222 GRAPE CULTURE AND 



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, the surplus stems and berries cut away ; then 

 the average raisins are arranged in and weighed, placing five 

 pounds in each frame and pressed, but not enough to break the 

 skin. They are then passed to an inspector, who examines the 

 exposed side 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 

 plate and it drops 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 berries or too wet ones 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 then the sides are folded over, the 

 box cover nailed on, and they are ready for market. 



The favorite varieties for raisins are the Muscatelle Gordo 

 Blanco, or Muscat of Alexandria, while a very fine seedless 

 raisin, but much smaller, is made from the Sultana. The 

 Corrinths, white and black, so far have not proven sufficiently 

 successful here to warrant their extensive culture. 



There is a difference of opinion yet among raisin men, 

 whether irrigation is absolutely necessary or not. The irriga- 

 tionists claim that the berries are larger, more uniform and 

 showy, while the other side claims finer flavor and more deli- 

 cate bloom. Not being a raisin grower myself, I am not able 

 to decide which is right, but most of the raisins so far have 

 been produced under a system of irrigation. 



