Worcester morning daily spy. (Worcester, Mass.) 1888-1898, 1898-02-04
RAISN INDUSTRY,
In ElgCaJon Valley in Southern
California.
Tho Various Processes Descrbed-sun-
rise in the Elcaion vaI'ey-some In
tsrjssing Things About Bostonia.

(correspOn5denee Of the spy.l [

Nl-@L $50 DOSlOtlld, Jan. 20 1885
The first raisins cured in San Diego
county were produced in Ell Cajon by
r., g. Clark In. 1882. Their fine quality
was noticed by Riverside growers, who
at once bought a large tract of land
in Ell Cajon. In the boom, a few years
later, they divided this in lots and sold
to excited, hope-stimulated parties at
ascendant prices. In 1888 fine raisins
were produced by George A Cowles and
others in different sections of the valley.
An additional interest in raisin produc-
ton spread until the valley land was
largely devoted to vineyards, compris-
ing from 40 to 600 acres. DIS
Some owners reside in the valley. 9TH
ers are city capitalists who employ local
agents to look after their land interests.
The agent sees that all work necessary
TO the production of a paying crop of
raisins is properly done.
When the winter rains come the soil
OF disintegrated granite and adobe is
ploWed; two-horse plow to go deep, or
a three-horse gang pillow, SO inches ca
pacity, for more rapid work. The Gull
tivator, riding, does several acres in a
day. Alfilaria and grass have started,
but the plow- covers all, and it is pleas
Ing viewz-the long rows of grape stalks
almost. perfectly straight, 10x10 or 12X12,
the fresh soil so free of stones. so level
and easy of cultivation. A cultivator
makes the soil finer and completes the
work
AS the season advances cultivation is
continued after each rain, and If grassy
spots remain close to the stalks hand
hoe is used with care, as the stalks
must not receive injury from plow or
hoe.
Tn Mos. ,Je eaI1
only left on last seasons growth of
wood, the rest pruned away, 20 to 80
buds to each stalk remaining. The vine
grows rapidly outward, three to six feet,
and the young grapes have formed
Now the careful eultivator fearing
mildew from the summer night fog,
takes bag of sulphur tramps UP and
down the rows, sitting sulphur as he
goes. Early in September the grapes
are ready to harvest and the redwood
fruit trays, 2x3 feet, are loaded on wag-
onS from the high and long piled stacks
and distributed along the rows ready
for the clusters of grapes which are cut
from the vines and spread on the trays,
In about ten days, If the weather is fav-
orable, the fruit has dried sufficiently
to turn.
The turning is done by two men pass
ing along the rows, putting an empty
tray on the half-dried grapes, and by
quick turn the bottom comes up, and
the drying is completed in about six
days. When the rafsins have dried suf-
ficiently the trays are lifted to asserting
tables and the punches inspected; those
not sufficiently cured near the base Of
stem being allowed to remain day or
two longer or picked off and thrown
aside, and the albright product is
emptied in large sweatboXes and carried
to the packing house. If allowed to re-
main in these boxes several weeks the
quality of these raisinS is perfected.
But the sweating process is often omit
ted, and the sweets are hurried to the
stemmer. This is a machine which, If
small resembles a Winnowlrg mill, and
is worked bychands The large ones are
run by water power or a srlall gasoline
engine. =. 5
The raisins drop from the elevated
pepper between two wire cylinders, the
inner one revolving, and the raisins,
quickly detached from the stems, fall
upon the grader, and are divided in four
sizes, packed in ten, and twenty, some
fifty pound boxes, marked, one to four
crowns, ready for shipment to various
points north and east.
This seasons crop was large and quail
ity fine. M
PICKING TINE
is an important event in the valley.
"'Tis in the mild September that the
large clusters of grapes, genuine mus
cats leaf-shaded, hanging close to, the
warm EARTH amber or rose-tinted, pro-
claim that the fruttion of harvest hopes
may now realize; but lively work is nee
essary. Hundredsz9f white men, Mexi-
cans, men and women, Indians from
the reservation, all available help,
spread themselVese7over the vineyards,
hundreds of knives cleaning in the sun
light, thousands of sfruit-laden trays;
commencing in the early flush of morn
ing, with short respite through the
blaring midday, on, steadily on, TILL
night gently draws the veil of obscur-
itY, and the weary, yet merry-hearted
laborers, in laughing, chattering groups
seek their sheltering homes and tents.
From away back music1has held indi-
viduals and nations in happy thraldom
Perhaps it is well that the etruest must
cal expression, the heaveg-born musical
genius, should appear only at rare inter-
walls.
The great composers are few, their
productions from season to season re-
produced become to us heart treasures;
and we are surprised as we listen from
year to year that the same is not the
same We wildly realize change.
s.s In each rendering grander interpret
alton, as though the artist had come
nearer the composer, catcnlng from
him higher suggestions Is it a deeper,
more refined coordination of mind and
music2
Delicate technique, perfect phrasing
and meditation certainly, but more,
something so much grander we crave
from the musical genius, the beautifully
sweet, soul touching tones of melody.
And if, fortunately, you have evolved
to a point of receptivity that can grasp
the finest, sweetest in music, you may
believe that by the surest, hottest grav-
itation, you will find it somewhere,
sometimes. These are early morning
thoughts that come to you, suggested
by some dreamy sound as you arise and
go forth to see the
SUNRISE IN Ell C'AJON VALLEY.
To get the grandest in winter sun
rise go out while yet the stars are beam
ing find a spot where observation is I'M
INSTRUCTED, and watch out lively for the
procession. AS you look eastward all is
black below the horizon, but the noun
tain range, so irregular, is sharply de-
fined against the light beyond and holds
your attention; not long, for in the west
there is landscape picture growing in
to beauty as the light Increases. Jour,
ney to the east again, few small
clouds of vivid scarlet you watch as
they increase in size, changing tt
orange, gold-dissolve. You cannot YET
see where the sun will rise, and the
light Is a wide expanse growing wider
and lighter as the unseen king of day