce ,latitudes #fj ,leaching #gc ,leaf-hopper #db1 #eg1 #ih ,leon #h ,lepanto #bc1 #bi ,lerdo #de ,levante #fe ,lever-press #aee ,lexias #i1 #aj1 #ae ,ligudista #bi ,limits of ,raisin ,districts #fj ,lipari #i1 #bb1 #cf ,literature #bae1 #baf1 #bag1 #bah ,lithgow #bd ,lixivium #i ,location #ab1 #fj ,locke1 ,j4 #bc ,london ,layers #ae ,longevity of ,vines #gj ,loose ,raisins #ba1 #aeh ,lye #ai1 #adi ,lye-dipped #i ,lyeometer #cd ,machine-dried ,raisins #i ,madeira #id ,madera #de ,magnesium ,chloride #gc ,malaga #g1 #i1 #ab1 #ae1 #ia1 #acd1 #agf ,malaga 7,cal47 #de ,mai ,nero #fd1 #ih ,marking out ,vineyard #aje ,manilla ,paper #aeh1 #ahj ,manuring #ac ,marbella #ab ,mc,pherson ,bros4 #ci1 #ee ,mc,pherson1 ,robert #bji ,mediterranean ,basin #aa ,merced #de1 #df1 #ahb ,merino #h ,mesta #h ,mildew #ic ,mirabelle ,vineyard #cj ,mission ,vines #ih ,missolonghi #bi ,modern ,raisin ,district #aa ,modone #bi ,moisture #ed1 #ff ,morea #bc1 #bg1 #bi ,moryson1 ,fynes #bd ,moors #g1 #af1 #bb ,moss1 ,geo4 #baf ,murcia #h ,musca #g ,muscatels #f1 #g1 #h1 #i1 #aj1 #ae1 #dc1 #hg ,muscat of ,alexandria #af1 #ej1 #eg1 #hg1 #hh ,mussel ,slough #dd ,nailing #afg ,nathaligo #bd ,nauplia #bi1 #cj ,naxos #bc ,neglected ,vines #acg ,nice1 ,climate of #ab ,nisi #bi ,northern ,raisin ,districts #dc ,north1 ,j4 ,w4 #ci1 #eb ,off-stalk #ba ,oidium #ic ,oleander #bad ,olive ,oil #aej ,olivo #af ,olympia #bi ,ondara #af ,on-stalk #ba ,ontario #dh1 #eb ,orange ,county #ci1 #eb1 #ade1 #adf1 #ahi ,orland #dd ,packing-frames #aef ,packing-house #aec1 #bje1 #bjf1 #bjg1 #bad ,packing ,raisins #ad1 #bj1 #aea1 #afj1 #afd ,palermo #dd ,pantellaria #cf ,paper #aeh ,pasas #bb ,pasture ,lands #h ,patras #bd1 #bi ,pedreguer #af ,pergos #bi ,peronospora #ie ,petrasso #bd ,philampelus #ajj ,phnician #af ,pickers #acg ,picking #ace1 #ahj ,pierce1 ,n4 ,b4 #ig ,placer ,county #dc ,planting #ah1 #be1 #da1 #ec1 #ajd ,planting-bar #hh1 #acj ,plowing #aad ,plows #aca ,portugal #ae ,powdery ,mildew #ic ,preparing ,land #be ,presses #aee ,prices #cd1 #ch #eb1 #eh1 #aae1 #agj1 #agi ,prodenia #aja ,production #bb1 #cd ,profits #ea1 #ee1 #ec ,pruning #ac1 #ah1 #bf1 #dg1 #abd1 #abh1 #aca1 #ahj ,pup #ajj ,pylia #cj ,pylos #bi ,quality of ,raisins #ah1 #eg1 #gi ,racemus #e ,radiator #adg ,rain #ab1 #cb1 #ee1 #fa ,raisin ,districts #aj ,raisin ,grapes #hg ,raisin ,packers #bad ,raisins #e ,raisins1 ,import of #agh ,raisin ,vineyards #cj1 #ch1 #ajd ,raysins of ,corauntz #bc ,reasons #e ,red ,currants #ia ,redding #dd ,redlands #dh1 #bjb1 #bjc1 #bjd ,red ,raisins #agf1 #agg ,red ,spider #ajj ,retoria #af ,reversing #ada ,reysin #e ,ringing the ,branches #bg1 #abc ,rinsing #aej ,ripeness #ace ,ripening #ca1 #cc1 #ej ,riverside #ci1 #dh1 #acd1 #aii1 #bjj1 #bja ,roberts1 ,lewis #bb ,ronda #ab ,roof-stacking #adc ,rooted ,vines #ajf1 #aab1 #agi ,root-pruning #abi ,rosedale #de ,rosine #e ,ross1 ,newton #ea ,rotterdam ,colony #ahb ,royal1 ,finest ,dehesa #ae ,saccharine #acd ,salt #gc ,salt ,river ,valley #acd ,samos #ca ,san ,bernardino #ci1 #dh ,san ,diego #ee1 #aib ,sandy ,soils #gj ,sanger #de ,san ,joaquin ,valley #dd1 #aha ,santa ,ana #ad1 #eb1 #ee1 #acd1 #ade1 #aij ,santa ,maura #bd1 #bi ,scalding #ai ,scales #aed ,seabreezes #ca ,secadero #ai ,second ,crop #acf ,seedless ,grapes #i1 #ij ,seepage #hd ,selma #de1 #bad ,sequero #ad ,shasta ,county #dd ,sheep's-foot #hh1 #acj ,slanting the ,trays #adb ,smirna #i ,smyrna ,raisins #aj1 #cj1 #agf ,soils #ab1 #af1 #be1 #cg1 #da1 #de1 #di1 #ec1 #ef1 #fj1 #fg1 #fh1 #fi1 #gj ,solano #da ,solis #i1 #aj ,spades #aca ,spring ,frost #fd ,spring ,rain #fj1 #fb ,stabler1 ,b4 ,g4 #hi ,stacking #adb1 #add ,stanchio #ca ,stationers ,company #f ,statistics #afi ,stems #acf ,stemming #aea1 #aed1 #aeh1 #ahj ,stevens1 ,w4 ,e4 #cb1 #ce1 #fa ,stock for ,grafting #aba ,strentzel1 ,dr4 ,j4 #ach ,subirrigation #hc ,subsoil #gj ,suckering #abi ,sulphates #gc ,sulphuring #dg1 #aba1 #aca1 #ahj ,sultana ,raisins #f1 #i1 #aj1 #de1 #ace1 #agg ,summer ,pruning #abh ,sun-dried ,raisins #i1 #aj ,surface ,water #dh ,sutro1 ,adolph #baf ,sutro ,library #baf ,sutter ,county #dc ,sweatboxes #adh1 #ahj ,sweat-house #aec ,sweating #afb ,sweetwater ,valley #ee1 #ei ,taking-up #adc ,tehama ,county #dd ,temperature #ca1 #dh ,terral #ah ,thermalito #dd ,thinning the ,grapes #abc ,thompson ,seedless #aj1 #dc1 #ia ,tin ,boxes #aeh ,tools #ajf1 #acj ,tray-catcher #adj ,trays #bj1 #adh1 #aef1 #aeg ,trieste #bi ,trifylla #cj ,trimming #afg ,trucks #aca1 #acg1 #aeg1 #afj ,tulare #de1 #bad ,turkish ,raisins #ib ,turning #adj1 #ahj ,tying-over #abb ,tyra #ca ,uncinula #ic1 #id ,uva ,alexandria #aa ,uva ,apiari #g1 #aa ,uva ,musc #aa ,uva ,passa #bf ,uva ,zibeba #aa ,valencia raisins #i1 #aj1 #ae1 #ba1 #age1 #agf ,varieties of ,grapes #ac1 #ce1 #cg ,velez ,malaga #h ,venetians #f ,vergel #af ,villa ,joyosa #ae ,vine ,plague #if ,vostizza #bd1 #bi ,vourla #ca1 #agf ,ward1 ,c4 ,t4 #hi ,weed-cutter #aaf ,weeks1 ,george ,f4 #baf ,weighing #afd ,west1 ,w4 ,b4 #baf ,white ,corinths #de1 #ia ,white1 ,t4 ,c4 #ch1 #abb1 #aef1 #bji1 #baj1 #baf ,wickson1 ,e4 ,j4 #baf ,winds #fe ,world's ,production #agg ,yerly #ca1 #agf ,yield #ac1 #ee ,yolo #da ,yuba #dc ,zante #bc1 #bi ,zea #fg ,additional ,notes for #ahij4 ,the first crop suffered considerably from mildew and climatic conditions unfavorable to the setting of the grapes4 ,the second crop1 however1 is large and very good1 and altogether the yield is a satisfactory one4 ,the prices have ruled higher than before and raisins in sweatboxes have been contracted for readily at from #e to #f cents per pound or even higher4 ,wine grapes dried here sold for #c to #d cents per pound1 and ,malaga and ,feherszagos raisins have brought from #d to #e cents4 ,no such prosperous year has before been experienced by the raisin men of this ,state1 and reports come in that many growers are realizing from #bej to #dej per acre from vines in full bearing4 ,the weather all through the summer has been unusually temperate and thus very favorable to the full development of the grapes1 and so far the drying weather has been very favorable for the proper curing of the raisins4 ,many new packing houses have been established1 and the crop is being better cared for than in previous years4 ,the health and general condition of the vines is better than it was last year and the vine plague is less virulent1 and according to some reports even on the retrograde4 ,the demand for the raisin product has never been as large as now and there will apparently be no surplus left over1 as the demand is rapidly increasing4 ,the above refers especially to the central part of the ,state1 to ,merced1 ,fresno1 ,tulare and ,kern counties1 where the prosperous season will encourage increased planting4 ,in ,southern ,california the crop will be fair both in quality and quantity4 ,in ,el ,cajon valley it is reported as very good1 and as being one-half larger than last year4 ,prices here ruled to begin with at from #d to #e cents but rose rapidly to #e and #f cents in sweatboxes4 ,the duty on raisins has this fall been raised from #b cents to #b cents per pound1 which insures an additional profit to the raisin men4 99 99 99 99 99 ,rain-fall of #ahhi-ij4--,the rain-fall of #ahhi-ij in the ,central and ,northern raisin districts of ,california was as follows3 ,oct4,nov4,dec4,jan4,feb4,mar4,apr4,may4 ,total4 ---------------------------------------- ---- ,fresno#c4aja4dcc4hjb4af 4#fe 4#ib 4#bi 4#beab4fj ,tulare#d4ag 4#dcb4fjb4ge 4#gd 4#ha 4#bb 4#bjaa4ib ,kern #b4jd 4#bba4gea4bj 4#af 4#bd 4#jf #e4fg ,yolo #h4adc4jdi4fbf4cfc4fic4cea4fjb4bacg4da ,yuba #e4hgc4gci4jad4ddd4fef4gaa4heb4eech4ha ,the above figures are from the 8tables of rainfall in the principal agricultural counties0 of ,california1 compiled and published by ,albert ,montpelier1 ,esq41 ,manager of the ,grangers' ,bank1 ,san ,francisco1 but no report is made of the rain-fall in the counties of ,san ,bernardino and ,san ,diego1 and statistics of those counties are not at hand4 99 99 99 99 99 ,duty on ,raisins4--,the revised tariff of #ahij makes the duty on imported raisins #b cents per pound1 an increase of cent on the old schedule4 ,currants1 ,zante and others1 are now on the free list and pay no duty4 ,,raisin ,,boxes1 ,,raisin ,,trays1 ,,sweat ,,boxes4 ,,kings ,,river ,,lumber ,,co41 ,,sanger1 ,,fresno ,,county1 ,,cal4 ,san ,francisco ,office1 #aji ,california ,st41 ,san ,francisco1 ,california4 ,manufacturer of and ,wholesale and ,retail ,dealer in all kinds of ,lumber1 ,boxes1 ,doors1 ,sash1 ,blinds and ,mouldings4 ,this ,company has at ,sanger the best appointed ,box ,factory1 ,door1 ,sash and ,blind ,factory and ,planing ,mill in the ,state4 ,special ,mill ,work of all kinds ,estimated on and ,furnished4 ,illustration3 ,,boxes ,,all ,,kinds ,,of ,,boxes ,,manufactured ,,and ,,in ,,any ,,quantity ,,raisin ,,and ,,orange ,,boxes ,a ,,specialty4 ,this ,company manufactures1 at its works at ,sanger1 ,raisin ,boxes of all sizes from the very best of ,sugar ,pine1 cut from its own lands1 which for quality of material1 perfection of workmanship and printing have no equal4 ,,the ,,company ,,has ,,at ,,all ,,times ,,in ,,stock ,,and ,,for ,,sale ,,lumber ,,of ,,all ,,descriptions1 ,,grape ,,sticks1 ,,posts1 ,,shingles1 ,,shakes1 ,,pickets ,,and ,,lath4 ,,orders ,,solicited ,,and ,,promptly ,,executed4 99 99 99 99 99 ,illustration3 ,,water ,,tower ,,at ,,lake ,,yosemite4 ,,yosemite ,,colony4 ,this ,colony is two miles from ,merced ,city1 ,california4 ,merced1 from its fine fountains1 is now known as 8,the ,fountain ,city40 ,it is the county seat of ,merced ,county4 ,the ,southern ,pacific ,railroad1 a transcontinental line1 passes through this place1 from ,san ,francisco to ,new ,york4 ,the ,oakdale ,line from the north also starts from ,merced ,city1 giving direct communication by rail with ,sacramento ,valley1 ,oregon1 ,washington1 and all points north4 ,merced ,city is the nearest point in the ,san ,joaquin ,valley to the great ,yosemite ,park1 and commands the only passable railroad route to this 8,world's ,greatest ,wonder40 ,merced ,city also lies in a direct line from ,yosemite1 through ,pacheco ,pass1 in the ,coast ,range1 to ,del ,monte1 on the ,bay of ,monterey4 ,these great natural advantages are now being developed on a scale commensurate with nature's own great gifts4 ,the largest and most costly irrigating canal in the ,united ,states has been completed1 and is now discharging the crystal snow waters1 fresh from the ,yosemite ,falls1 into ,lake ,yosemite1 one mile from this colony4 ,thus we find ourselves in the possession of a combination of nature and art1 which present advantages in climate1 health1 water privileges1 wealth of soil and their productions which are not as fully possessed by any other locality in ,california4 ,and1 as an enduring crown to our prosperity1 we point to the late ,act of ,congress of the ,united ,states in setting apart the ,yosemite ,park1 with her giant ,sequoia and sugar-pine forests1 insuring and perpetuating the annual snow and rain on the watershed of our canal system4 ,the ,yosemite ,colony contains about #e1jjj acres1 and is beautifully situated by the side of ,lake ,yosemite1 and bounded on the north by the fine ,colony of ,rotterdam4 8,the ,yosemite0 was the first colony subdivided and placed on the market after the perfection of our irrigating system1 two years ago2 and a large main ditch was then brought by the proprietor from ,lake ,yosemite to and through these lands4 ,young ,orange ,groves1 ,almonds1 ,prunes and ,apricots1 ,figs1 ,pomegranates1 ,peaches1 etc41 etc41 have already been planted2 also several fine young ,raisin ,vineyards1 of only two years' growth1 which this autumn produced raisins of the most superior quality4 ,the soil is from four to twelve feet in depth1 with under strata of heavy1 rich clay1 which will always insure an abundance of moisture1 when with proper irrigation4 ,these lands are all free from alkali1 and about one-half of them situated on the rich1 alluvial plain2 the other half are gently rolling1 and extend into the red gravelly soils1 so much prized for ,olives1 ,oranges1 ,lemons1 ,wine ,grapes and ,strawberries1 while the lower levels are especially prized for the famous ,muscat ,raisin ,grape1 as well as for the ,prune1 ,almond1 ,pear1 ,apricot1 ,alfalfa and ,vegetables4 ,merced ,city1 situated one hundred and fifty miles from ,san ,francisco by rail1--one hundred miles from the coast1--in the center of the ,san ,joaquin ,valley1 is also the exact geographical center of the ,state--north1 south1 east and west4 ,we are not offering you land that has not been thoroughly tested to produce what we advertise4 ,neither are we offering you hog wallows1 salt grass and alkali flats2 but we offer you a block out of one of the richest fields of ,california4 ,as to health1 we challenge the whole world to surpass us4 ,our locality is free from malaria2 and fogs in summer and autumn are unknown in this dry and equable climate4 ,not only is our locality free from fog1 and fanned by the gentle invigorating sea-breezes from the south and southwest1 but we are protected from the harsh1 desiccating northwest winds1 offering a retreat to the weak and ailing2 and its rich and attractive location contributes greatly to its charms4 ,for scenic beauty it has but few1 if any1 superiors in ,california4 ,standing at the lake1 or on any other elevated point on the ,colony1 a most inspiring panorama is presented to the eye4 ,the vision reaches one hundred and fifty miles south and east1 and takes in the ever snow-capped ,sierra ,nevada2 thence south and southwest we follow the long blue line of the ,coast ,range to the ,mt4 ,diablo1 one hundred and thirty miles to the northwest1 in the vicinity of ,san ,francisco4 ,looking to the north and east1 you see looming up the grand ,sierra ,nevada1 with its mantles of perpetual snow1 seemingly so near in the pure air that1 although it is one hundred miles to the summit1 strangers are almost tempted to quit the green colony fields and visit them as an afternoon stroll4 ,a fine school-house has been erected on the ,colony1 at a cost of #e1jjj1 and is now in good working order4 ,trees of one and two years' growth border most of the avenues1 including ,palms1 ,locust1 ,olive1 ,magnolia1 ,eucalyptus1 ,mulberry1 etc41 etc4 ,under our irrigation system the owner of the land purchases water from the ,canal ,company which is filed in the ,county ,recorder's books1 and is then inseparable from the land1 and is always conveyed as a part of the realty4 ,we now offer you this land1 together with perpetual water-right1 at from #aej to #bjj per acre1 according to quality and location4 ,no land will be deeded to any persons except actual settlers4 ,as inducements to families1 we will plow and prepare the land ready for planting1 as our aim is to settle these lands with families4 ,payments may be made in installments to suit purchasers4 ,we make the following liberal offer to those who do not feel able to pay cash for the land3 ,the purchaser is to build and occupy a neat and substantial cottage2 also build all needed outhouses1 paint or whitewash the same1 and plant the land to such trees and fruits as may be agreed to be the best4 ,this done the first payment will be deferred for five years1 one-quarter to be paid annually thereafter4 ,said sum agreed to be paid to bear eight per cent interest per annum from date of sale4 ,deed will be given purchaser when he builds and plants1 and the purchase price secured by mortgage on the premises4 ,a family with from #a1ejj to #b1jjj to make their improvements can settle down and safely wait until their fruits or raisin vineyard come into bearing4 ,the whole purchase price should be produced from the lands the fifth year4 ,for those who have not experience1 or are desirous of avoiding the expense of team and tools1 we will plant1 cultivate1 irrigate and care for their orchard and vineyard until it comes into bearing4 ,it will be worth about #be per acre to furnish and plant the first year1 and #aj to #ae per acre each year thereafter4 ,the above figures mean compensation for good1 first-class work4 ,we have already some fine planted tracts for sale1 embracing ,raisin ,vineyards1 that will come into bearing next year 7#ahia71 also young ,orange ,groves1 as well as deciduous ,fruit ,orchards4 ,we also aim to keep a vacant cottage on the ,colony1 for the accommodation of each newcomer until such time as he can build on a lot of his own choice4 ,deciduous ,fruit ,trees can be planted commencing ,january #ast1 and as late as the #ast of ,april4 ,orange ,trees in ,march and ,april4 ,grape vines1 rooted or cuttings1 should be planted in ,february or ,march4 ,peaches and ,apricots will bear light crops the third year4 ,pears1 ,almonds1 ,figs and ,oranges will begin to bear the fourth year4 ,raisins begin to bear1 from the cuttings1 in the third year4 ,one year's time is gained by planting rooted vines4 ,it is safe to expect #ej per acre the third year from rooted vines1 and #ajj per acre the fourth year1 at least1 gross product4 ,a respectable cottage should be built1 with from four to five rooms1 at a cost of from #ejj to #hjj2 barn1 #bjj4 ,one pair of horses and harness1 #aej2 milch cow1 #be2 tools1 #be2 wood is high1 #g per cord2 flour1 #c to #d per barrel of #bjj lbs42 beef1 from #f cts4 to #aj cts4 per lb42 hens1 from #e to #g per dozen2 eggs1 from #be cts4 to #ej cts4 per dozen2 building lumber1 #be per ,m4 in the valley or farming sections of the ,state4 ,male labor on the farm1 #cj per month1 except four or five months in the summer1 when they receive #a4ej to #b per day4 ,female labor has never been ample1 and commands from #bj to #cj per month4 ,families coming out here can bring with profit all clothing1 bed-clothing1 table cutlery and such articles as would not be bulky4 ,large furniture or farming implements will not bear transportation4 ,the very favorable conditions existing for small farming in this rich valley of ,california1 where water can be obtained to render crops certain1 are not generally known in the ,east and ,europe4 ,for instance1 our breadstuffs 7wheat7 must be shipped around ,cape ,horn to ,liverpool to find a market4 ,beef and pork the same4 ,our wool also has to go around the ,horn or across the ,continent4 ,the consequence is that the fruit farmer eats the cheapest bread and beefsteak of any people in the world4 ,our woolen mills are able to furnish the finest and cheapest clothing worn4 ,labor is high1 and everything the small farmer produces is high1 including poultry1 vegetables and fruit1 and will always be so4 ,the big farmer can't get at this business with his steam engine and long sickle4 ,we can close ,europe and the ,united ,states out of the fruit-producing business1 and force them to become consumers4 ,why8 ,because of the certainty of our crops1 and because we have the whole valley for a drying house4 ,address or call upon the undersigned1 owners and proprietors1 ,v4 ,c4 ,w4 ,,hooper 4 ,,son1 ,,merced1 ,,merced ,,county1 ,,california4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,eisen ,,stewart1 ,real ,estate and ,horticultural ,land ,brokers1 99 ,,delano1 99 ,,kern ,,county1 ---- ,,california4 ,we make horticultural lands a specialty1 and offer special bargains in the ,kern and ,tulare ,irrigation ,district1 and in the ,poso ,irrigation ,district4 ,these lands are suited to ,olives1 ,raisins1 ,oranges1 other fruits and alfalfa4 ,they are now cheap1 but will soon rise in value1 and become as high priced as any in the ,state4 ,we also attend to the business of absent owners1 and we guarantee satisfaction4 ,correspondence solicited4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,the ,,yost ,,writing ,,machine ,acknowledged by ,experts to be ,the ,best4 ,,the ,,yost is full of ,new and ,valuable ,improvements1 and is guaranteed to do as represented4 ,,for ,,catalogues1 ,,testimonials1 ,,etc41 ,,send ,,to ,j4 ,p4 ,,mighell ,,co4 #dac ,,montgomery ,,street ,,san ,,francisco1 ,,california4 99 99 99 99 99 ,thompson's ,seedless ,grape ,,makes ,,absolutely ,,seedless ,,raisins ,the very best for ,culinary ,use6 ,this ,grape has been thoroughly tested in ,california1 having been grown and raisins made of it1 in ,sutter ,county1 for the past fifteen years4 ,it is far superior to the ,sultana1 being much sweeter1 a heavier cropper1 more easily dried1 and ripens earlier4 ,for rooted vines1 guaranteed true to name1 address1 ,b4 ,g4 ,,stabler1 ,,yuba ,,city1 ,sutter ,county1 ,california4 ,prices reasonable2 given on application for both one and two-year old rooted vines4 ,will also send sample of raisins1 if desired4 99 99 99 99 99 ,described by ,prof4 ,eisen4 ,in a communication to ,california1 a ,journal of ,rural ,industry1 ,may ,no41 #ahij1 entitled 8,with the ,fruit ,growers in ,sutter ,county10 ,prof4 ,eisen thus refers to ,mr4 ,stabler1 and his work3 8,mr4 ,b4 ,g4 ,stabler makes a specialty of dried peaches and seedless raisins1 and has succeeded well with both4 ,the principal raisin-grape of this vicinity is the little-known seedless grape1 ,lady ,decoverly1 here known as the ,thompson ,seedless1 he being the first to grow it4 ,years ago1 about #ahgb1 this gentleman saw advertised in an ,eastern ,catalogue a seedless grape1 said to come from ,constantinople1 and was called the ,lady ,decoverly4 ,it proved to be very different from the common ,sultana1 being of yellow color1 and of oblong shape4 ,it is certainly strange that this singular variety of grape should have existed here so many years1 and failed to attract general attention4 ,it is an enormous bearer1 heavier even than the ,sultana1 and ripens early in ,august4 ,it makes very choice raisins for cooking purposes4 ,the color is similar to that of the ,muscatel1 and makes a raisin of beautiful color4 ,among other novelties in the way of fruit1 ,mr4 ,stabler has a ,chance ,seedling ,apricot1 which promises to be something extraordinary4 ,it is not yet in bearing1 99 99 99 but think of apricot leaves six inches in diameter1 and limbs many times as long and strong as those of ordinary apricot trees10 etc4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,fresno ,,and ,,merced ,,county ,,lands ,,to ,,rent ,,and ,,for ,,sale4 #ge1jjj ,,acres ,,of ,,wheat ,,and ,,sugar-,,beet ,,land in the above counties to rent for a term of years2 also #ajj1jjj acres of fine ,raisin1 ,fruit1 ,alfalfa and ,sugar-,beet ,land1 with water for irrigation1 for sale in tracts of from twenty acres to large tracts suitable for colony purposes4 ,for particulars apply to ,e4 ,b4 ,,perrin1 #djb ,kearny ,street1 ,,san ,,francisco4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,fresno ,,agricultural ,,works ,illustration ,,manufacturers ,,of ,raisin ,machinery2 ,all ,,kinds ,,of ,vineyard ,tools ,,leveling and ,,canal ,,scrapers4 ,,send ,,for ,descriptive ,catalogue4 ,,address1 ,,james ,,porteous1 ,,fresno1 ,,cal4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,gustav ,,eisen1 ,,horticultural ,,land ,,and ,,raisin ,,expert4 ,i have had twenty years of experience in fruit growing1 raisin-grape growing1 raisin making1 and in other horticultural industries1 in ,california1 ,central ,america1 ,mexico and ,europe4 ,i make it a specialty to assist and advise those engaged in horticultural pursuits4 ,whether you wish to select land or plant it to vines and trees1 whether you are a capitalist1 the member of a syndicate or a farmer1 my services will be a thousand times more valuable to you than the reasonable charge ,i make for them4 ,if you are not acquainted with land1 soil1 climate or the profits of the horticultural industry you intend to engage in1 you will find it to your advantage to engage me to make you thorough and truthful reports4 ,all matters strictly confidential and charges reasonable4 ,address1 ,,gustav ,,eisen1 ,,california ,,academy ,,of ,,sciences1 ,san ,francisco4 99 99 99 99 99 ,,yosemite ,,illustrated ,,in ,,colors ,,published ,,by ,h4 ,s4 ,,crocker ,,company #bae ,,bush ,,street1 ,,san ,,francisco ,,the ,,finest ,it has no rival4 ,each book is wrapped in heavy paper and enclosed in a specially made box1 suitable ,,holiday ,,gift for presentation to friends4 ,for shipment ,east1 we provide an extra heavy box4 ,size of book1 #ab x #af inches4 ,full ,morocco1 or ,undressed ,kid #ae4jj ,half ,undressed ,kid #ab4ej ,full ,cloth1 elegant paper edges #aa4jj 99 99 99 99 99 ,h4,s4 ,,crocker #bae1 #bag1 #bai ,,bush ,,street ,,company ,,san ,,francisco ,wholesale ,stationers ,printers1 ,lithographers and ,bookbinders ,a ,,full ,,and ,,elegant ,,line ,,of ,,fruit ,,and ,,raisin ,,labels ,,and ,,papers ,,always ,,on ,,hand ,,our ,,specialties ,,are ,incorporation ,outfits ,bank ,supplies ,copperplate ,engraving ,map and ,pamphlet ,printing of ,visiting-,cards and ,stationery ,outfits ,wedding ,invitations ,,correspondence ,,solicited 99 99 99 99 99 ,,the ,,fruit ,,region ,,of ,,merced4 ,the fruit lands now offered for settlement by the ,crocker ,land and ,water ,company are situated in the very center of ,california4 ,besides being so favorably located1 they offer advantages which are not possessed by any other lands in the ,state4 ,the fifty-five thousand acres1 which are now for the first time subdivided1 consist of virgin pasture and wheat lands1 which have become too valuable to be devoted to their former use4 ,they are now being irrigated by the most expensive and magnificent irrigation system on the continent1 by a canal capable of carrying #d1jjj cubic feet of water per second1 and by the artificial lake ,yosemite1 the most extensive irrigation reservoir ever built in ,america4 ,the water from this system is abundant and continuous2 it comes from the snow-capped ,sierra1 from the ,falls of the ,yosemite1 and will suffice to irrigate and fertilize hundreds of thousands of acres more than are offered for sale4 ,these fruit and horticultural lands are situated in the warm belt of the foot-hills of the ,sierra ,nevada1 protected by sheltering hills1 traversed by natural creeks and surrounded by the grandest scenery known to man4 ,the famous ,yosemite is almost within sight1 and the high-peaked ,sierra can be reached in a day's journey4 ,the ,coast ,range1 with ,mt4 ,diablo1 is in full view1 while the fresh breezes from the ,san ,pablo ,bay temper the climate1 and contribute to make it one of the finest1 most salubrious and most enjoyable in the world4 ,through the irrigation water always at the command of the horticulturist1 our lands are being transformed into beautiful orchards1 vineyards and meadows4 ,the peach1 the prune1 the apricot1 the pear and the raisin-grape are made to flourish1 and the olive to produce its valuable oil1 the orange and the lemon their golden fruit4 ,the colonies already established are situated in the thermal belt of the ,sierra1 in the finest citrus region of the ,state1 in a district equal to the best anywhere1 and in a territory remarkable for its earliness and productiveness4 ,every variety of temperate and semi-tropical fruit is now growing within sight of the colonies1--the almond1 the olive and orange upon the more elevated land2 the peach1 the prune1 the apricot1 the pear and the raisin-grape upon that of a more alluvial nature4 ,the ,rotterdam ,colony contains now over a hundred settlers from ,holland2 other colonies are being established by ,english and ,american farmers1 by doctors1 lawyers and professional men of every station in life4 ,the people whom we invite1 and who have responded to our call1 are the most desirable1 the most intelligent1 the most energetic and the most refined classes4 ,they are now building up horticultural communities of the most prosperous nature4 ,the lands we offer are situated six hours by railroad from ,san ,francisco4 ,they are traversed by two railroads1 and the principal colony is only four miles from ,merced ,city1 the county seat1 while some of our land joins1 and actually surrounds1 that town4 ,our prices are low1 and our terms very reasonable4 ,we offer various grades of land1 all eminently suitable for the highest state of horticulture1 at prices ranging from #ge to #age per acre1 with water4 ,for particulars address the ,crocker-,huffman ,land and ,water ,company1 ,,merced1 ,merced ,county1 ,cal4 ,transcriber's ,notes ,inconsistent and unusual spelling1 hyphenation and capitalisation have been retained1 unless mentioned below2 this also applies to non-,english words and phrases4 ,robert ,mc,pherson and ,robert ,mac,pherson are presumably the same person4 ,page #bi1 table3 the data given do not add up to the totals given4 ,page #baf1 ,audibert3 the full title is ,l',art de faire le vin avec les raisins secs4 ,changes made3 ,some minor punctuation and typographical errors have been corrected silently4 ,footnotes have been moved to directly under the paragraph where they are referenced4 ,several tables have been split or otherwise re-arranged to fit the available width4 ,page ii ,the ,raisin ,grapes moved up one level as in text2 ,page #f ,venitians changed to ,venetians2 ,dipped and ,sultana changed to ,dipped and ,sultana2 ,page #g ,dodoen's changed to ,dodoens's2 ,page #aj elemes changed to elems2 ,pantallaria changed to ,pantellaria2 ,page #ae known as ,velencias changed to known as ,valencias2 ,page #bf ,ionion ,islands changed to ,ionian ,islands2 ,page #ca ,stan-chio changed to ,stanchio2 ,page #if1 illustration caption3 c4 changed to b42 its ,tuberous ,mycelium changed to their ,tuberous ,mycelium2 ,page #aai illustration captions combined into single caption2 ,page #acc as high-grade raisins changed to as many high-grade raisins2 ,page #ahb about a feet deep changed to about a foot deep2 ,page #bje ,shacht changed to ,schacht2 ,page #bad table row ,mau1 ,sadler ,co4 moved to before ,miller1 ,james2 ,schact changed to ,schacht2 ,page #bag ,grasset de ,saint ,sauveur1 ,jacque changed to ,grasset de ,saint ,sauveur1 ,jacques2 ,noveau ,duhamel ,on ,trait des ,arbres 444 changed to ,nouveau ,duhamel ou ,trait des ,arbres 4442 ,rambert changed to ,rembert2 ,page #bah variets changed to varits2 ,page #bai ,aetolico changed to tolico2 ,albunol changed to ,albuol2 ,cascalira changed to ,cascalina2 ,cooper1 ,elwood changed to ,cooper1 ,ellwood2 ,page #bbj ,crocker-,hoffman ,reservoir changed to ,crocker-,huffman ,reservoir2 ,eleme changed to ,elem2 ,gargalino changed to ,gargaliano2 ,page #bbb ,sweat-boxes changed to ,sweatboxes2 ,entry ,quality of ,raisins moved to before ,racemus2 ,index some page numbers have been corrected4