II Jan., 1909. J 



Valcjicia Raisins or Lcxias. 



7 



from dew and rain. Denia being situated on the coast, climatic con- 

 ditions are very different from those prevailing in inland Victoria. 

 Every evening the trays are stacked and covered with a sort of tent, the 

 under side of one tjray being prevented from coming in contact with the 

 fruit on the one below, by five square blocks of wood, one in the centre 

 and one at each corner of each ti-ay. Ridge poles supported by per- 

 manent p>osts are to be seen in all drying grounds. It is under these 

 that the tr:i\s are stacked at nicht, the tent being placed in position as 



4. A DRYING GROUND. 



shown in photograph No. 6. Should rain threaten, as is not uncommon 

 in the autumn, the travs are stacked and covered and thus protected from 

 damage. 



Composition of the Lye. 



The he in which the grapes are dipped is said to have a considerable 

 influence on the quality of the raisin. Great importaaice is attached to 

 this point and much care is given to its preparation in Denia. Caustic 

 soda is scarcely ever used. I was told that it produces a sticky raisin 

 of poor quality. The only way in which it is used is to rapidly increase 

 the strength of the potash lye but, even to this small extent, its use is 

 looked on with disfavour. It is never employed alone. It is possible 

 this inferiority m.ay be due to the salts resulting from the neutralization 

 of the alkali by the tartaric acid of the grape. In the case of a soda 

 lye the tartrate formed would be more likely to retain moisture than the 

 sparingly soluble potash bi-tartrate (cream of tartar) resulting from the 

 use of a potash lye, and might lead to the stickiness complained of. 



The point seems to me to be of importance and to be worth testing 

 by comparative experiment. I therefore secured the recipe for the pre- 

 paration of the lye employed in Denia which is as follows: — Eight 

 barchillas (a Spanish measure of about i| gall, capacity) of ordinary wood 

 ashes mixed with two of vine ashes are placed in a large jar, into the 



