THE RAISIN INDUSTRY. 179 



Statement of Consumption of Currants and Raisins per Head of Total 

 Population in 1884. : 



United Kingdom of Great Britain. 4.38 pounds. 

 United States of North America. . 1.70 " 



Prices Ruling in the California Raisin Districts: 



It is not my intention to give here a regular prospective estimate of the 

 cost of a raisin vineyard and the profits to be derived therefrom. Such 

 an estimate, applicable to every case, cannot be made out ; about it not 

 two raisin-growers with equal experience would agree. Below I simply 

 give isolated statistics of costs of the various operations necessary in 

 the raisin industry. Each one can figure for himself, and my advice is 

 to add liberally to the calculated expenses, if disappointment would be 

 avoided. 



As to the profits of a raisin vineyard, the reader will by this time 

 understand how it might vary, how it must depend upon nice little cir- 

 cumstances, never foreseen and only to be taken advantage of or coun- 

 teracted by the experienced grower. The high statements which have 

 been given in these pages as samples of how much might be gained 

 from an acre of raisin-vines can never be counted on as regular. From 

 fifty to several hundred dollars per acre may be obtained as net profit 

 by care, skill and favorable circumstances, but an average of seventy- 

 five dollars per acre can be considered a conservative sum, whicETtEe 

 owner of a good irrigated vineyard may calculate on as a safe net profit. 

 Many do not reach even that. But, even with that profit per acre, how 

 many horticultural industries can be counted on to produce better 

 results ? Very few, if any. For the benefit of those who desire figures 

 to guide them, the following statistics are offered. They have been 

 carefully compiled in company with T. C. White, one of the most 

 prominent raisin-growers the State has ever had. These statistics refer 

 especially to the Fresno district, but they will be found to differ but 

 little from those elsewhere in this State. 



Land suitable to raisins can be had at from fifty to two hundred dol- 

 lars per acre. No one not thoroughly acquainted with the require- 

 ments of raisin land should attempt to rely on his own judgment alone 

 in making a selection. 



Vines, already rooted, at from ten to twenty dollars per thousand 

 vines. An average would be fifteen dollars. The cost of rooting vines 

 is from one dollar to two dollars and fifty cents per thousand, according 

 to locality and circumstances. 



Cuttings, from two to three dollars per thousand, more or less, acord- 

 ing to size and quality. 



Planting rooted vines, one cent per vine. Planting cuttings, half a 

 cent per cutting. 



Plowing yearly, one dollar and fifty cents per acre. 



Harrowing, fifty cents per acre. 



Leveling land for irrigation, according to the quality of the land. Lev- 

 eling the land in from one-half to three-quarter acre checks, including 

 small ditches, etc. , can be done for from ten to fifteen dollars per acre, if 



