WINE-MAKING IN CALIFORNIA. 221 



"The trade for California raisins of good brands through- 

 out the United States has never been as good as this year, 

 and at fair prices. They have been introduced where they 

 have never been known before, and it is now only a question 

 of time when, with care in packing and grading, we will en- 

 tirely drive the imported raisins from America." 



In a letter just received, the same firm puts the actual quan- 

 tity of last year's crop at 750,000 boxes, considerable above 

 their estimate; and estimate this season's pack at 1,000,000 

 boxes, one fourth more than last year. 



The Cailfornia process of raisin curing differs from the 

 European, and is thus described by Mr. N. B. Blowers, one 

 of the veterans in that culture: 



The grape should be allowed to remain on the vine until 

 quite ripe, showing a yellowish or golden color, and being 

 more translucent than when too green. Then they should be 

 carefully picked, and placed upon a drying tray, usually two 

 by three feet in size, and exposed with an inclination towards 

 the sun, in some convenient place, generally between the rows 

 in the vineyard. After- being sufficiently exposed to become 

 about half dried they are turned once .in this manner, viz. : 

 two workmen taking an empty tray, place it upon a full one, 

 holding them together firmly, and with a swinging motion 

 turn them over, and replace the now turned grapes in their 

 former position. The turning should be done in the morning, 

 before the dew is quite off the grapes ; then, when the grapes 

 have become so dry as to loose their ashy appearance, some 

 being a little too green, and others quite dry enough, they are, 

 after removing those that are entirely too green, slid from the 

 tray into large sweat boxes, having a thick sheet of paper be- 

 tween 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 

 the too moist ones have parted with their surplus moisture, 



