Connecticut western news., 1885-11-25
RAlSlN MAKING.
Inc Operation ms Conducted by thc
 Largest California Packers.

number or tons Ou an acre or vines, anu years of practice enable the buyer to tell very nearly not only tho 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 finer raisin. It is claimed that the best grade of Orange raisins will this year equal any in the market, md it is con fidently expected that our product will gain very cnviablc name and footing in the East this year. Unusual enrc is being taken to pack and grade in man. ner 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 forcmon, and are placed in 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 drying grounds. These consist of about sixty acres of land, smoothed and cleaned like brick yard, and the grapes are spread out in long rows to dry in tho sun. Ten days or two weeks from tho laying down" isusual- ly about tho time required to dry them, and then those thoroughly cured arc taken up and put into the sweat boxes. Probably onc-third are not yet cured, and these are turned over and placed in narrow rows until the action of Old Sol nas made them ready. Tho enormous quantity of grapes handled by orc firm can be estimated when it is known that at one time this sixty acre plot was GOV cred, and a portion of it has been covered second time. Teams arc continually coming and going, and small army of men are employed to take care of the grapes and keep the teams on the move. Many women and girls are also employed picking up the loose raisirs which have fallen from the stems. The trays are of number and capacity to hold 300 tons of grapes. Another thing which catches inc eye at the drying grounds is the pre- paration made for possible rains, in tho shape of rolls of oiled paper stacked up in all directions. 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 the paper.
 When properly dried the grapes are taken up and put into sweat boxes, prob- bly sevcnty-five or 100 pounds 10 the box, and hauled to the packing house, where they arc piled from floor to ceiling in the large front room. They arc left here some ten days, and passed through a sweating process, the object being to equalize the mo'stcr contained in them. When placed in boxes some arc much drier thnn others, but when ready for the packer tho intention is to make them, as nearly as possible, equal and uniform in that regard. Four lay. CTS arc placed in a box, and each layer is weighed by the packer, and the whole must make exactly the twenty pounds required. When box is filled the packer takes it 10 the scales near tho door, spre. sided over by an expert in the business, who carefully weighs and examines it, and if all right it is carried 10 the next room, where it is nailed up and the cor ners smoothed of, and it is ready for shipment. Particular care is exercised in grading and weighing. About i20 men arc employed in an1 about the pack ing house, and ''steady stream of boxes is kept going around the circle. We were informed that about 1,5oo boxes a day were being turned out, or three car loads every two days.
 The most of the packers arc Chinamen, and as usual they soon become very cx' pert at the business, putting up from ten to twelve boxes a day. White men fll all the responsible stations, it evidently being considered necessary 10 keep n close and vigilant watch over the ''heathen" to keep him from rosorting to "ways that arc dark" Occasionally n box goes back to the packer and is upset on his table as a gentle reminder tha' i first-elass work must be done all the 1 time.
 The box lids arc branded by power. full cylinder press run by horse power, and it is rather amusing to a printer to watch the modus operandi of this coarse grained printing. Checks arc used in every department, a packer receiving a check for each box delivered at tho scales. The whole business seems to be systematized thoroughly and moves along like clockwork. The work promis. es to last until Christmas or New Years before the whole crop is disposed Of, but the favorable weather which the raisin- makers have been blessed with will fa. cilitate their operations, md If it con tinues for another month they will have the most of the work done. Orang, 1 (Ca1.) Tribune.
 Pittsburg has seventy residents whose ' ,-nnr.l .y,r,ros.nt,. as on nnn nAn Auar.,.