THE RAISIN INDUSTRY. 15 
F. for three to five hours, after which they are put through a chilling 
process so that the pedicels can be easily removed, and are then 
thoroughly cleaned by being passed through cleaning machines. They 
are then taken by automatic carriers to another room (PI. VITI, fig. 
4), spread out on trays, and exposed to a moist temperature of 130° 
F. to bring them back to their normal condition. The raisins pass to 
the seeding machine, where they are carried between rubber-faced 
rollers and the impaling device of the seeding machine (Pl. VIII, 
fig. 2), which catches the seeds and removes them from the fruits as 
they are flattened between the surfaces of the rollers. The impaled 
seeds are removed from the roller by a whisking device in such a 
way as to be caught in a separate receptacle. The seeded raisins 
pass through chutes to the packing tables (PI. LX, fig. 2) on the floor 
below. 
The seeded or loose raisins are packed in 50-pound boxes; in 1- 
pound cartons, 36 to the case; in 12-ounce cartons, 45 to the case; and 
some in bulk in 25-pound boxes. 
Information has recently been sent out to the effect that the Cali- 
fornia Associated Raisin Co. is arranging to do away with the grades 
in seeded raisins, so there will be only one grade. This contemplates 
using all of the Three Crown, the smallest of the Four Crown, and 
the best of the Two Crown in one blended grade. 
From the seeds, formerly used as fuel, a number of by-products 
are now made.* 
The seeds and pedicels removed from the raisins in seeding vary 
from 10 to 12 per cent of the original weight of the raisins, according 
to their conditions and quality. 
The grading, seeding, facing, and packing have become separate 
branches of the industry, and the work is nearly all done by especially 
trained women, who have become experts at it. The establishments 
in which this work is done furnish employment for over 5,000 persons. 
The aggregate pay roll each month during the season is between 
$200,000 and $350,000. 
1See Yearbook Separate 354, entitled ‘“‘Some Uses of the Grapevine and Its Fruit,” and 
Bureau of Plant Industry Bulletin 276, entitled ‘“‘ The Utilization of Waste Raisin Seeds.” 
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