486 



THE MONTHLY BULLETIN, 



the average. (2) Fixed charges, including interest on investment and 

 depreciation, which will vary somewhat, according to the value of the 

 land and the amount of raisins handled. The range will be from about 

 $25 to $30 per acre. The cost of making raisins will be a little higher 

 per ton with small crops than with large and will vary from $10 to $13 

 per ton in average seasons. Using these estimates, we can see that a 

 pound of raisins will cost over 4 cents to produce in a vineyard yielding 

 only half a ton per acre and only about 1| cents in a vineyard producing 

 two tons. In the first case, the grower will lose about $12.50 per acre, 

 in the last he will gain about $58 at a selling price of 3 cents. With 

 a crop of three quarters of a ton, which is probably above the average, 

 he will barely make expenses. These facts are brought out in the 

 accompanying table, which is based on accurate accounts kept in several 

 large Muscat vineyards in the Fresno region. It shows that the esti- 

 mate of 3 cents per pound as the average cost of production is not far 

 from the truth, and that at this price, the average vineyard is conducted 

 at a loss, but that the better vineyards yield a fairly satisfactory profit. 

 While the average crop of a Muscat vineyard for a term of years is 

 probably below .75 ton of raisins per acre, there are vineyards which 

 produce as high as 1.50 tons or even two tons, and there is every reason 

 to believe that under favorable conditions with the best management a 

 crop of 2^ tons, representing 10 tons of fresh grapes, is not an unreason- 

 able ideal. 



Cost of Producing Muscat Raisins. 



Crop per acre In tons. 



$.50. 



$.73. 



$1.00. 



$1.50. 



$2.00. 



$2.50. 



Pruning and burning brush 



Plowing 



Horse cultivation 



Hand work 



Irrigation 



Vineyard work 



Interest on investment 



Taxes 



Depreciation 



Fixed charges 



Gathering 



Handling trays 



Turning and stacking 



Packing in sweat boxes 



Hauling 



Making raisins 



Total cost per acre 



Cost per ton of raisins 



Cost per pound of raisins... 



Profit per acre at 3 cents 



Profit per acre at 4 cents 



50 

 00 

 00 

 25 

 00 



$11 75 ; $11 75 



$20 

 1 

 2 



00 

 75 

 50 



$20 00 

 1 75 

 3 00 



$24 25 I $24 75 



50 

 00 

 75 

 75 

 50 



$5 25 



1'25 



1 00 



1 00 



75 



$6 

 $42 

 $85 



$4 

 -$12 



50 

 50 

 00 

 25 

 50 

 50 



$9 25 

 $45 75 

 $61 00 



$3 05 



— $0 75 



$14 75 



$11 75 $11 75 



$20 00 

 1 75 

 4 00 



$25 75 



$7 00 

 1 50 

 1 25 

 1 25 

 1 00 



$12 00 

 $49 50 

 $49 50 

 $2 48 

 $10 50 

 $30 50 



$20 00 

 1 75 

 5 00 



$26 75 



$10 50 

 2 00 

 1 75 

 1 75 

 1 50 



$17 50 

 $56 00 

 $37 33 

 $1 87 

 $34 00 

 $64 00 



$11 75 , $11 75 



$20 00 

 1 75 

 6 OO 



$27 75 



$14 00 

 2 25 

 2 00 

 2 00 



2 00 



$20 00 

 1 75 



7 00 



$28 75 



! $17 50 

 2 50 

 2 25 

 2 25 

 2 50 



