THE RAISIN INDUSTRY. 15 



is erroneous. This is not the case.* Nearly all packers there are also 

 growers owning their own vineyards. The raisins are all packed in 22- 

 pound boxes or in quarters, etc. , according to the demands of the trade. 



The various raisin brands packed in Malaga are different according 

 to the different markets that are to be supplied. Thus for England we 

 have: Finest Dehesa, three crown; finest Dehesa, two crown; finest 

 Dehesa, one crown; Dehesa; Choice layers; London layers, three 

 crown; London layers, two crown; London layers, one crown. 



For France again we have: i Imperiaux; i Royaux; Couches; 

 Surchoix; Choix; Ordinaire; Surcouches, etc. 



The loose raisins or Brena and the seedless or Escombro generally 

 go to the continent or even to the United States. The old terms 

 Garoon or Sun are now never used. 



For American markets we have: Imperial Dehesa; Royal finest 

 Dehesa; finest Dehesa; fine Dehesa; Dehesa; London layers, three 

 crown; London layers, two crown; London loose, one, two and three 

 crown. 



Boxes are generally made from fir imported from Portugal, at fifteen 

 cents each. Of late years, however, they are also received from Canada, 

 and cost only seven cents each. 



Labor. The labor in Malaga is the most expensive in Spain, the 

 best laborer being paid forty cents per day, while in Denia the labor 

 is obtained for fifteen cents only; but it must be remembered that the 

 packing of the Malaga raisins is a much more particular work than 

 the packing of the dipped Denias. 



The price paid for Malaga raisins at the packing-house is at an 

 average of seven cents per pound for the best, or from one to two cents 

 more than what is paid in California. The lower grades bring from 

 two and a half cents upwards. 



VALENCIA AND DENIA. 



Extent of the Districts. The Valencia raisins, or, as they are called, 

 the Lexias or Spanish dipped raisins, are produced in the province of 

 Valencia, situated on the east coast pf Spain. The district contains 

 three sub-districts, the southern one, the Alicante district, extending 

 from Villa Joyosa in the north to Elche in the south. The raisins of 

 the Alicante district are inferior to those produced in the other dis- 

 tricts, both as regards quality and quantity. The most northerly 

 district is the Valencia district proper, extending from Cullera in the 

 south to Castellon in the north. North of the latter place the Muscat 

 grape does not come to perfection, and even within this district com- 

 paratively few raisins are now produced as compared with a few years 

 ago. But the bulk of all the raisins produced in the province are 

 exported from Valencia city, and hence these raisins are known as 

 Velencias, while in reality they come principally from Denia. 



The bulk of the Valencia raisins come from the central district, or 

 the Denia sub-district, comprising the land between Villa Joyosa in 

 the south and Cullera in the north, or about thirty miles on each side 

 of the town of Denia. Towards the interior the raisin district extends 



* According to A. B. Butler. 



