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
_Pantellaria._--The Island of Pantellaria, between Sicily and Africa,
also produces raisins of somewhat better quality, which, if better
packed, would favorably compare with the Lexias of Valencia and Denia.
The Pantellarias, or Belvideres, as they are known in the market, are
principally consumed in Northern Italy and Southern France. They are
sweet and good raisins, which, if carefully and intelligently handled,
would rapidly improve in quality.
_Calabria._--Since the destruction of the Calabrian raisins through the
mildew, the raisin production of this peninsula has largely increased.
In 1876, it had reached eight thousand tons, but must now probably be
double that amount. The Calabrian raisins produced on the mainland of
Italy are of good quality, and are principally exported to France.
CHILE AND HUASCO RAISINS.
_Characteristics._--The Chile or Huasco raisin is one of the finest
raisins in the world, and in the opinion of the author superior to both
Spanish and California raisins. They excel in sweetness and aroma as
well as flavor; their skin is thin, and the seeds are small. The color
is entirely different from sun-dried California or Spanish raisins,
being yellowish amber with a fine and thin bluish bloom, indicating that
they have been dried in the shade or in partial shade without dipping in
lye or other solutions.
_Location._--The number of acres devoted to raisin culture in Chile is
not known. The grapes for this purpose are grown almost exclusively in
the valley of the Huasco, back of the port of Huasco in the province of
Atacama. There appear to be two distinct valleys of the same name, one
situated only twenty minutes’ ride from the port of Huasco on the
Pacific Ocean, the other farther inland about sixty miles from the
coast. In the former place, the culture of the raisin grape is very
limited, the whole valley and town only containing four hundred people,
of which not all are occupied with the raisin industry. The interior
valley is more extensive, and the largest quantity of the Huasco raisins
come from this place. The port of Huasco is situated in latitude
twenty-seven degrees, thirty minutes south, longitude seventy-one
degrees, sixteen minutes west.
[Illustration: Muscatel or Gordo Blanco Raisin Grape, Second Crop.
Two-thirds Natural Size.]
_Varieties._--The grape used for raisins is a variety of the Muscat,
very similar to the Muscat of Alexandria. Grapevines transplanted to
California resemble this variety very much, but, according to Professor
Hilgard, set their fruit better, and do not suffer so much from colure.
It is said that these grapes were imported to Chile long ago by the
Spanish conquerors, and it is supposed they grew the vines from seed
brought from Spain, and selected the best of the seedlings. In this way
the slight difference of the Huasco grape from the Muscat of Alexandria
can be accounted for.
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