Mr. Briggs was the first large raisin-grower in the State, and owned
vineyards in both Solano and Yolo counties aggregating seven hundred
acres or more. Subirrigation by means of perforated pipes, in which the
water was made to circulate under pressure, was first tried extensively
in Mr. Briggs’ vineyard at Davisville, by which means the grape crop was
almost doubled. Later on Mr. Briggs planted extensively in the
Washington Colony at Fresno, but he died before his vineyard there came
into bearing. He is said to have imported raisin grapes direct from
Spain, and a grape now growing in the vineyard of G. E. Freeman at
Fresno is said to be of that variety. It resembles the Muscat of
Alexandria in growth, but the berries are those of the Gordo Blanco. Mr.
Briggs advised to give the raisin-vines more room, and following his
ideas several vineyards as well as his own were planted with the vines
ten by sixteen feet.