WINE-MAKING IN CALIFORNIA. 223 



During the last year or so, raisin growers have had a net 

 return of from 120 to 200 dollars per acre, and found the 

 industry very profitable, while, when they sell their crop in 

 the sweat boxes, as is the general custom now, they have 

 comparatively light expenses, as compared to the wine maker. 

 The future of the California raisin trade seems to be secured, 

 and with our rainless falls we have superior facilities for dry- 

 ing to any country on the globe. 



It is also an open question yet, whether the heat of the 

 sun, or artificial heat in driers are to be preferred. Without 

 going into this question further, we may rejoice in the un- 

 disputed fact, that every one can make raisins without artifi- 

 cial heat. 



As a further evidence how California raisins are appre- 

 ciated, I copy the following from the New York Mail and 

 Express: 



CALIFORNIA RAISINS AHEAD. 



Competing Successfully With the Spanish Fruit in New York. 



The California raisin has reached such perfection that it is now able 

 to compete successfully with the finest of the Spanish fruit. Already 

 some of the present season's crop is in the market, and presents a hand- 

 some appearance. The loose native Muscatel is now packed by machin- 

 ery, which has enabled the packers to compete with the low-priced 

 manuel labor of Spain. The "steam power stemmer" stems and di- 

 vides the friit into three grades at the rate of 100,000 pounds a day, 

 with the assistance ofabout twenty men. This rapidity of operation 

 would surprise the Spanish packers with their primitive methods of 

 stemming by hand. To this is added a packing machine, which packs 

 the stemmed raisins in boxes of twenty pounds weight each. A well- 

 known handler said this morning : 



"I must acknowledge that this season the California raisins are su- 

 perior to the imported Spanish fruit. The grape crop has been large 

 and fine, the raisins better cured, and, I think, will command nearly if 

 not quite as high a price as the foreign product. Were it not for the 

 Interstate Commerce law, which has increased the cost of transporta- 

 tion from twenty to thirty-five cents a tox, the native fruit could be 

 sold cheaper. It seems strange to me that the government should thus 



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