230 AMERICAN GEAPE GROWING 



from the trays into large sweat boxes, having a thick 

 sheet of paper between every twenty-five or thirty pounds 

 of raisins; then they are removed to the storeroom, 

 where they should remain two weeks or more. When 

 ready to pack, it will be found that those which were 

 too moist, have parted with their surplus moisture, 

 which has been absorbed by the stems and drier raisins. 

 The stems are now tough, and the raisins soft and ready 

 to pack. They are carefully placed in frames made of 

 iron or steel, the large and fair ones being carefully 

 placed in the bottom of the frames and the surplus stems 

 and berries cut away ; then the average raisins are ar- 

 ranged in and weighed, placing five pounds in each 

 frame, and pressed, but not enough to break the skins. 

 They are then passed to an inspector, who examines the 

 exposed sides of the raisins, removing all imperfect ones, 

 then placing the wrapper paper on the frame, holds it in 

 place with a wooden or steel plate, turns it bottom up, 

 drops the left end into the box, slides the plate quickly 

 from under the raisins, and they drop into the box; 

 then pressing slightly upon the movable bottom of the 

 frame, the frame is removed. The bottom of the frame 

 is then pressed more firmly, to cause the raisins to fill 

 the space formerly occupied by the sides and ends of the 

 frame ; then it is removed, and the face of the latter is 

 exposed, all imperfect or too wet berries are removed, 

 and all vacancies or hollows filled with large, loose 

 raisins. The label of the proprietor is then placed on 

 the face, the ends of the wrapper and the sides are folded 

 over, the box cover is nailed on, and they are ready for 

 market." 



There is a difference of opinion yet among raisin 

 growers as to whether irrigation is absolutely necessary. 

 The irrigationists claim that the berries are larger, 

 more uniform and showy; while the other side claims 

 finer flavor^ more sugar^ and more delicate bloom. Not 



