SHIPPING GRAPES IN SAWDUST 291 



details are given in Bulletin 35, U. S. Dept. Agr., December 31, 

 1913. In 1920 the U. S. Bureau of Markets announced (U. S. Market 

 Reporter, December 11, 1920) that spruce sawdust can be used in- 

 stead of redwood sawdust and that sawdust of fir and other conifers 

 which have a turpentiny savor may perhaps also be used, as the 

 odor departs after the exposure of the fruit to the air for a few 

 hours. As these white-wooded trees grow and their lumber is sawn 

 nearer to the grape-shipping districts than the redwoods are and in 

 greater volume, the availability of their sawdusts may be of con- 

 siderable importance. 



From shipments of 1912 of about thirty carloads, the movement 

 in 1917 reached nearly 500 carloads. The grapes thus handled were 

 chiefly Emperors, Cornichons and others. Thus far it seems to be 

 demonstrated that Muscats can be sold this way until November 

 15th, Malagas until December 15th, Emperors until about January. 

 It is expected that if the Ohanez or Almeria grape is grown, the 

 grape used in Spanish shipping, it can be safely held in storage 

 until April 1. These are questions for the future, for so long asjiny 

 kind of a juic^_grape i s selling at $75 to $100 and more per torTin 

 the vineyard, as in 1920, it is hard to concentrate attention upon 

 such a dryjejiterprise as growing fleshy grapes to pack in kiln-cured 

 sawdust. 



In fact, all aspects of California grape growing have been so 

 upset by prohibition that it is impossible to see the future clearly. 

 It seems reasonable to think that even in its liquid phases, the grape 

 industry of California may attain greatness under prohibition be- 

 yond anything previously achieved. 



