THE RAISIN INDUSTRY. 29 



He makes, no doubt, fair wages according to his own ideas, and as he 

 has paid for his capital in labor, and probably never handled a dollar 

 of the same, he considers himself comparatively well-to-do. But, as 

 currant vineyards sometimes sell, and sell high, too, it is simply unac- 

 countable that the interest is never taken into consideration in estimat- 

 ing the profits of the grower. The currant industry is, I believe, the 

 only one in the world in which this is not done. I have thus exten- 

 sively dwelt upon the profits and expenses of this industry in its 

 native country, on account of the many attempts to introduce the 

 growing of currants here in California. The question with us is, will 

 it pay. Our advantage is that our currants would be protected; but 

 still it is very doubtful if currant plantations would ever pay enough to 

 warrant us to engage in the same. The price paid at present is too 

 low, and, as long as Muscatels bring a higher price, it will probably be 

 the favorite grape with us. 



Consumption and Production. The importation of currants to Eng- 

 land was, at the end of the last century, about 3,600 tons. In 1832 

 this had risen to 7,135 tons, in 1864 to 37,151 tons, and in 1876 to 

 48,595 tons. As regards the production of currants in Greece, the 

 average yield from 1816 to 1826 was, for Cephalonia, 2,000 tons, 

 for Zante 3,000 tons, and for Morea 4,000 tons or over. From 

 that time on the exportations from Zante and Cephalonia increased, 

 while the export of Morea decreased. Thus, in 1833, Zante and 

 Cephalonia exported about 11,000 tons, and Morea only 2,000 tons, 

 this principally on account of the Greek revolution. In 1840, the 

 three places exported 14,206 tons, which again in 1849 had risen to 

 30,850 tons, in 1858 to 32,950 tons, in 1868 to 55,283 tons, and in 1876 

 to 86, 104 tons. This large crop was exported as follows: England, 

 60,263 tons; Germany, 1,475 tons; Holland, 4,847 tons; Trieste, 3,241 

 tons; America, 11,225 tons; Belgium, 4,105 tons; Various, 948 tons. 

 Since that time the production of currants has increased greatly 

 in Greece, especially on the mainland, and now it reaches yearly from 

 126,000 to 130,000 tons. During the last four years the production 

 has been about as follows (according, to L. C. Crowe in the California 

 Fruit-grower): 1884, 130,000 tons ;" 1885, 114,000 tons ; 1886,126,000 

 tons ; 1887, 127,000 tons. 



In 1886 this crop was produced in the following places : 



Gulf of Corinth 7,000 tons. 



Vostizza 10,000 



Patras 12,000 



Gastuni, Pergos, Olympia 38,000 



Kyparissia, Figliatra, Gargaliano 17,000 



Ligudista, Pylos, Modone and Corone 9,000 



Kalamata and Nisi 14,000 



Missolonghi, ^Btolico, Lepanto 2,500 



Nauplia and Argos 600 ' ' 



Total for Morea and Acarnania 1 10,000 " 



Ionian Islands, Cephalonia, Ithaca, Santa Maura. 10,500 

 Zante 6,000 " 



Total.. 126,000 " 



