Additional Notes for 1890. 



The first crop suffered considerably from mildew and climatic conditions unfavor- 

 able to the setting of the grapes. The second crop, however, is large and very 

 good, and altogether the yield is a satisfactory one. The prices have ruled higher 

 than before and raisins in sweatboxes have been contracted for readily at from 5^ 

 to 6J^ cents per pound or even higher. Wine grapes dried here sold for 3 to 4 

 cents per pound, and Malaga and Feherszagos raisins have brought from 4 to 5 

 cents. No such prosperous year has before been experienced by the raisin men of 

 this State, and reports come in that many growers are realizing from $250 to $450 

 per acre from vines in full bearing. 



The weather all through the summer has been unusually temperate and thus very 

 favorable to the full development of the grapes, and so far the drying weather has 

 been very favorable for the proper curing of the raisins. Many new packing 

 houses have been established, and the crop is being better cared for than in previous 

 years. The health and general condition of the vines is better than it was last 

 year and .the vine plague is less virulent, and according to some reports even on 

 the retrograde. The demand for the raisin product has never been as large as 

 now and there will apparently be no surplus left over, as the demand is rapidly 

 increasing. The above refers especially to the central part of the State, to Merced, 

 Fresno, Tulare and Kern counties, where the prosperous season will encourage 

 increased planting. In Southern California the crop will be fair both in quality 

 and quantity. In El Cajon valley it is reported as very good, and as being one-hal f 

 larger than last year. Prices here ruled to begin with at from 4^ to 5 cents but 

 rose rapidly to 5^ and 6 cents in sweatboxes. 



The duty on raisins has this fall been raised from 2 cents to 2>< cents per pound, 

 which insures an additional profit to the raisin men. 



Rain-fall of iSSy-go. The rain-fall of 1889-90 in the Central and Northern 

 raisin districts of California was as follows : 



The above figures are from the " tables of rainfall in the principal agricultural 

 counties" of California, compiled and published by Albert Montpelier, Esq., 

 Manager of the Grangers' Bank, San Francisco, but no report is made of the rain- 

 fall in the counties of San Bernardino and San Diego, and statistics of those 

 counties are not at hand. 



Duty on Raisins. The revised tariff of 1890 makes the duty on imported 

 raisins 2^2 cents per pound, an increase of ^ cent on the old schedule. Currants, 

 Zante and others, are now on the free list and pay no duty. 



