374 Appendices 



A raisin vineyard bears well in four years from plant- 

 ing, and the fruit is dried in small trays by the sun alone. 

 Each tray makes about seven pounds of raisins, and as 

 there is no dew in raisin-growing districts, the grapes dry 

 by night as well as by day. Experience alone tells the 

 vineyardist when the raisin is sufficiently dried, but the 

 methods are simple and inexpensive. A seeding-machine 

 has been lately invented which extracts all seeds and 

 turns out a raisin fit for a pudding. The inventor has 

 certainly earned the undying gratitude of the busy house- 

 wife. Bare land can be bought at prices ranging from 

 $50 to $200 an acre, and an acre in bearing ought to 

 average year in and year out one ton of raisins. I 

 learn with pleasure that the raisin-growers of Fresno, 

 after a year's experience, have renewed their organisa- 

 tion for two years. Co-operation on the part of small 

 farmers, fruit-raisers, and vineyardists is essential to their 

 prosperity. 



It is almost superfluous to add that no man who is 

 intending to grow raisins should fail to visit Fresno, 

 where he will learn more in a week than he could glean 

 from fifty books on the subject. Fresno is now enjoying 

 somewhat of a boom, owing to the flourishing condition 

 of the Coalinga Oil fields. 



