THE RAISIN INDUSTRY. 69 



Chile. The Huasco grape grows in the valley of Huasco, on the 

 coast of Chile, in a soil that is very light and red, containing a great 

 quantity of sand. While very light in weight, this soil is said to be 

 very rich in plant food, and yields good crops. 



Fresno. The Fresno soils are of several kinds, but the three prin- 

 cipal varieties are red or chocolate-colored loam, white or gray ashy 

 soil, and a light, very sandy, loam. To this may be added the deeper 

 gray bottom soils or alluvial deposits of the Kings river. Bach one 

 of these varieties have different grades more or less suitable to the 

 Muscatel grape. The best grades of each are equally valuable, while 

 again the poorer grades are not to be recommended. The deep choco- 

 late-colored loam is by many preferred, and the largest and most 

 successful raisin vineyards are now located on this soil. But even in 

 the best districts the soil varies to such an extent, that while one 

 twenty-acre field will yield 250 boxes of raisins to the acre, the adjoin- 

 ing field, with only a slight change in the soil, will yield only seventy- 

 five boxes to the acre. The best grades of the white ashy soil are also 

 very good, and almost identical with the gray bottom-land deposits of 

 Kings river. The light sandy soil should be avoided for Muscat 

 grapes, but may do for Malaga and Sultanas, especially if judiciously 

 fertilized. 



Other Soils in San Joaquin Valley. In Merced the best soil is heavy 

 chocolate-colored loam, in places redder, in others darker, almost 

 blackish. It is generally mixed with some gravel. As a rule, all the 

 red soil in the San Joaquin valley is of the same characteristics, and 

 well suited to the Muscat grape, provided the ground is sufficiently 

 level. In Tulare county the proper soil for the Muscat is found to 

 be the bottom lands of Kings and Kaweah rivers, as well as the 

 deposits of the smaller creeks. This variety of gray alluvial loam is 

 exceedingly fertile, and there is none superior for the Muscat grape. 

 But an admixture of alkali often spoils soils which otherwise would 

 be considered the very best. A similar soil is found in Kern county, 

 especially near Kern L,ake, and which must be rated among the best 

 in the State, its color being a deep- bluish gray. The vineyards of 

 Yolo and Solano counties are located on a very similar soil, rich in 

 humus, lime and phosphates, but more yellowish or pale chocolate 

 colored. 



Orange County. A similar rich alluvial deposit is found in Orange 

 county in the fertile district known as Santa Ana valley. The soil 

 around Anaheim, Santa Ana, Orange and Tustin consists of a more 

 or less dark alluvial loam of unsurpassed fertility, and especially 

 adapted to the Muscat grape. It varies as to the percentage of sand 

 and gravel. The sandiest soil in this district, while less rich, brings 

 the earliest grapes, which come to perfect ripeness several weeks before 

 those grown on the heavier soils, but the latter produce the best raisins. 



Redlands and Riverside. The Redlands soil of the mesa lands is 

 reddish, rather darker than the same quality of soil in Riverside and 

 Fresno. It is mixed with sand and gravel, and partakes strongly of 

 the nature of the red or chocolate-colored loams of the State. The 

 L,ugonia bottom soil consists of a very sandy loam, on which the 



