THE RAISIN INDUSTRY. 13 



suffered from the phylloxera and various other diseases, and many 

 of them have been dug up. The lowland vineyards are now the 

 best, although even they are, by far, not free from disease. Few 

 of the vineyards are located on entirely level ground, there being 

 but little such in the district. The nature of the country is rolling, 

 with small valleys or flats. The raisin grapes grow apparently well 

 both inland and on the coast. According to Consul Marston, about 

 eighty per cent of the vineyards are situated on rolling land, ten per 

 cent on lowland and ten per cent on the very coast. The vineyards on 

 the coast are actually within reach of the spray. 



The vine3^ards are generally small, none being over eighty acres 

 in extent. Most contain, perhaps, from three to four acres each; 

 while from twenty to forty acres is considered a good-sized vineyard. 



Varieties of Grapes. The principal variety used is the Gordo 

 Blanco or Muscatel. It is identical with the grape known by us under 

 that name, and which was imported to us from Malaga. But several 

 types are found, although none superior to the Gordo Blanco. 



Characteristics of the Raisins. The Malaga raisins were, until 

 lately, the finest raisins in the world, and for the present have only 

 the California raisins to compete with. They are characterized by 

 great sweetness, deep bluish color, great size and by good keeping 

 qualities. The best raisins are those called Dehesas, being produced 

 on the valley lands of the districts.' 



Yield of Grapes. The yield of Malaga vineyards varies of course. 

 The best yield eight or nine tons of grapes to the acre, just like those 

 of California. But there is a great difference between new and old 

 vineyards. In many vineyards where formerly the yield was nine tons, 

 the soil has been so exhausted by continuous croppings that to-day, 

 even with manuring, two or three tons of grapes must be considered a 

 high yield. 



Distances of the Vines. The older vineyards had their vines set 

 seven feet by seven feet, but of late the vines are planted generally 

 eight feet by four feet, thus much closer than by us in California. 



Pruning. The pruning of the vineyard is performed very much 

 as in California. Formerly the soil had to be removed from the 

 vines before they could be pruned; now this is not necessary except 

 while the vines are very young. The various branches are pruned 

 back to a few inches, with two eyes each, while the heads are elevated 

 only a few inches above the ground. 



Manuring and Fertilizing. The Malaga vineyardist fully under- 

 stands the value of manuring his vineyards, and uses for this purpose 

 not only all fertilizers available at home, but also imports directly from 

 distant countries. The most valued fertilizers are the Mexican and 

 Chilean guanos or phosphates. The Mexican phosphate costs in 

 Malaga sixty-five dollars per ton; still it is used by all the principal 

 vineyardists, who know the value of fertilizers. In fact, concentrated 

 fertilizers are a necessity to the Malaga vineyards; without them they 

 could not be cropped. Even the most virgin soil is exhausted in ten 

 years' time by constant croppings of raisin grapes; no paying crops 

 could be expected if fertilizers were not used yearly. This fertilizing 



