THE PIONEER IN THE RAISIN INDUSTRY. 



235 



DR. R. B. BLOWERS. 



The advantage of the pumping plant 

 rests in command of a water supply at any 

 time needed, and the certainty that no 

 weeds will be distributed by the irrigating 

 water. The fire box in his boiler is calcu- 

 lated to burn straw, peach pits, almond 

 shucks, brush and all the refuse which 

 accumulates so rapidly on a large fruit 

 ranch. 



The accompanying engraving shows a 

 part of Dr. Blower's family sitting by the 

 yucca that thrives where the walnut trees 

 died, and the top of the dryer and the big 

 tank in the background. From the smoke 

 we judge that either the blower or the 

 pump was in active motion. Both are run 

 by the same engine. 



From 1880 to 1886 Dr. Blowers was a 

 very active member of the viticultural 

 commission. Some difference of opinion 

 proceeding in part from his conception of 

 the duty of a State officer to deal impar- 

 tially between localities and to expend 

 judiciously all funds of the State, finally 

 caused his withdrawal from the commis- 

 sion. 



The controversy, as published in the 

 Yolo Mail, of March 27, 1884, the S. F. 

 Merchant, of March 7, 1884, and other 

 publications, reflects great credit upon the 

 sincerity of purpose and discrimination of 

 Dr. Blowers and will prove interesting for 



reference so often as the subject of re- 

 trenchment comes before the Legislature. 

 Industries seeking appropriations need to 

 give a very clear account of their steward- 

 ship. 



At school he learned of the laws of pneu- 

 matics and so continued his studies and 

 applied the principles as to design one of 

 the most comfortable homes anywhere, to 

 act as a pioneer in the artificial curing of 

 raisins and in the later years of his life to 

 develop a plan for transportation of fresh 

 fruit overland without the bulky and 

 costly method of refrigerating by ice. 

 This was carefully outlined in the Pacific 

 Rural Press of December 29; 1893. 



Several investigators are following in 

 the wake of his valuable suggestion and 

 we hope to have very soon in successful 

 operation a method of shipping fruit that 

 will land the products of orchards and 

 vineyards in eastern markets in practically 

 the same condition they left home, at little 

 over half the present cost of transporta- 

 tion. Now we carry about as much weight 

 of ice as fruit. Those promoting improve- 

 ment along these lines have special cause 

 to regret the loss of our friend at the very 

 zenith of his mental activity. 



Although a pioneer in many lines of in- 

 dustrial improvement, and so persistent 

 that almost every one of his ideas was 

 brought to the point of success, this story 

 will show that the last year of his life was 

 more fruitful in practical suggestions and 

 was opening up a wider field of improve- 

 ment than any other. 



Miss Austin, Mr. T. C. White and many 

 others who made brilliant reputations in 

 raisin culture, at Fresno, received from 

 him their first cuttings and elaborate 



THE BLOWERS' DRYER. 



