Good vineyard or raisin land can be had for seventy-five dollars per acre. No vineyards in bearing have changed hands. Last year’s (1888) pack of the whole of San Diego county was variously estimated at from twenty to thirty thousand boxes, and this year at sixty thousand boxes of twenty pounds each.
The unanimous verdict of the best growers in El Cajon is that want of moisture is the greatest drawback to raisin culture there. And I agree with them in this, but also think it might to some extent be remedied, as water for irrigation is close at hand. At last I must say a few words as to the quality of the El Cajon and Sweetwater valley raisins. They are very sweet, highly flavored, the skin is thin, and the seeds are small and few. But while some of the berries are of very large size, there are comparatively few which would be considered large, and even the best bunches have too many small berries. The grapes that had plenty of water were simply magnificent, and a general irrigation system would greatly improve the size of the grapes, as well as the quality of the crop. The best selected raisins from this valley must be counted as among the very best. The constant fog injures the bloom on the raisins to some extent, and most raisins that I saw were in this respect deficient; but their color generally was very good. The Sweetwater valley raisins are in this respect finer than those of El Cajon; they are also farther inland, and have less fog. The Escondido raisins are said to be superior, but I saw none of them. While many vines have been planted in this locality of late, only one or two small vineyards are in bearing.
OTHER RAISIN DISTRICTS.
Of late raisin grapes have been planted in considerable quantities in Salt river valley and in Gila river valley in Arizona, but the outcome of the venture is yet unknown, at least to us. The growers of Arizona claim for their localities the advantage of great earliness, as the grapes ripen there in July, or a month earlier than in California.
In the Argentine Republic in South America it is said that the Spanish immigrants have planted many raisin grapes during the last few years. In Australia we are also informed that dipped raisins, and perhaps even sun-dried ones, have been produced, but even there the result is unknown to us. So far these raisins have cut no figure in the general market, but it is not improbable that many localities in those vast countries will be found where Muscat grapes can be profitably grown and cured.
CLIMATIC CONDITIONS, SOILS, LOCATION AND IRRIGATION.
CLIMATIC CONDITIONS FAVORABLE AND UNFAVORABLE TO THE RAISIN INDUSTRY.
Limits of the Raisin Districts.
—It is an interesting fact, and by no means a coincidence, that the raisin districts of the world are found on or between the same latitudes. Thus we find the California districts between latitudes 32°, 75´ and 38°, 75´. The latitude of Smyrna is 38°, 28´, 7´´, that of Malaga in Spain 36°, 75´, Valencia 39°, 25´, Denia 38°, 50´, the Grecian Islands and Morea 37° and 38°, and finally Huasco in Chile 28° south latitude. That the latter place is situated so much farther south or so much nearer the equator cannot exactly be considered exceptional, as it conforms with the general characteristics of the Southern hemispheres as compared with those on the northern half of the globe. In Europe the Muscat grape for raisin purposes is not a success north of the fortieth degree of latitude. While the limits in California and Chile are not yet fully ascertained, it may be presumed that, as far as regards this country, these limits will not differ very much from those of Spain and Asia Minor. Only years if not centuries of experience will finally decide where and where not raisin grapes can be grown and cured to perfection. While the vines and the grapes can be grown in many places, the proper curing of the raisins is attended with more or less difficulty in the various districts. With proper modes of curing the grapes, and by protecting them from the inclemencies of the weather, the limits of the successful raisin districts may be extended considerably both north and south.