The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1904-10-13
Raisins

"HE Raisin Growers Association,
of California, recently an
nounced that it is unable to
dispose of this years crop and
states that the failure is due in large
measure to the fact that American con-
sumers do not understand the superb
ority of the California product over i'm
ported raisins. In other words, home
grown raisins are not sufficiently ad-
vertised. Being myself Californian,
I am naturally interested in the states
welfare; and coming from the raisin
center of the state, take particular
interest in the success of the raisin
growers.
In the first place, let me say that no
fruit is more healthy than raisins, nor
is there any confection more delicious.
1t is popular error that the seeds of
raisins are likely to cause appendicitis.
My boyhood was spent in California's
chief raising packing town where rails
ms, skins, seeds and all, are eaten the
year round, yet / never heard of their
causing sickness.
The principal varieties of grape used
for raisins are the Malaga, a large white
grape, the Tokay, red grape, and the
small seedless varieties, Sultana and
Princess. These grapes contain the
largest amount of sugar, and therefore
make the sweetest, and consequently
the best, raisins. They are also the best
table grapes.
The soil of the San Joaquin Valley is
peculiarly we'll adapted to growing rails
in grapes. Thirty years ago the stretch
of country from Merced to Tulare was
almost desert, but pioneer farmers saw
the possibilities of the sandy soil and
constructed irrigation bitches at enor-
nous expense. Then they planted
grapes. The experiment was success
Today the entire valley is one great
vineyard and orchard. The vines up
on which the raisin grapes grow are
planted from cuttings, and it is two ol
three years before the yield amounts tt
much. These vines are placed in rows
six or eight feet apart each way, to al
low cultivation, and unlike the wine
grape, are not trained up from th'
ground. This is because the shade O.
the leaves helps to produce the suga
so much needed in raisins. Each year
too, the creepers or limbs are pruned en-
tirely back leaving nothing but the bare
brown stump from which the entir
growth shoots out in season. Blu
my story is to be an account of tn
way raisins are prepared for market.
August is the raisin month, tn
grapes are cured and packed in Sep
tember and October. The picking
done principally by whites, men, wome
and children all working at gatherin
the crop. A few Chinks pick grape
also, but the whites do most of tn
work. Wages are very low, as they ar
all over California. 1t is a curious fac
that as much as CalifOrnians kick q
Chinese labor, the white grape-picker
work for less than the Chinese. Th
pay for whites is S per day and boar'
or $1.25 per day without board; for Oh
nese 25 cents more either way. Tt
work is hard, too, something like picl
ing cotton. Along the rows of vine
trays made of shakes are placed. Thes
trays are about 3x3 feet IN size, and {
the picker advances along his row {
vines he cuts off the heavy punches {
fruit and places them upon the ira
This sounds easy, but the stopping p
sition and the dust from the hea1
vines that rises as one pulls at tt
creepers Is torture. Add to this the e.
treme heat Gt is often 10 degrees
the shade and seldom less than 1907 al
the work is unbearable-a least for I'll
novice. The trays are supposed to ho
bushei 40 pounds) when close
packed, tho care is taken that Il
punches do not rest upon each othe
as the California raisin is "sun cured
Each vine produces from ten to tifte'
pounds. 1t is not uncommon to tai
a five or six pound cluster. Indeed,
have seen one bunch of grapes weig
ing sixteen pounds.
The spreading of the grapes up'
the trays is only the first step in t
Nreparation of the raisin. They mu