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
As to the profits of a raisin vineyard, the reader will by this time
understand how it might vary, how it must depend upon nice little
circumstances, never foreseen and only to be taken advantage of or
counteracted by the experienced grower. The high statements which have
been given in these pages as samples of how much might be gained from an
acre of raisin-vines can never be counted on as regular. From fifty to
several hundred dollars per acre may be obtained as net profit by care,
skill and favorable circumstances, but an average of seventy-five
dollars per acre can be considered a conservative sum, which the owner
of a good irrigated vineyard may calculate on as a safe net profit. Many
do not reach even that. But, even with that profit per acre, how many
horticultural industries can be counted on to produce better results?
Very few, if any. For the benefit of those who desire figures to guide
them, the following statistics are offered. They have been carefully
compiled in company with T. C. White, one of the most prominent
raisin-growers the State has ever had. These statistics refer especially
to the Fresno district, but they will be found to differ but little from
those elsewhere in this State.
Land suitable to raisins can be had at from fifty to two hundred dollars
per acre. No one not thoroughly acquainted with the requirements of
raisin land should attempt to rely on his own judgment alone in making a
selection.
Vines, already rooted, at from ten to twenty dollars per thousand vines.
An average would be fifteen dollars. The cost of _rooting_ vines is from
one dollar to two dollars and fifty cents per thousand, according to
locality and circumstances.
Cuttings, from two to three dollars per thousand, more or less,
according to size and quality.
Planting rooted vines, one cent per vine. Planting cuttings, half a cent
per cutting.
Plowing yearly, one dollar and fifty cents per acre.
Harrowing, fifty cents per acre.
Leveling land for irrigation, according to the quality of the land.
Leveling the land in from one-half to three-quarter acre checks,
including small ditches, etc., can be done for from ten to fifteen
dollars per acre, if the land is fair. Rougher land will cost
twenty-five dollars or thereabouts, and if the land is rolling and
contains hardpan the expense may reach from fifty to one hundred dollars
per acre. The more “naturally” level the land is the better suited it is
to raisin-vines under irrigation.
Irrigation and cultivation, until the vines come into bearing, including
suckering and pruning, all in large tracts of from forty to one hundred
acres, ten dollars per acre. If in smaller tracts the expense will be
larger.
Pruning when the vines are in bearing, from two to three dollars per
acre.
Sulphuring twice, two dollars per acre. Sulphur costs from two to three
cents per pound. It takes about one ton to twenty-five acres and one man
can sulphur from five to six acres a day.
Topping, about fifty cents per acre.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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