_The Influence of Irrigation on the Soil._--It is by many considered that irrigation helps to fertilize the soil. The spring and flood water contain great quantities of mud and humus, which when spread over the land will greatly increase its fertility. Even ordinary river water contains salts and other ingredients, which will fertilize the soil to no small degree. Another cause of the increased fertility of subirrigated soils is that the water which constantly evaporates carries with it salts, etc., from the lower strata up towards the surface, and makes them accessible to the roots of the vines. But, on the other hand, if the water or the soils contain alkalies or other destructive substances, these also are deposited on the surface to the great detriment of the vines, and often to such an extent that the vines will die or become sickly. Too abundant flooding may also leach out of the soil its soluble salts, and carry them deeper down in the ground. But if this soil after a while fills up with water and becomes subirrigated, the evaporation of water from the surface will gradually carry these salts back to the surface, when they will increase the fertility of the soil. Where drainage is very perfect, constant irrigation will gradually rob the soil of many of its soluble salts, and carry them to places where they will forever be out of the reach of the vines. To ascertain these facts and conditions, every vineyardist should have the soil analyzed about every five years, and too great care cannot be taken to keep the soil of proper strength. Another influence of irrigation on the soil may also be mentioned here. Some of the soils in the irrigated districts which were formerly very hard and difficult to work have in course of time changed and become mellow. The water has undoubtedly caused a chemical and mechanical decomposition of the components of the soil, which has caused it to continually improve. Even certain kinds of hardpan have been known to dissolve when irrigated, and to change into useful and mellow soil, in which the vines can find nutriment. Such hardpans are those which are generally found in very dark red soils; those in lighter soils are not so readily dissolved. THE RAISIN GRAPES. _Introductory Notes._--The raisin grapes might be divided into two classes,--proper and genuine, such as Muscats, Sultanas and Currants, and irregular or inferior raisin grapes, such as Malagas and Feher Szagos. Now-a-days almost any kind of grapes are dried and sometimes called raisins, but the proper name for them should be dried grapes. With these we need not here busy ourselves, as with a few exceptions they are of little value, and cannot be compared with the regular raisin grapes, either as regards quality, demand or price.