36 THE RAISIN INDUSTRY. 



ITALY AND ITALIAN RAISINS. 



Lipari and Belvidere. Of the Mediterranean countries, Italy pro- 

 duces the smallest quantity of raisins. We cannot imagine this to be 

 on account of unsuitable soil and climate, but more on account of the 

 tardiness of its people to take kindly to new industries and improve 

 upon their older methods. In former years the raisins from Southern 

 Italy were much exported to Northern Europe; to-day the trade is 

 insignificant. In the sixteenth century, the raisins from Lipari and 

 Belvidere were of considerable repute, but were, however, considered 

 inferior to the Spanish raisins. The Island of Lipari, to-day princi- 

 pally known on account of its volcanoes, produces yet so-called Lipari 

 currants of larger size than those from Morea. They are of much 

 inferior quality, being hard and dry and of oblong shape. 



Pantellaria. The Island of Pantellaria, between Sicily and Africa, 

 also produces raisins of somewhat better quality, which, if better 

 packed, would favorably compare with the Lexias of Valencia and 

 Denia. The Pantellarias, or Belvideres, as they are known in the 

 market, are principally consumed in Northern Italy and Southern 

 France. They are sweet and good raisins, which, if carefully and 

 intelligently handled, would rapidly improve in quality. 



Calabria. Since the destruction of the Calabrian raisins through the 

 mildew, the raisin production of this peninsula has largely increased. 

 In 1876, it had reached eight thousand tons, but must now probably be 

 double that amount. The Calabrian raisins produced on the main- 

 land of Italy are of good quality, and are principally exported to 

 France. 



CHILE AND HUASCO RAISINS. 



Characteristics. The Chile or Huasco raisin is one of the finest 

 raisins in the world, and in the opinion of the author superior to both 

 Spanish and California raisins. They excel in sweetness and aroma 

 as well as flavor; their skin is thin, and the seeds are small. The 

 color is entirely different from sun-dried California or Spanish raisins, 

 being yellowish amber with a fine and thin bluish bloom, indicating 

 that they have been dried in the shade or in partial shade without 

 dipping in lye or other solutions. 



Location. The number of acres devoted to raisin culture in Chile is 

 not known. The grapes for this purpose are grown almost exclusively 

 in the valley of the Huasco, back of the port of Huasco in the province 

 of Atacama. There appear to be two distinct valleys of the same 

 name, one situated only twenty minutes' ride from the port of Huasco 

 on the Pacific Ocean, the other farther inland about sixty miles from 

 the coast. In the former place, the culture of the raisin grape is very 

 limited, the whole valley and town only containing four hundred 

 people, of which not all are occupied with the raisin industry. The 

 interior valley is more extensive, and the largest quantity of the 

 Huasco raisins come from this place. The port of Huasco is situated 

 in latitude twenty-seven degrees, thirty minutes south, longitude 

 seventy-one degrees, sixteen minutes west. 



