2 BULLETIN" 349, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



State to successfully produce raisins. This was in 1867, but it was 

 not until 1873 that their raisin crops became an important factor in 

 the market, when they amounted to nearly 6,000 boxes. In 1873 

 Judge J. W. North planted the first Alexandria {Muscat of) grapes 

 at Riverside, and three years later raisin-grape growing had become 

 general. R. G. Clark planted Muscats in El Cajon Yalley in 1873, 

 but most of the vineyards of that district were not planted until 1884 

 to 1886. In the fall of 1873, 25 acres of Alexandria were planted 

 in the Eisin vineyards near Fresno, and in 1875 the McPherson 

 brothers made their first plantings near McPherson. The industry 

 grew so that Robert McPherson, the largest grower, became at one 

 time not only the largest packer and dealer in the district but the 

 largest then in the State. In 1876 W. S. Chapman imported material 

 of the best obtainable Muscat grapes for the Central California 

 Colony in Fresno County, which, however, proved to be the same as 

 those planted in 1873. In 1876 and 1877 T. C. White planted the 

 Raisina vineyard with Gordo Blanco (muscatel), and in 1877 and 

 1878 Miss M. F. Austin planted the same variety at the Hedge Row 

 vineyard. Cuttings of Sultanina were received in 1878 by W. T. 

 Thompson, of Yuba City, Cal., from Elwanger & Barry, Rochester, 

 N. Y., and described by them as the Lady de Coverly, from Con- 

 stantinople. The so-called Feher Szagos is said to have been found 

 growing in California and was christened by a Hungarian, who 

 claimed to recognize the variety as one he had known in his native 

 land. The Butler vineyard, which was then one of the largest, was 

 planted in 1879. Col. William Forsythe began raisin growing in 

 1881 or 1882. 



In 1873 the entire State of California produced 120,000 pounds of 

 raisins; in 1875, 220,000 pounds; in 1880, 1,500,000 pounds; and in 

 1885, 9,400,000 pounds. In 1887 Fresno County produced 7,000,000 

 pounds, and raisin growing was recognized to be its leading in- 

 dustry. 



The figures in Table I, taken from the reports of the California 

 State Board of Agriculture and the United States Department of 

 Commerce, showing the California crop and the quantity and value 

 of exports and imports, will prove interesting and serve to show the 

 growth of the industry. As the practice has been not to produce 

 more than enough raisins to supply the demand, the difference be- 

 tween the crop produced and the quantity exported will show the 

 consumption of home-grown raisins in this country. It is also of 

 interest to note, as shown in this table, that in general as the produc- 

 tion of raisins in California has increased exports have increased 

 and imports have correspondingly decreased. 



