APPENDIX II. 375 



and Roquevaire in Provence are the principal places devoted to 

 this culture. Zante in particular is distinguished for the Corinth 

 grape, or currant. 



The process most commonly employed for the preparation of 

 raisins is the following : 



When the fruit approaches maturity, the stem of the bunch is 

 twisted, and the leaves are removed in part from the branch in 

 order to expose the grapes to the influence of the sun's rays, in 

 order to favor the action of the essential principles and diminish 

 the superfluous moisture. The grapes are gathered at the 

 proper time, aad the spoiled berries are carefully removed. 



After which the clusters are left upon hurdles exposed to the 

 sun for one day. The next day a boiling ley is prepared from 

 the ashes of the burnt vine cuttings, to which are added some 

 handfuls of lavender, rosemary or other aromatic herbs. A 

 bunch is plunged three times in succession into this ley. If the 

 berries are slightly cracked, the ley is strong enough, but if 

 they are much craclced, it is too strong. When it is properly 

 prepared it is allowed to cool and settle ; it is then strained 

 through a linen cloth and a second time placed over the fire. 

 When it boils, each bunch is dipped into it three times in suc- 

 cession. They are then spread on the hurdles, which are 

 exposed to the sun during the day and taken into the house at 

 night. The raisins are commonly completely dried at the end 

 of two or three days. 



The Zante grapes undergo a different treatment. They are 

 cut some days after they have attained their complete matu- 

 rity. They are deposited on hurdles very close together, or on 

 cloths placed in the full sun. When the berries preserving tlie 

 pedicle begin to be detached from the main stalk, they are 

 lightly beaten with little sticks, in order to hasten this result. 

 They are then passed through a sieve in order to separate them 

 from the stems, and lastly subjected to the action of a fan or 

 winnowing machine, in order to remove the dust and rubbish. 



