Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1886-03-20
! AMERICAN RAlSINS.
GREAT GROWTH OF TIE ENTER
PRISE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.
Profits of the Business-Waiting for an
Incoms-Natiye Product -. Imported"
Changing the Labels-UtiIizing the
Colorado Desert-Good Results


An. is country in 1850 represented the entire
pro luct of southern California A careful est
mae Of last years crop in this vicinity makes
il -, 600 boxes; or taking the whole state,
So, 800; and tie vineyards, drying houses and
apparatus s3,O00,0O0 capital invested The
rate of increase shown by these figures may
seem startling; but it is typically Californian,
and is based on sound business principles.
The annual consumption of raisins in The
United States is stated to be ZOO, 900 boxes.
California is the only state that offers facili-
ties for the industry, in possessing the requisite
climate and soil.
As TO the profits. after allowing the neccs-
sary grano sails, 1 find the average net result
to be about 800 per acre, though know of
several instances whore by skillful husbandry
it was run up to $3.50 and 1900 Success in
this branch of agriculture depends as much
on the ability and ~sayvyr of the man as in
any other pursuit; and it would be folly for
any one to imagine that be could step from
the counting room, behind the counter, or an
eastern farm, and by coming TO California
make his fortune growing enbryotic Inince-
pies. In the first place it takes about six
years for vineyard 10 bear proftably Some
little returns may be had at and after the
third year, but not much till the above-nen-
toned period Peculiar combinations Of soil
and climate are necessary: though as the
result Of the shrewd idea of one of the
heaviest raisin producers here, which | shall
refer to, the matter of climate becomes of
secondary importance The long waiting for
an income, combined with the price at which
good raisin-land is held, makes the undertake
ing almost prohibitory TO the small capitalist
NATIVE PRODUCT vs.. IMPORTED.
Foreign raisins are respectively graded r.
garding quality, as -Dahesa Clusters, =
London Layers Layers" and "Loose
Muscatels" Californian producers have
adopted the same plans, making their boxes,
however, to hold each only twenty pounds,
as against the twenty-five pound boxes of the
imported fruit This shortage has initiated
somewhat against their interest, dealers ard
consumers naturally preferring the box CON
tanning the fullest weight. Two other
difficulties have had TO be met, want of
knowledge in packing and handling, and the
hostility of jobbers who had developed
trade in the imported article. Five years
study and practice have overcome the first,
and the fineneSs and keeping quality of the
domestic product, coupled with the late
cholera epidemic in Spain, have overcome the
barriers erected by prejudice and self-intersst.
The American people still possess, though
TO less extent than in former years, more
or less contempt for native products, and a
corresponding desire for anything i'm
ported Ii is almost an open secret that
California meets part Of the great demand
for the Chateaux wines by discreet use of
foreign labels, and many a housewife who
would not dream of using American raisins
has gladly paid almost twice as much for
box with a Spanish label as the storekeeper
would ask her for a box probably from the
same vineyard rs the first. only honestly
marked California Fruit However, am
obliged to admit that | find the supply OF
'Dahesas7 and London Layers limited:
raisin makers having made an easy and large
profit by packing inferior grades have not
been pushed to Use much care. This season,
however, widespread effort is being made TO
put up the finer qualities.
The acreage occupied by raisin vineyards.
though limited to localities more or less free
from fogs and early rains has increased for
the last two years at the rate of nearly
30 10 per cent. per annlIm. The question OF
climatic dryness has been a very serious con
sideration but is now solved by a very sim
pie expedient-so simple, indeed, that it seems
absurd that no one over thought of it before
SWEETNESS or THE DESERT AIR.
Mr.. Robert Mcpherson, large producer at
Orange, had about a0,000 boxes of raisins on
the drying trays not long ago when an I'M
expected rain set in. \ short shower Will
not do material damage if the weather turns
warm afterward; but as in reply TO dis
patch of inquiry, 'Old Prols' wired Mr.. Nc
Pherson that long storm was indicated, the
latter Immediately loaded his fruit into
freight cars rushed them down to the Colo
RADIO desert and set up his drying trays there;
ut the present time he has fourteen arloads
their sweetness on the desert
air His experiment has proved 50 SatiSfac-
tory that he intends hereafter to ship his
grapes as soon rs picked, and do the whole
drying and packing process there Others
will doubtless follow his example. This happy
thought will increase the possible vineyard
acreage by making the suitability of soil the
main desideratum, and will partially solve
the conundrum 50 often asked from tine time
Of Fremont's first visit 10 the desert down 10
to-day's Pullman carload of tourists, why
was the abomination OF desolation ever ere
ated:'
Among other charges, which have proved
to be without foundation, made against the
California raisinS, it has been said they would
not keep and that they crystalhzed almost at
once. | saw at the late fair at Los Angeles
several boxes three and four years old, which
were as fresh and mellow rs if Of this seasons
pack. Drying and evaporating machines
have been much experimental with, but thus
far with unsatisfactory results For the
lower grades, such as steamed raisins, they
answer well enough. but are more than Use
less when 1t comes To making clusters. The
,oSt of fuel * such as to preclude their use
wen if they answered the purpose. The
Utilization of the desert referred to above
seems 10 present 30 many advantages that
lackers viii probably not look for aid from
artificial methods-I4os Angeles Cor. New
York Tribune
Good Orators in Congress Scarce.
Morrison talks like a schoolboy delivering
poorly committed defamation Carlisle