The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1888-12-07
FACTS ABOUT RAISINS.
The Rapid Development of a Profitable
California Industry.

The Rapid Development of a Profitable
California Industry.
Few people in the East comprehend
the rapid development CT the raisin
industry of the Pacific coast, of the
acreage devoted to it. or tie amount OF
capital invested. A large proportion
of consumers is still under the impress
sion that Spain furnishes the entire
product. John Nj. Chapman, whose
firm has been appointed as agents of
the California Dried Fruit Association,
has given some interesting facts about
the management of this luxurious
vine product.
Unlike the cultivation of grapes
on the Atlantic seaboards or in the
large vineyards of Ohio the vines are
grown without trellis, being trained
so that the laterais curve over the
stalk, thus protecting the fruit from
the direct rays Of the sun. The best
fruit grows close to the ground.
shaded by the broad leaves. Fruit
growing upon the laterals is likely to
become sun-burned and car only be
used for making second quality ra,sins.
The first crop natures about August
16 to 90; the so-called second crop from
September - to October l. Vines be-
gin to produce at the age of three
years and at six years are in full bear
ing. An impression prevails that
raisins are made from purple grapes;
on the contrary the raisin-grape is a
translucent green. The principal
variety used in California is the White
Muscat of Alexandria
The preparation of raisins for mar
ket is a rather simple process. The
branches are laid on trays exposed to
the sun; fermentation begins almost
Immediately; after two weeks they are
turned over, when the under side is
cured in about one week longer; the
grapes assuming the deep purple tint
common to raisins. Some of
the punches after leaving the
trays are moist. others are too
dry. To equalize the moisture
and make the goods of uniform con-
sistency the grapes are put into sweat
boxes holding about fifty pounds;
there they remain until proper con-
dition of moisture is attained. Then
they are removed to packing houses
and the clusters are separated from
the loose grapes and placed in boxes
in layers, making what is known as
the London layers of choice table
fruit
Grape raising is profitable. A vine
yard of good average bearing will
yield six tons of grapes to the acre,
with a value Of $40 a ton on the vines,
or $l20 an acre. Older vineyards pro-
duce from eight to ten tons, and the
fruit brings better price than the
product of younger vines, as it is bet
ter adapted to the larger or bunch
styles of high priced raisins. Thus a
forty acre vineyard in full bearing at
six years of age would furnish rev.
enue to the grower of $1,000. Labor,
however, is high and growers have
found it difficult to obtain a full COM
plement OF hands to cure a crop need
ing such prompt attention. The diff
Guilty will be lessened as newcomers
thicken. California proddces in guam
titles only the raisins that compete
with the renowned Malaga varieties.
The Pacific raisin crop of 1888 is ex-
pected to approximate 1000. 900 boxes.
Some of this has gone abroad. owing
to the small crop of Malaga this year.
and the latter fact will help to dis.
tribute the domestic crop through this
country.-M 7. 1n6Sne.