RAISIN GROWERS AND THEIR VINEYARDS. 



The following sketches are intended to convey to those not living in 

 the raisin districts of our State an idea of the men who have made a 

 specialty of the raisin industry, men jhrough. whose experiences and 

 intelligent work otiiers are now prorTGfig. 



~ While'TEe raisin growers and packers can now be counted by the 

 hundred, and while all of them have in some way contributed to the 

 development of the industry, and as such deserve to be mentioned in 

 t"he annals of this industry, it has only been practicable to here refer to 

 a few of the most prominent. Where exactly to draw the line was not 

 easy to decide, and my intention has been not to slight or neglect any 

 one, and should any one find himself omitted he should account for it 

 through my ignorance of real facts. I should especially have wished 

 to add to these short notes more extensive accounts of the work and 

 vineyards of R. B. Blowers of Woodland, of the late G. G. Briggs of 

 Davisville, and of Robert McPherson of McPherson, but I have not 

 been able to procure the necessary data. These three gentlemen have 

 all greatly contributed to the development of the high standing of the 

 raisin industry in this State. 



G. G. BRIGGS. 



/Mr. Briggs was the first large raisin-grower in the State, and owned 

 vineyards in both Solano and Yolo counties aggregating seven hundred 

 acres or more. Subirrigation by means of perforated pipes, in which 

 the water was made to circulate under pressure, was first tried extensively 

 in Mr. Briggs' vineyard at Davisville, by which means the grape crop 

 was almost doubled. Later on Mr. Briggs planted extensively in the 

 Washington Colony at Fresno, but he died before his vineyard there 

 came into bearing. He is said to have imported raisin grapes direct 

 from Spain, and a grape now growing in the vineyard of G. E. Free- 

 man at Fresno is said to be of that variety. It resembles the Muscat 

 of Alexandria in growth, but the berries are those of the Gordo 

 Blanco. Mr. Briggs advised to give the raisin-vines more room, and 

 following his ideas several vineyards as well as his own were planted 

 with the vines ten by sixteen feet. 



R. B. BLOWERS. 



R. B. Blowers of Woodland, Yolo county, planted his first vines in 

 N 1863, and produced his first raisins in 1867. From* 1870 to 1873 he 

 planted the principal part of his vineyard. He was the first one in 

 California to do any really careful packing, and he may justly be said 

 to be the father of the raisin industry in this State. Mr. Blowers was 

 the first to irrigate the raisin-vines by means of pumping and flooding, 

 for which purpose he constructed his afterwards so famous well. The 

 first successful raisin dryer was invented and built by him at a time 



