Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-11-26
RAISIN MAKING.,'
The Operation as Conducted by tht
Largest California Packers.
Orange (Cal.) Tribur

vines, some by actual weight, others
by estimating the crop from weighing
the product of every tenth vine.
Good judges can make pretty close
guess at the number of tons on an
acre of vines, and years of practice
enables the buyer to tell very nearly
not only the amount, but the quality
of the raisins to be made from the
vines which grow In different soils.
While the lower and damper lands
bring the largest crops and perhaps
the largest berries, the dry lands give
much larger percentage of sugar,
and consequently a finer raisin. It is
claimed that the best grade of Orange
raisins will this year equal any in the
market, and it is confidently expected
that our product will gain a very en-
viable name and footing in the east
this year. Unusual care is taken to
pack ana grade in a manner that will
( reflect credit on Oranges products,
and the result will certainly be a
strong demand IN the future.
The grapes are picked by crews of
men under experienced foremsn, and
are placed Ia trays or wooden frames,
which are piled on top Of each other
in wagons and taken to the scales,
weighed, and then taken to the dry
ing grounds. These consist of about
sixty acres of land, smoethed and
cleaned like a brick yard, and the
grapes are spread out in long rows
TO dry in the sun. Ten days Or two
weeks from the Laying down"
is usually about the time required to
dry them, and then those thoroughly
cured are taken up and put into the
sweat boxes. Probably one third are
not yet cured, and these are turned
over and placed IN narrow rows IN
I'll the action of Old Sol has made
them ready. The enormous quantity
of grapes handled by one firm can be
estimated when it is known that at
enc time this sixty acre plot was Gov
cred, and portion of 1t has been COW
cred second time. Teams are CON
tinually coming and going, and a
small army of men are employed to
take care of the grapes and keep the
teams on the move. Many women
and children are also employed in
picking up the loose raisens Which
have fallen from the stems. The trays
are of a number and capacity to hold
300 tons of grapes. Another thing
which catches the eye at the drying
grounds is the preparation made for
possible rains, IN the shape of rolls of
oiled paper stacked up in all direc
tons. This paper is in sheets about
four feet in width and sixteen feet
long, prepared to withstand rain by
dipping it in boiled oil. Two carloads
of paper and fifty barrels of oil have
been used this season, but as yet it
has not been found necessary to use
tie paper.
When properly dried the grapes are
taken up and put into sweat boxes,
probably 95 or 100 pounds to the oox,
and hauled to the packing house,
where they are piled from floor TO
ceiling In the large front room. They
are left here some ten days, and pass
ed through q sweating process, the
object being to equalize the moisture
contained IN them. When placed in
boxes some are much drIer than
others, but when ready for the packer
the intention is to make then, as near
~ as possible, equal and uniform IN
that regard. Four layers are placed
IN box, and each layer is weighed
by the packer, and tha whole must
make exactly the 90 pounds required.
When box is filled the packer takes
it to the scales near the door, presided
over by an expert IN the business, who
carefully weighs and examines 1t, and
if all right it is carried to the next
room, where it is nailed up and the
corners smoothed off, and it is ready
for shipment. Particular care is ex-
creased IN grading and weighing.
a ,Yoln IN,
about the packing house, ''and a
around the circle. We are informed
that about 800 boxes day were
being turned out, or three car loads
every two days.
The most of the packers are China
men, and as usual they soon become
very expert at the business, putting
up from ten to twelve boxes day.
White men fill all the responsible
positions, it evidently being consider
ed necessary to keep a vigilant watch
over the heather" to keep him from
resorting TO ways that are dark"
Occasionally box goes back to the
packer and is upset on his table as a
gentle reminder that first class work
must be done all the time.
Inc Oox lldS are branded by pow
erful cylinder press run by horse pow
er, and 1t is rather amusing to watch
the modus operandi of this coarse
grained printing. Checks ere used
in every department, a packer Te-
ceiving q check for each box delivered
at the scales. The whole business.
seems to be systemetized throughly
and moves like clockwork. The work
promises to last until Christmas or
New Years before the whole crop is
disposed of, but the favors BILE weather
which the raisIn makers have been
blessed with will facilitate their opera
tions, and if it continues for another
month they viii have the most of the
work done.
THE faill1re of the natural SraS wells