186 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



produce anything. Some of it, like the Vega of Malaga, is planted 

 Avith sugarcane. Oranges, lemons, and bananas are grown on the 

 terraced sides of the ravines, where irrigation can be commanded. 

 The olive, fig, almond, caroba, and prickly pear occupy some portion 

 of almost every plantation. Many places are still unoccupied, the 

 people seeming to want the enterprise or money to develop them. 



In order to fully understand the matter, let us honestly compare 

 our products with those of Malaga and see if we have anything to 

 learn. Our newspaper writers sometimes tell us that our raisins are 

 at any rate equal, if not superior, to those of Malaga. What are the 

 facts? Our merchants (men of figures) tell us that our best brands 

 are almost, but not quite, equal to London Layers. 



The following was the relative price of fruit at Malaga in August 

 of eighteen hundred and seventy-eight. It is the first cost in store — 

 that is, the price paid to the producer, who only furnishes the fruit, 

 the boxes and common paper, which has to be changed by the 

 merchant. 



There are five qualities better than London Layers, known at Nos. 

 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. No. 1 rates at $4 50 per box ; No. 2 at $3 75 per box ; 

 No. 3 at $3 25 per box ; No. 4 at $2 50 per box ; No. 5 at $1 75 per 

 box; London Layers, $1 25 per box; Loose Muscatelles, $1 10; Lay- 

 ers, $1 00. The year eighteen hundred and seventy-eight was a 

 year of unusual depression, the prices being at the lowest ebb. 



The proportion of fruit better than London Layers varies at 

 different vineyards, so that I cannot give the estimate exactly, but in 

 one instance, where the party was said to be skillful, and with honest 

 packers, it was given as one fifth. Thus, you see. that one fifth of 

 their fruit was better than any of ours, and that ours could be 

 ranked as only sixth in quality there. 



It is a fact that their fruit as it is put on the market is better than 

 ours. The reason for this will be explained in due time. In the 

 Spanish methods of planting and cultivation we have nothing to 

 learn. The cost of labor in this country entirely shuts us out, if we 

 were disposed to follow them. I will only state that all planting and 

 cultivation is done by hand. For planting, large holes are dug, often 

 three feet square and two or three feet deep. The whole vineyard is 

 dug over twice a year with hoes, which cultivate it very thoroughly. 

 The pruning also is very close, usually leaving only one eye. To 

 this thorough cultivation and short pruning I attribute the high 

 quality of the raisins. The average yield of their vineyards is quite 

 small. At one place, where the raisins were very fine, the yield 

 was only two pounds per vine. As there were one thousand vines 

 per acre the yield was only one ton ; still it was called a profitable 

 and valuable place. The yield on some hillside vineyards is even 

 less than this, while on some valley land the vines will yield from 

 five to ten pounds each. 



In their mode of curing we may find something of advantage to 

 us. As our grapes ripen nearly a month later than theirs we have 

 trouble to get them dried, and have resorted to many expensive 

 methods to accomplish this purpose. 



Now, the climate in which the Spaniard cures his raisins in fifteen 

 days is not any warmer than ours. It is a little more moist and 

 somewhat varied by a shower; but his fruit being se urely covered 

 by boards remains perfectly safe, and by being cove] )d at night to 

 protect it from the dew, he is enabled to cure his raisins in the time 



