Discussion on Raisin Culture. 193 



Sensitive but not sub-tropical, the area of our state that is available for 

 it, though far less than the field of the cereals, is far greater than that which 

 is adapted to citrus fruits. From the upper limits of the Sacramento valley 

 southward through to the Mexican border are large districts where the rais- 

 ing of this grape is a proved success. We can also claim that, though its 

 culture may not be financially safer to engage in than that of the wine grape, 

 yet its products are safer to take ! Henceforward, all through the states, 

 long as our country shall live, the school-boy will think with sweetened 

 interest of the sunny land that raised the clusters his mother put with his 

 lunch. 



DISCUSSION ON RAISIN CULTURE. 



ilfr. Smith, of Wiscousiii — What is the average yield of raisin 

 grapes in California? 



Mr. Cutter, of California — The price per box of twenty pounds 

 ranges from 75 cents to $2, while the yield per acre varies from 100 

 to 300 boxes. The usual net return per acre may be put at from 

 $125 to $150, though mine have averaged as high as $304. The 

 expense of culture, etc., including water, per acre, is about $25. 

 It is a fallacy to talk about succeeding without water. Irrigation 

 is sometimes overdone, but it is our only security against frequent 

 failures. Irrigation should not be frequent, but thorough. The 

 occasional fogs of this region take the place, to some extent, of 

 irrigation. 



Mr. RudisiU, of California — Mr. Cutter's statements in regard 

 to the yield of raisin lands are very fair; indeed, they are somewhat 

 below what I have realized. Raisins grown in our foot-hills are 

 somewhat more difficult to cure owing to the greater rain-fall. In 

 Spain the raisin grape is grown without irrigation. There the yield 

 per vine is not more than two or three pounds; here we often pro- 

 duce from forty to fifty pounds per vine. 



Mr. , of Fresno, California — Fresno produces about 



one-half of the raisins sent out from California. The vineyards in 

 our county were about doubled in extent in 1887. The raisin crop 

 of Fresno county, last year, was in excess of 400,000 boxes. 



Mr. Gutter — If you will guarantee us one-third of the present 

 prices of raisins and oranges, we will engage to increase our area of 

 plantations. 



On motion, the Society adjourned to meet at 9 A. M. to-morrow. 



