_General Remarks._--The Muscatel and Sultana raisin grapes grow almost
everywhere in the State, and it is therefore natural enough that the
planting of raisin-vines should have increased considerably of late
years, even in localities situated outside of those raisin districts
mentioned, which have already made a success of the raisin industry.
Below will be found a few notices from various such places which aspire
to raisin fame, some of which have yet to make their reputation in this
line. These notices are partly taken from the San Francisco _Chronicle_,
which paper went to the trouble and expense of collecting such
statistics at the beginning of the year. It must be remembered, however,
that these statements are more or less approximate. As will be seen, all
these localities here mentioned lie in the interior or the Sacramento
valley proper, enjoying an inland climate. The climate in this valley is
somewhat like that of the San Joaquin valley, of which it is an
extension. Only the heat in summer is less, the rain in winter is more
profuse, the showers in the spring of the year are later and those of
the fall are earlier.
_Placer County._--At Rocklin J. P. Whitney has two hundred and fifty
acres of raisin grapes, and is the largest raisin-maker in the county.
There are not over three hundred and fifty acres of Muscats devoted to
raisin-making in the county, and the total output this year was about
four hundred tons, most of which was shipped directly East. The first
carload of Muscat raisins sent East was shipped from the Whitney
vineyard about ten years ago. A large area of Muscat and other vineyards
will be planted this season, but none for raisin-making.
_Yuba County._--The raisin industry has received but little attention in
Yuba county, although it has long been known that raisins of superior
quality can be produced here. The area in raisin-vines is about three
hundred acres, which will probably be increased by several hundred acres
this season. Less than a hundred acres are in bearing. The raisin
vineyards planted last season are chiefly at Colmena, midway between
Marysville and Wheatland. The Muscatel grape is planted to some extent,
but the favorite grape is the Thompson Seedless, a new variety of great
promise.
_Sutter County._--The raisin industry of Sutter county dates back to the
year 1876, and the venture was first made by the late Dr. S. R. Chandler
three miles south of this city. The area now in raisin vineyard is about
six hundred acres, three-fourths of which are in bearing. The crops
marketed and prices received are about as follows: Three thousand
twenty-pound boxes at $1.65 per box; eight hundred sacks of one hundred
pounds each, at five cents a pound; five hundred and twenty-five sacks
of dried grapes of one hundred pounds each, at three cents a pound. The
home consumption is extensive, but is not estimated. The county is well
adapted to raisin growing and curing, and received the second prize at
the late Oroville State Citrus Exposition. Muscatel and Thompson
Seedless are the favorite grapes. The soil of this county is very rich
and warm, and no irrigation has been practiced.
_Colusa County._--In the immediate vicinity of Colusa there are about
one hundred and fifty acres in bearing, and fully one hundred acres more
will be set out the coming season. The crop of raisins in 1888 was very
insignificant; but in 1889 the Colusa canneries packed forty tons in
boxes. The prices ranged from $1.75 to $2.25 per box, according to
quality. These figures refer only to the territory lying within a radius
of eight miles of Colusa. Some of the finest raisin grapes in the county
are grown near College City, and the entire output was at least eighty
tons of raisins. Many of the people around Orland are reported as going
into the business on a large scale. The ranchers in and near the
foothills are also producing raisins of excellent quality. A single
vineyard of fifteen hundred acres is being planted in one place in the
foothills.
_Butte County._--While Butte produces a fair quality of raisins, her
vineyards are yet young and are just coming into bearing. The older
vines are those of General Bidwell, at Chico, covering about one hundred
acres, and those of Oroville and Mesilla valley, embracing about the
same area. A large number of young vines have been set out during the
past two years, and these number 52,200 near Oroville, 77,480 at
Palermo, 67,200 at Thermalito, 20,570 at Wyandotte, 25,000 at Central
House, 50,500 at Gridley, and something over 50,000 near Chico. These
have nearly all been planted within the past two years, but a limited
number are three years old. In the foothills are a number of small
vineyards, but it is impossible to ascertain the acreage and product,
though the total of each is not large. Practically the bearing vines of
Butte number between 300 and 400 acres. The one and two year old
vineyards embrace about 350 acres, so that a conservative estimate for
the total raisin vineyards of the county, young and old, would be 700
acres. The raisins are all boxed and sold directly by the vineyardists,
the local demand taking nearly the whole crop. The area to be planted
this year will not exceed 250 acres.
_Tehama County._--The area planted to grapes in Tehama county is over
ten thousand acres. The greater part of the fruit grown is used for
wine, and probably one-third for raisins. All the raisins produced here
are packed in boxes, and a large portion is used in home consumption,
while the remainder is shipped. Probably about ten thousand boxes in
bulk and packed will cover the yield.
_Shasta County._--The raisin industry of Shasta county is only in its
infancy. There are 147 acres planted to raisin grapes within a radius of
fifteen miles from Redding. The largest acreage of raisin grapes is in
Happy valley. There are patches of grapes all through the foothills.
Probably not over one thousand boxes of raisins were shipped. The
planting of raisin grapes continues every year. Raisins are made by many
small growers, and sold here at an average of six cents per pound.