R. B. BLOWERS.
R. B. Blowers of Woodland, Yolo county, planted his first vines in 1863, and produced his first raisins in 1867. From 1870 to 1873 he planted the principal part of his vineyard. He was the first one in California to do any really careful packing, and he may justly be said to be the father of the raisin industry in this State. Mr. Blowers was the first to irrigate the raisin-vines by means of pumping and flooding, for which purpose he constructed his afterwards so famous well. The first successful raisin dryer was invented and built by him at a time when every one else doubted the propriety and desirability of drying grapes by artificial heat, and the dryer thus constructed has never yet been surpassed. One of the characteristics of the Blowers dryer was the blower or suction fan, by which means the air was changed in the dryer, the moist air being sucked out, while dry air was allowed to rush in. Mr. Blowers improved nearly every branch of the raisin industry, and studied every operation, such as plowing, irrigation, curing and packing, more thoroughly than any one ever did before or has done after him. Mr. Blowers’ raisins were the best in the State at their time, and wherever exhibited received the first premium. At the World’s Fair at Philadelphia, they received the first premium, and attracted much attention. I may add that Mr. Blowers is the inventor or at least the perfector of the “face-down” method of packing, the best method for packing raisins. Mr. Blowers has published a short essay on raisins, referred to [elsewhere] in this book.