Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1868-09-25
Raisins and Currants.

The numerous varieties of grapes which
produce the various wines of commerce
are the effects simply of different degrees
of climate and soil. Thus we find that
different districts produce fruit more or
less valued for the abundance and richness
of their juice. The smaller berries are
generally the most esteemed forthis pur-
pose. In some districts, however, the pro-
duce is quite unfit for wine-making, and
the fruits are then dried and form the raj
sins of our shops. All raisins, then,
whether they be Muscatels, Valencias,
or whatever variety, are in reality true
grapes, differing from the wine grape only
in size, or the absence of the juicy principle,
which, to considerable extent, devel-
opes into flesh or pulp. The best .raisins
are grown on the Spanish shores of the
Mediterranean, the climate about Valencia
and Malaga apparently suiting them better
than anywhere else. But raisins are also
extensively cultivated in the lower parts of
Greece, as well as other parts of the conti-
nent. The Muscatel is the finest kind of
raisin imported. The preparation of dry
ing, upon which the value of the fruit to a
great extent depends, is in its case con-
Quoted differently from that of the more
common kinds. Usually the grapes are
gathered in punches when fully ripe, and
hung up or spread out to dry. These are
afterward placed in vessels full of holes
and dipped in I've made of wood ashes
and vanilla, with the addition of little
salt and oil. This brings the saccharine
juice to the surface, and causes the dark
brown color as well as the crystalization of
sugar. which is SO characteristic of the
cheaper fruit The best varieties are
simply dried III the sun before removal
from the tree. The fruit is carefully
watched, and when at the proper stage of
ripenesss the stalks of the punches are
partly cut through and allowed to hang
till dry, the fruit by this means retaining
it's bloom and being light color when
dry. Among the many varieties of raisins
known in commerce are Valencias, Denias,
and Lexas from Spain, and Malagas from
Malaga in Granada. Ali these varieties of
fruit are imported into this country in
what are commercially called boxes and
half boxes of half hundred weight gross
The small, light colored raisins, known as
Sultanas, we receive from Smyrna, and as
everybody knows, these are devoid of
stones, or more properly, seeds. This
seedless form has been brought about by a
higher state of cultivation, and usually
fetches higher price in the market A
common, cheap fruit is also imported from
Smyrna, quite the reverse of the little Sui
tana, being Of very dark color, and hav-
ing very large seeds. The little, black
fruits, which in culinary sense are of so
much value, and which common usage and
the corruption of word has taught us to
call currants, are likewise small, seedless
variety of grape. The word currant
is derived from Corinth which was
originally the principal place Of its
cultivation. IF the ancient Corinth
no longer supplies us with the bulk of this
most useful fruit, the whole of our i'm
ports are still brought from the numerous
islands of the Archipelago and the neigh
boring shores of Asia Minor Good
Words. r., +