THE RAISIN INDUSTRY. 11 
produce the 35,356,000 pounds, or $1,206,000 worth, of currants 
it has for 10 years been annually importing. 
CLIMATIC CONDITIONS IN THE RAISIN BELT. 
So ideal are the climatic conditions for the raisin industry, and 
they have such an important influence in drying raisins and other 
fruits, that the temperature and rainfall records of Fresno and 
vicinity, furnished by the Weather Bureau, are herewith given. 
Table IV shows the seasonal rainfall (in inches) for 15 years. 
TABLE IV.—Rainfall at Fresno, Cal., from June to November, 1900 to 191}. 


Year. | June. July. 
1p ARN eh aR SH ip oe Oe el eee RN Sean ne ell 
THOU Sees aaa RS RE Eira tea ae ae ea Trace Trace. 0 0.16 0.33 4.61 
FL () Ngee prs enn Mepis nL GES (AOR Banc ae wees Ae Trace Trace. Trace 59 56 2 86 
SO) Sng See ene ee eck An MRR aAarn ty aero ih oxen Ve Trace 0 Trace 0 42 Pps 
TGCS} Spas Ame a ey eR ee seany Men san Sea SS me Trace 0 0 0 0 . 68 
OA ee eppenee rc ec were es Smile ae 0 0 0 1.78 3574)! .08 
TSO Fass Shee 5 x cee Se ire page Re A iat ee ete 0 0 Trace. 0 .96 
TORS G2 ER a es 0 ON, Trace. Trace 0 Trace. 0 .73 
OD Eater aes en ee Niet ete She fe ae 24 Trace. Trace. 1.08 0 
TUCO RS 05 eal Rt eg tr ae Wa 0 O1 0) 55 . 02 . 66 
OOOM Sars fee tea A. eke . 80 0 0 0 PA 2.79 
TOD 8 pees RN Se LER ae eee ERE Trace Trace 0 1 45 24 
TI eS Ls SO aA oh Trace Trace 0 .O1 - 09 17 
OMe etter eo eas i A fat Se saul one tp aia Trace. Trace. 0 .10 -O1 . 85 
QUIS s Se ate eee a Ree Cr Loe Sees ae ee aes .10 533 Trace. Trace. | ‘Trace. 1.86 
FLOUR eee nee oie, sien irre yn sm © 123 Trace. | Trace. | 20 | 26 ait 
As to temperature it is noted that in the hottest time of the sum- 
mer the mercury has risen as high as 115° F. in the shade. The 
average of the highest daily temperatures is about 100° during July 
and about 98° in August, while the average of the day and night 
temperatures for the same months is about 82°. The nights are always 
much cooler than the days. The coldest weather in winter is 17° F. 
(above zero). The summers are rainless, and the nights are so free 
from dew or moisture that a piece of tissue paper, after lying out all 
night, is crisp and stiff the next morning, without a particle of mois- 
ture showing. 
The rainfall averages 10 inches a year. The principal rains occur 
in January and February, with some showers in October. Fre- 
quently it rains enough in November to cause considerable damage to 
partly dried raisins or grapes. 
HARVESTING AND PREPARING THE CROP. 
Drying is the most ancient and primitive of fruit-preserving 
methods, the dried fruit containing much more nutritive value in pro- 
portion to its bulk than fresh fruit. In the raisin districts of this 
country grapes are ripe by the middle of August, the season often 
lasting into November. The average time necessary for drying and 
curing a tray of raisins 1s about three weeks, depending on the 
