496 THE VINEYARD. [Sept. 
Methods of curing Raisins. 
R. Twiss, Esq. says, in his travels through Portugal and Spain, 
page 334, " Raisins are of two sorts; those which are called sun- 
raisins are made thus: when the grapes are almost ripe, the stalk 
is half cut through, so that the sap, may not penetrate farther, but 
yet the bunch of grapes may remain suspended by the stalk; the 
sun by darting on them candies them, and when they are dry they 
are packed up in boxes." 
" The second sort is made after this manner; when the vines 
are produced the tendrils or claspers are preserved till the time of 
vintage, a great fire is made, when the trendrils are burned, and 
in the ley made of their ashes, the newly gathered grapes are dipt, 
after which they are exposed to the sun to dry, which renders them 
fit for use." 
Mr. Swinburn in his travels through Spain informs us, that the 
raisins dried on the coast of Valencia are dipt in a ley of wine and 
ashes. 
Preserving Grapes fresh for winter use. 
Grapes may be kept fresh a long time by the following method: 
before the autumn frosts have killed the leaves, let the bunch with 
the shoot be carefully cut off the vine; then let the lower end of the 
shoot be put into a bottle filled with water; which hang up with the 
shoot and branch in a warm room, or in a Green-house. 
The bottle should be filled with fresh clear water every ten or 
twelve days, and at the same time a thin paring should be cut off 
the bottom of the shoot, whereby the pores will be made to imbibe 
the water with greater facility. 
By this method grapes may be kept fresh and good till the mid- 
dle of February. 
Or let the grapes hang on the vines as long as they will continue 
on with safety; the late ripening kinds will be best for this purpose, 
provided they are of good flavour and have attained full maturity. 
When the frosts begin to set in sharp then gather them. Where 
there are several bunches on one branch cut it off, leaving about six 
inches in length, or more, of the wood, according to the distance 
between the bunches, and a little on the outside of the fruit at each 
end; seal both ends of the branch with some common sealing wax, 
or with such as wine merchants use for sealing their bottles with; 
then hang them across a line in a dry room, which is to be kept 
perfectly free from frost, taking care to clip out with a pair of scis- 
sars, any of the berries that begin to decay or become mouldy, which 
if left would taint the others. In this way grapes may be kept fresh 
a long time: if they are cut before the bunches are very ripe, they 
will keep longer, but their flavour will not be so fine. 
Having plenty of fresh grapes in winter makes a great addition 
to the table, and if properly kept they will be of a much superior 
flavour to the imported grapes. 
