The Raisin Industry: A practical treatise on the raisin grapes, their history, culture and curingEisen, Gustavus A.
History
The Raisin Industry: A practical treatise on the raisin grapes, their history, culture and curing
Eisen, Gustavus A.
Raisins; Viticulture -- California
_Packing._--The raisins in Malaga are packed by the large growers
themselves, and every such grower packs almost to a man. The generally
accepted idea that a few packers living in Malaga pack all the raisins
is erroneous. This is not the case.[2] Nearly all packers there are also
growers owning their own vineyards. The raisins are all packed in
22-pound boxes or in quarters, etc., according to the demands of the
trade.
[2] According to A. B. Butler.
The various raisin brands packed in Malaga are different according to
the different markets that are to be supplied. Thus for England we have:
Finest Dehesa, three crown; finest Dehesa, two crown; finest Dehesa, one
crown; Dehesa; Choice layers; London layers, three crown; London layers,
two crown; London layers, one crown.
For France again we have: 1 Imperiaux; 1 Royaux; Couches; Surchoix;
Choix; Ordinaire; Surcouches, etc.
The loose raisins or _Brena_ and the seedless or _Escombro_ generally go
to the continent or even to the United States. The old terms Garoon or
Sun are now never used.
For American markets we have: Imperial Dehesa; Royal finest Dehesa;
finest Dehesa; fine Dehesa; Dehesa; London layers, three crown; London
layers, two crown; London loose, one, two and three crown.
Boxes are generally made from fir imported from Portugal, at fifteen
cents each. Of late years, however, they are also received from Canada,
and cost only seven cents each.
_Labor._--The labor in Malaga is the most expensive in Spain, the best
laborer being paid forty cents per day, while in Denia the labor is
obtained for fifteen cents only; but it must be remembered that the
packing of the Malaga raisins is a much more particular work than the
packing of the dipped Denias.
The price paid for Malaga raisins at the packing-house is at an average
of seven cents per pound for the best, or from one to two cents more
than what is paid in California. The lower grades bring from two and a
half cents upwards.
VALENCIA AND DENIA.
_Extent of the Districts._--The Valencia raisins, or, as they are
called, the Lexias or Spanish dipped raisins, are produced in the
province of Valencia, situated on the east coast of Spain. The district
contains three sub-districts, the southern one, the Alicante district,
extending from Villa Joyosa in the north to Elche in the south. The
raisins of the Alicante district are inferior to those produced in the
other districts, both as regards quality and quantity. The most
northerly district is the Valencia district proper, extending from
Cullera in the south to Castellon in the north. North of the latter
place the Muscat grape does not come to perfection, and even within this
district comparatively few raisins are now produced as compared with a
few years ago. But the bulk of all the raisins produced in the province
are exported from Valencia city, and hence these raisins are known as
Valencias, while in reality they come principally from Denia.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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