TWENTY-NINTH FRUIT-GROWERS' CONVENTION. 



129 



includes the cured product of the Seedless Sultana and the Thompson 

 Seedless, which amounts to several thousands of tons annually. 



The area in the State devoted to these varieties of grapes is estimated 

 to be 64,000 acres, but this is probably an underestimate to-day, in con- 

 sideration of the many new vineyards planted in the last few years, 

 which more than counteract the loss by old vineyards being put out of 

 commission by alkali and other causes. The average yield, covering a 

 series of years, does not exceed three-fourths of a ton per acre for the 

 State, proving that a considerable area is devoted to raisin-grape grow- 

 ing that is unsuitable for its cultivation and unprofitable to the owner, 

 as in most raisin districts there are vineyards which are known to 

 produce double, or more than double, that amount. 



The counties of Yolo and Solano have the credit of producing and 

 shipping the first consignment of raisins in merchantable quantities; 

 closely followed by Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange, and San Diego 

 counties, and lastly by the San Joaquin Valley, which, from its favor- 

 able climatic conditions as to dryness of atmosphere and high tempera- 

 ture, combined with abundance of water and suitable soil, has come to 

 the front as the banner raisin district of the State, and in which raisins 

 of the best quality, and largest yield, at the minimum cost of produc- 

 tion, can be obtained by the vineyardist, with probably one exception in 

 favor of Yolo County, where they turn out an excellent quality of 

 Seedless Sultanas. 



The future of the raisin grape and the raisin industry is bright and 

 promising, but success in this industry, as in all others, will come only 

 as a reward for eternal vigilance. The Muscat vine, being one of the 

 choicest and most delicate of the Vinifera family, is liable to suffer first 

 from any adverse influence, and there are many adverse influences 

 waiting to prey upon it. The deadly mysterious disease that swept the 

 vines from the rich district of Anaheim and other southern districts 

 and is now preying upon the vineyards of the Sacramento Valley is 

 probably most to be dreaded, as no known specific has yet been dis- 

 covered for prevention or cure. The minor evils of mildew, oidium, 

 and kindred fungous growths are apt to attack the Muscat in prefer- 

 ence to other and hardier varieties. Then, in the insect world, we 

 have, first, the phylloxera, which is already with us; but conditions do 

 not seem favorable for its propagation at a very rapid rate, and it is 

 principally confined to the heavy red loams; it is probable that this 

 evil can be taken care of by being prepared with resistant stocks to 

 replace its ravages, without diminution of our annual crop of raisins. 

 Then, the lesser pests of cutworms, sphinx worms, grasshoppers, and 

 the thrips, which are always more or less with us and can be easily con- 

 trolled by early cultivation. I have never known injury from this 

 cause where the cultivation destroyed all weed growth in a A'ineyard 

 9 — F-GC 



