1 24 Fruits and Fruit- Trees. 



Nor of the reisins have the wine 

 Till grapes be ripe and well afine."* 



Widely dispersed over the world as the vine is in itself, 

 there are very few localities where the preparation of 

 raisins can be accomplished successfully. Particular kinds 

 of soil are necessary for the vines, and the conditions of 

 climate where the fruit can be cured are rare and limited. 

 For perfect results, the grapes must be dried in the 

 open air, in contact with a dry and heated soil, in an 

 atmosphere void of all dampness, secure from rain and 

 dew, and saturated, for the time being, with the hottest 

 sunshine. These conditions are combined in certain 

 parts of Spain ; at their best, it would seem, exclusively 

 near Malaga. Round about that celebrated city the 

 country is very rugged. Beyond about six miles from 

 the town, every spot where it is possible to insert a vine 

 is utilized. Every hill is covered, especially near the sea, 

 and every bunch is converted into the admirable sort we 

 import under the name of " muscatels." Muscatels are 

 often called " Raisins of the Sun," because originally, it 

 would seem, after the stalks of the bunches had been 

 partially severed, so as to interrupt the natural flow of 

 the sap, they were left upon the tree to dry in the sun- 

 shine before gathering. In Spain, at the present day, 

 the more usual practice is to cut the bunches when 

 properly ripened, then to dry them in the sun, upon hard 

 earthen floors, specially prepared, and which can be 

 covered in case of rain. Two or three other parts of the 



* " Arine," i.e. in perfection. (" Romaunt of the Rose," 3690.) 



