Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-01-02

and seven 1DcneS deep. lneSe BOXES Mold
one hundred pounds of raisins each. The
boxes, filed with raisins, are then packed
away in the packing house, and remain for
three days, VIXEN the raisins have gone
through o sweating process, which, it is
considered, gives them better appearance
and prepares them for
PACKING FOR MARKET.
The raisins are packed in layers by the use
of metallic form the proper sizs to fit inside
the packing boxes, and to hold just five
pounds of raisins The form when used is set
on the packing table and filed. 1t is then
placed under a press, the follower of which
fits closely inside the form, and the raisins
pressed down firmly. The paper being cut
the proper size is then placed on the top of
the form and slide or thin piece of board on
this. The form is then turned bottom side up
directly over an open box, the slide drawn out
and the raisins fall into the box in as perfect
form as they are PRESSED carrying the paper
below them into the bottom of the box. Four
of these layers of FIVE pounds each make up
full box of 20 pounds of raisins. Two of the
forms make half box, and one quarter
box. A papsr properly labeled with tins
name of the producer, and chromoed as the
fancy may dictate, is placed on the top of the
last layer and the cover nailed on, and the
packing is complete and the raisins ready for
market. The quality of the raisins deter
mines their value and market price, but much
also depends on the care and style of packing
| Too much care cannot be taken to adopt an
inviting style and then adhere to it uniformly.
MY CROP AND SALES FOR 1881.
There has been going the rounds of the
public press, both here and at the East, an
exaggerated statement as to the amount of my
crop OF raisins this year and the amount they
Il rknAo h.,
| been made public, however, is the excuse for
correcting it here. The facts in the case are
these: l have this season picked the grapes
from about 450 acres of vines and made the
most of them into raisius. The balance of my
Thousand acres in vineyard is not yet in bear
| ing Two hundred and fifty acres of the vines
picked from are Ia full bearing, being over
three years old, and this number averaged a
| good crop. One hundred acres of the $50 had
| their grapes badly injured by the grape worm,
so that we got only about one-tenth of a crop
from them, ard the remaining one hundred
acres were young vines, two or three years
DID, and from them we got about one third of
crop. From grapes SO picked from these
$50 acres of vines / made 80, eco boxes of
raisins, of twenty pounds each, or LOGO 600
pounds, three-ffths frst-class and two tifths
| second-class. The former sold for 81 IS a box
and the latter for 81 40 b,x; that is, for
twenty-pound boxes. Portions Of the raisins
were in half and quarter boxes, and these
brought little better rates, SO that the whole
crop brought me $50, coo. From the same
vines l sold 100 tons of green or uncured
grapes at $50 ton, or for 81, COO. From my
orchard my sales for green and dried fruit
amounted to SIS, 0O0-rnaking my income
100000.
THE GRAPE WORM.
The grape worm referred to as having done
so much damage to nay grapes is large,
dark, variegated colored worm, about two
inches long and one-half inch in diameter,
and has very much the appearance of the to-
Inate worm. The moth Is dark grayish and
black spotted moth about an inch and q quar-
ter long, and when its wings are spread, two
inches from tip to tip. In the daytime it
rests quietly on the vines, but towards even
ing begins to fly rapidly, buzziug about from
place to place and from flower to flower very
much like hummipg-bird. From this SIM
ilarity of appearance to the humming-bird
and its rapid buzzing fight it is some-
times called the humIning- bird moth.
The worm lives upon the leaves of the vine
till full size, and then burrows in the soil and
goes through the change of chrysalis and
comes out moth again. 1t runs through
two generations in a season in this climate.
Many may be destroyed in the winter by
cultivation, ard the moths may be destroyed
while lying idle on the vines in the daytime
by clipping them with scissors, and the worm
may also be destroyed in the same way. |
think have got them pretty well cleaned cut
OF my vineyard this year. as they did not
make their appearance in any considerable
numbers in the second generation, and these
were destroyed.
EXPENSES, ETC.
o.o ~, bo,,o h,d =, al o,,Is;
walton of vineyard, while extending the
same by new additions, and building drying
and packing houses, and making other neces-
sary improvements, need not be told how
large income may be used up about as fast
as it is received. My experience is, in this
respect, about like that of all other men un.
der similar circumstances-at the end of the
year | fad my cash, or income, and expense
account about equal. But when my whole
1000 acres of vines are in full bearing, and
when my drying and packing-houses are
supplied and completed, then I confidently
expect to be able to make my income some
what exceed my expense account.
SOIL AND CLIMATE FOR RAIsIN GRAPES.
I have no experience in planting or raising
grapes for wine, and all my directions and
suggestions have reference to the cultivation
ana production Oh rei5l1t ne sOll lOr I2lsln
grapes should be deep, ricn, sandy loan.
easily worked and with capacity to hold
moisture through the season of maturing the
grapes. Good corn land will be good rsisin-
grape land. The climate is another important
consideration to be looked after. The climate
should be warm and dry, free from prevailing
fogs and not subject to late or early frosts
A locality well protected from prevailing
winds is preferable.
PLANTING VINES.
I prefer cuttings to plant in vineyard to
rooted vines. [ make my cuttings of ourrant
old wood, about three feet long. If the soil
is rich and moist the vines may be planted
say ten by ten ; If less moist they should be
planted further apart, say ten by twelve, or
ten by sixteen. lay cut my land with
plow, running furrow say ten feet apart and
crossing this az right angles at the distance
apart it is intended to plant the vines the
other way. In laying cut the land skip
every twenty.frs row, or furrow so as TO
make just 400 vines in each block, and
have roads around each block. At the
intersection of the burrows dig holes twenty
inches deep and twenty inches long, and the
width of a shovel. The holes should
he dug all on the same side of the
burrows, or in q corresponding angle of the
iRtersecEing burrows. The bub5 Of the cutting
IL placed rom the 1QLeTS5ctlOn, bringing t0e |
top at the exact intersection, with two buds |
above the surface. The end Of the hole at the |
part must be perpendicular, SO as
to give the top of the vine perpendicular |
position from the elbow of the vine at the bot |
tom of the hole. To make this elbow when |
the vine is placed slip the foot on the cutting |
and cover with soil and tramp down. have
found this mode Of planting the most success
full. 1t gives larger amount of roots than |
planting, and the roots are low
enough below the surface to be cut of the |
reach Of ordinary drsught, and the same time
none are so deep as to be cold and slow of /
action in circulation. In covering be careful
to place the soil close about the perpendicular
part of the cane and up full with tae general
surface, but back from this part the hole may
be lett 10 the form OF a sink to catch and hold |
moisture during the first rainy season. [
would have my land ready TO plant as soon
rs the soil is in condition and cuttings can
properly be taken from the vines. Early
planting is the best. Thorough cultivation
Inust be the invariable rule and the
soil must be kept free from weeds.
PRUNING,
The important point in pruning young
vines is to get good shape. The heads
should not be more than four to six inches
nigh. The pruning commences the nextyear
After planting, by cutting off all the wood,
eaving the stem with not more than three
L., |