The literature of the raisin industry is a very scant one, and as far as
I have been able to ascertain not a single work especially devoted to
this industry has appeared in any language. The various cyclopedias
contain articles on raisins, but they are all more or less confused and
unreliable, and of no great use to any one who wishes only reliable
information, and who must depend upon the same for practical purposes.
As regards California, much information has been given about raisin
growing and curing in almost every newspaper published in the State. To
mention them all would be to enumerate all the papers of the Pacific
Coast. I can here refer only to a few of the principal ones, where the
student who has time and inclination to follow up the subject may find
material for a more detailed history of the raisin industry than the one
I have written.
First among these papers I must mention the _Pacific Rural Press_,
edited by that distinguished horticulturist, Professor E. J. Wickson,
and published by Messrs. Dewey & Co. of San Francisco. In the files of
this weekly, from 1873 to the present time, 1890, may be found scattered
many interesting articles referring to our subject. A paper
contemporaneous with it was the San Francisco _Merchant_, which
contained many interesting articles on raisins and raisin grapes,
especially during the period from 1881 to 1887. In the issues of the
_Press and Horticulturist_ of Riverside, San Bernardino county,
California, we find during a series of years occasional notes and
articles referring to the raisin industry of that section of the
country. As regards the Santa Ana and Orange county district, the
Anaheim _Gazette_ will prove the most reliable guide, as recording the
rise and decline, and, as we believe, also the revival, of the raisin
industry of that section. The Yolo _Democrat_ and the Woodland _Mail_
published at Woodland, Yolo county, have devoted much space to the
raisin industry of that section. In Fresno county the Fresno
_Republican_, between the years 1882 and 1887, contained weekly a
separate department for viticulture and horticulture edited by the
author of this book, and that paper has ever afterwards devoted much
space to recording the progress of the raisin industry of the country.
The Fresno _Expositor_, the oldest paper in Fresno county, has contained
much information about raisin grapes and vineyards since 1873, when the
first raisin-vines were planted in the county. During the period from
1888 to 1890, this paper contained almost daily editorials upon the
raisin industry, mostly contributed by this author.
The California _Fruit Grower_, a weekly horticultural paper mentioned
below, has since its beginning a few years ago made dried fruit its
specialty, and has contained many important articles on our industry,
and in its columns may be found the most reliable raisin statistics
published in this State. The San Francisco _Examiner_ contained in 1888
a series of articles on raisins, contributed by this author. The San
Francisco _Chronicle_ has from time to time given much space to the
raisin industry, and its horticultural editor, George F. Weeks, has most
ably contributed to the dissemination of knowledge about our California
raisins. A special raisin edition of this paper appeared February 2,
1890. Another San Francisco paper, the _Journal of Commerce_, contains
much information as regards raisin statistics and the progress of the
raisin industry generally, and its files may be consulted with much
interest and profit. Among Eastern journals I wish only to call
attention to the _Fruit Trade Journal_ published at New York up to date
(June, 1890); it contains weekly statistics of raisin sales, etc., all
of great interest to the grower and packer. An important contribution to
the history of the raisin industry is the work by Professor E. J.
Wickson,--“California Fruits, and How to Grow Them.” It contains several
chapters on grapes, most conscientiously written and very reliable. This
book will always remain as a standard work of reference upon the
subject. Professor E. W. Hilgard has during a number of years published
essays upon topics related to our industry, all most valuable to the
practical grower. They are enumerated below.
I may also mention the _Rural Californian_, published in Los Angeles. It
devotes from time to time some space to the raisin industry of the
southern part of the State. In the Reports of the State Board of
Horticultural Commissioners will be found several papers upon the raisin
industry, all mentioned below. Similarly the Reports of the State Board
of Viticultural Commissioners contain several important and very
interesting essays on raisins, etc., which are duly mentioned below. In
these reports we find articles by T. C. White and W. B. West and others,
as well as interesting discussions by growers. The _California_, a
journal of rural industry, which commenced publication this year (1890),
and is issued weekly and monthly, makes the raisin industry a specialty.
It has already contained many articles contributed by our most
successful growers, such as A. D. Barling, T. C. White, A. B. Butler,
Frank Ball, Wm. Forsyth, etc., and also by this author. In the way of
illustrations, California is fortunate to possess a most exquisite work
on grapes. We refer to the very fine colored prints of California grape
varieties published by Edward Bosqui. Among the number are our Muscat of
Alexandria and Seedless Sultana. Each one of these plates is a work of
art, than which there is nothing superior produced anywhere.
Below follows an enumeration of books, which to a greater or less degree
refer to the raisin industry. For access to many of them I am indebted
to the kindness of the proprietor of the Sutro Library, Mr. Adolph
Sutro, of San Francisco, and to his librarian, Mr. George Moss.
ANSTED, D. T.: Ionian Islands in 1863. London, 1863.
ARQUIMBAU, JOHN D., United States Consul at Denia: Raisins in Denia.
United States Consular Reports, No. 41½, pages 681 and 682. 1884. Mr.
Arquimbau is the largest packer in Valencia.
AUDIBERT, JOSEPH: Les Raisins Secs. Paris, 1884. This work treats
almost exclusively of dried grapes imported from Turkey and Greece to
France for wine-making.
BALL, FRANK H.: My Work in the Raisin Vineyard. MS. to be published in
_California_ for July, 1890.
BARLING, A. D.: Culture and Curing. In Vol. I, No. 4, of monthly
_California_, a Journal of Rural Industry, El Verano, Cal.; also in
same weekly No. 14, April 12, 1890.
BEAUJOUR, F.: Tableau du Commerce de la Grèce. Paris, 1880.
BLOWERS, R. B.: Report on Raisin-making in California. First Annual
Report of the State Board of Viticultural Commissioners. San
Francisco, 1881. Pages 13 to 15.
BORDE, ANDREW: Breviary of Health. 1542.
BULLETIN, THE SAN FRANCISCO: Published by Messrs. Pickering and Fitch,
San Francisco. The Bulletin was the first of the large San Francisco
papers to devote time and space to the horticultural and viticultural
interests of California, and its weekly issues between 1875 and 1890
have been full of valuable information upon these subjects.
CALIFORNIA, a Journal of Rural Industry: Published by The California
Company, San Francisco. Gustav Eisen, Horticultural Editor. Contained
a series of articles on Raisins, by the author, commencing January,
1890, to date (June, 1890).
CHAMPIN, AIMÉ: Vine Grafting. Translated by J. H. Wheeler, in Second
Annual Report of the Chief Executive Viticultural Officer to the Board
of State Viticultural Commissioners for the year 1882-83, Appendix
III. Sacramento, 1883.
CHIPMAN, GEN. N. P.: Report Upon the Fruit Industry of California.
Published by the Board of Trade. San Francisco, 1889.
CHRONICLE, THE SAN FRANCISCO: Published by M. H. de Young, San
Francisco. This large daily paper contains in the weekly and Sunday
issues much valuable information about horticultural subjects. The
issue of Feb. 2, 1890, was especially devoted to the raisin industry,
and was most ably edited by George F. Weeks, its horticultural editor.
COLMET: Dictionary of the Bible. 1838. Grapes of Eschol, seedless.
CORYAT, THOMAS: Crudities. London, 1776.
DAVY, JOHN: Notes and Observations on the Ionian Islands and Malta.
London, 1842.
DIRECTORY OF THE GRAPE-GROWERS AND WINE-MAKERS OF CALIFORNIA; compiled
by the State Board of Viticultural Commissioners of California.
Sacramento, 1888.
DODOENS, REMBERT (Dodonaeus Rembertus): Histoire des Plantes. Antwerp,
1557.
DOWLEN, E.: Several Reports on the Mysterious Vine Disease to the
State Board of Viticultural Commissioners of Cal.; published in the
San Francisco _Merchant and Viticulturist_ during 1889-90. These
reports of carefully conducted experiments are highly interesting.
EISEN, GUSTAV: Raisin-grape Growing. A series of articles on the
Growing, Curing and Packing of Raisin Grapes. Published in the San
Francisco _Examiner_, both in the daily and weekly, during the months
of September and October, 1888; also a series of articles on Raisins,
in _California_ for 1890.
ENGLISH SOURCES: Under this heading I have referred to a pamphlet on
Dried Fruits, by an unknown English author, privately printed and
circulated. The part pertaining to raisins is very detailed and
contains much information of which I have made free use in this book.
It was kindly placed at my disposal by Mr. Thomas Nelmes, of Pasadena.
The book being without title and the author unknown, I cannot refer to
it in any other way. The pamphlet appears to have been printed in
1876.
EXAMINER, THE SAN FRANCISCO: Published by W. R. Hearst, San Francisco.
Contained during the months of Sept, and Oct., 1888, a series of
articles upon Raisin-grape Growing by the author of this book. In
March, 1890, appeared a special Fresno number, with much information
about the raisin industry (author unknown).
FARLOW, W. G.: On the American Grapevine Mildew. Bulletin of the
Bussey Institution, March, 1876. Boston, Mass.
GALLOWAY, B. T.: The Journal of Mycology. Published by the U. S.
Department of Agriculture, Washington. Several volumes published in
serial to date, 1890. Contains articles on Grape Fungi, etc.
GRASSET DE SAINT SAUVEUR, JACQUES: Voyage dans les Iles et Possessions
des Venetiennes. Paris, 1800.
GROCER AND COUNTRY MERCHANT, THE SAN FRANCISCO: Published by Briggs
and Harrington, San Francisco. Devotes much attention to raisins, as
well as to other rural industries of California.
HACKLUYT, RICHARD, REV.: Principal Navigations, Voyages and
Discoveries made by the English Nation. London, 1589.
HARKNESS, H. W.: Fungi on the Pacific Coast. Bulletin of the
California Academy of Sciences. Vol. II, 1886 to 1887. San Francisco,
1887.
HARTEMA, LUDOVICUS DE: In Hakluyt. Principal Navigations, Soc. ed., p.
77. Mentions seedless raisins from the Town of Reame in Arabia Felix.
HEAP, G. H., United States Consul-General at Constantinople: Fruit
Culture in Turkey. United States Consular Reports, No. 41½, pages 726
to 740. 1884.
HILGARD, E. W.: Alkali Lands, Irrigation and Drainage, etc. University
of California, College of Agriculture, Appendix VII, Report for the
year 1886. Sacramento, 1886.
---- Investigation of California Soils. Appendix I, Report of the
Professor in Charge, etc. University of California, College of
Agriculture. Sacramento, 1882.
---- The Rise of Alkali in the San Joaquin Valley. University of
California, Agricultural Experimental Station, Berkeley, Cal. Bulletin
No. 83.
---- Abnormal Deposits on Vine Leaves. In _same_. Bulletin No. 70.
---- Mysterious Death of Vines. _Same._ Bulletin No. 70.
---- Sulphuring of Vines. _Same._ Bulletin No. 56.
---- Irrigation, Drainage and Alkali. Bulletin No. 53.
---- Examination of Tule, Marsh and Alkali Lands. Bulletin No. 28.
LE BRUN (or BRUYN) CORNEILLE: Voyage au Levant, Delft, 1700. Mentions
seedless raisins in Persia.
LITHGOW, WILLIAM: Adventures and Peregrinations. 1614.
LOCKE, JOHN: Histoire de la Navigation. Paris, 1722.
MARSTON, H. C., United States Consul at Malaga: Fruit Culture in
Malaga. United States Consular Reports, No. 41½ pages 682 to 689.
1884.
---- Malaga Raisins. United States Consular Reports, No. 10.
Republished in said Reports, No. 41½, pages 691 to 693. 1884.
MAS ET PULLAT: Le Vignoble. Paris, 1876-77. On page 73, tome I, we
find a figure of a Muscat of Alexandria with round berries, and which
undoubtedly is nearly related to the Gordo Blanco. It is not the true
Muscat of Alexandria. As synonyms are given Gordo Blanco and (Don
Simon Roxas is referred to as authority) also Uva Zibeba. The latter
is undoubted the same as our Muscat of Alexandria. Another synonym is
Muscatel Romano, which again is only another name for Gordo Blanco.
The French authors have undoubtedly everywhere confounded the two
varieties. In the same work, page 31, tome I, we also find the White
Corinth referred to as the currant grape of Zante, which is erroneous.
MORYSON, FYNES: Itinerary, containing Twelve Years’ Travels through
Turkey, France, etc. 1617.
NIEBUHR, CARSTENS: Description de l’Arabie (Trans, from German).
Copenhague, 1773. Mentions “Kishmish” seedless raisins from Arabia.
NOUVEAU DUHAMEL ou Traité des Arbres et Arbustes. Paris, 1815. On pl.
No. 65, tome 7, figures Muscat d’Alexandria. This variety differs from
our Muscat of Alexandria by having the berries less tapering, like
the “Malaga.” On pl. 72, tome 7. there is a figure of White Corinth,
but the bunch is too loose to be characteristic.
PACIFIC RURAL PRESS: Edited by Prof. E. J. Wickson. Published by Dewey
& Co., San Francisco; weekly. It contains in its pages occasional
references to the raisin industry. The issue of Mays, 1877, contained
an article on Huasco Grapes of Chile.
PALLAS: Voyages dans pl. Provinces de l’Empire de Russie. I, b 13,
“Kyshmish” seedless raisin grapes from Astrachan.
PIERCE, N. B.: The Mysterious Vine Disease. Essay read before the
State Horticultural Convention in Los Angeles, March, 1890. Published
in _California_, a Journal of Rural Industry, Vol. III. No. 18, pages
2 and 3, 1890.
PLINIUS: Historia Naturalis. Lib. xiv cap. iv, _a_, mentions _raisins_
such as Duracinæ and Amineans; cap. ii, _b_, Muscadella and Apiariæ;
_c_, Corinth grapes.
RANDOLPH, BERNARD: Present State of Morea, Island of Zante, etc. 1689.
REPORTS OF THE STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF CALIFORNIA: First Raisins
Produced in California. Sacramento, 1863. Page 88.
REPORTS OF THE STATE BOARD OF HORTICULTURE OF CALIFORNIA: Biennial
Report for 1885 and 1886; also Appendix for 1887. Sacramento, 1887.
---- Third Biennial Report. Sacramento, 1888.
---- Official Report of the Tenth Fruit-growers’ Convention of the
State of California, etc. Sacramento, 1889.
---- Official Report of the Eleventh Fruit-growers’ Convention, etc.
Sacramento, 1889.
---- Annual Report of the State Board of Horticulture. Sacramento,
1890.
RICHARDSON, CHARLES: Dictionary of the English Language. 1836.
ROXAS, DON SIMON: Essai sur les Variétés de Vignes de l’Andalusia.
Gordo Blanco is here designated as the raisin grape of Malaga.
SCRIBNER, F. LAMSON: Report to the Mycological Section of the
Department of Agriculture. In the Reports of the Department of
Agriculture. Washington, D. C., 1886.
STEVENS, W. E., United States Consul at Smyrna: Fruit Culture in Asia
Minor. Pages 744 to 748 of United States Consular Reports, No. 41½.
June, 1884.
STURTEVANT, E. LEWIS: Seedless Fruits. Memoirs Torrey Bot. Club, Vol.
I, No. 4. New York, 1890.
TABLADO, JOSÉ HIDALGO: Tratato del Cultivo de la Vid, y Modo de
Mejorarla. Madrid, 1873. This, the standard authority on viticulture
in Spanish, refers only briefly to the Gordo Blanco as the raisin
grape of Malaga, and gives as synonyms Muscatel Romano and Muscatel
Real, but the description of the grape is unsatisfactory.
TAVERNIER, JEAN BAPTISTE: Six Voyages in Turquie, etc. 1676.
THE CALIFORNIA FRUIT-GROWER: Published by B. N. Rowley, San Francisco;
weekly Horticultural Journal. Contained during 1889 and 1890 several
articles on raisins, among others: White Muscat of Alexandria, in No.
2, Vol. VI; Statistics of Malaga Raisins; also article on Currants, by
L. C. Crowe, etc.
VERNGE, F. DE LA: Mémoire sur la Maladie de la Vigne. Bordeaux, 1853.
I Pl.
WARNER, RICHARD: Antiquitates Culinariæ, 1791. Mentions “The Forme of
Curry,” 1390. a work in which “Raysons of Coraunte” are first
mentioned in English.
WEST, W. B.: Raisin-making in Spain. First Annual Report of the State
Viticultural Commissioners. San Francisco, 1881. Pages 33 to 39.
---- Raisins and Shipping Grapes. Essay read before the Third Annual
State Viticultural Convention in San Francisco, December, 1884.
Published by the San Francisco _Merchant_ in 1884.
WHEELER, J. H.: Bleaching Seedless Sultana Raisins. Annual Report of
the Board of State Viticultural Commissioners for 1887. Sacramento,
1888.
---- Grafting to Muscats. Appendix 14 to the Annual Report of the
Chief Executive Viticultural Officer for the year 1888. Sacramento,
1888. Contains reports from forty-eight grape-growers as regards their
views and success with the grafting of muscats.
WHELER, SIR GEORGE: Journey in Greece. 1682.
WHITE, T. C.: Raisins--Drying, Packing and Preparing for the Market.
Report of Sixth Annual State Viticultural Convention of California.
Sacramento, 1888.
WICKSON, E. J.: California Fruits, and How to Grow Them. Dewey & Co.,
San Francisco, 1889. This, the standard work on fruit-growing in
California, contains much reliable information about the raisin
industry of California.