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TWENTY-NINTH FRUIT-GROWERS' CONVENTION. 



ment when we undertake with $130,000 to meet the expectations of our 

 foreign critics; yet we believe that, by the generous co-operation of the 

 counties and the communities of this State, assisted and encouraged by 

 public-spirited men of the State everywhere, and reinforced by the 

 press, which will lend a helping hand — we believe that when the final 

 exhibit is installed, the result will be a triumph of effort on the part 

 of California, one that will reflect credit on you and result in great 

 benefit to the State. 



On motion of Mr. Stephens, a vote of thanks was tendered to Mr. 

 Filcher for his attendance and for his very able and eloquent address. 



THE RAISIN GRAPE COMMERCIALLY. 



By EGBERT BOOT, of Fresxo. 



The raisin grape, although introduced into this State fifty years ago, 

 has not been of commercial importance more than half that length of 

 time; the total production for the State in 1876 being in the neighbor- 

 hood of 600,000 pounds of raisins, which increased by leaps and bounds 

 up to 1894, when the production reached 103,000,000 pounds, at which 

 time the industry was suffering great depression in consequence of the 

 unorganized producers' eagerness to force a twelve months' supply of 

 raisins on the market in ninety days. The business of the vineyardist 

 became unprofitable, raisins were sold for less than the cost of produc- 

 tion, and many thousands of acres of vineyard were destroyed. This 

 depression existed more or less acutely up to 1898, when the vineyard 

 men organized under the name of the California Raisin-Growers' 

 Association, since which time the business has been carried on on a 

 profitable basis, the production increasing until the high-water mark of 

 115,000,000 pounds has been reached this season. 



The vines from which this large amount of product is derived are 

 among the choicer varieties of Vinifera, imported from Spain, and are 

 known as the ''Muscat of Alexandria" and the ''Gordo Blanco 

 Muscatel''; the latter is distinguished from the Muscat by its lower 

 horizontal growth and its round berries, in contrast with the upright 

 growth and oblong berries of the Muscat of Alexandria. The Malaga 

 grape is also largely cured for raisins, but is destitute of the Muscat 

 flavor, and, being a thicker-skinned, coarser grape, is not so highly 

 prized for this purpose as the Muscat. This reason, and also the diffi- 

 culty of removing the cap stem, make it objectionable as a seeding 

 raisin, but, on the other hand, make it more valuable as a shipping 

 grape for table purposes, and large quantities are annually shipped to 

 supply this demand. It is said also to make an excellent quality of 

 Valencia raisin for cooking purposes. Our raisin production also 



