Of course in this case the drying is retarded, the quality of the fruit deteriorates, and the expense and labor of curing are considerably increased.” Two years ago ten thousand tons were thus damaged in the Denia district. While the Mediterranean districts are comparatively rainless during the summer time, still they are far less so than California. The rainy and dry seasons there are less distinct than with us. [5] Consular Reports, No. 41½, June, 1884, page 745. Among the Grecian Islands, the production of currants is confined to only a few localities, principally on account of the untimely rainfall on the other islands. Dr. Davy (_Ionian Islands_, page 320) tells us: “The attempts to extend the culture of the currant to some other islands have been only partial, and attended with doubtful success. This, it is to be understood, is not owing, as has been asserted, to any unfitness of the soil on other islands, as it is analogous on them all, but rather to some difference of climate, especially about the times of ripening, gathering and drying of the fruit, consisting in greater liability to rain, a heavy fall of which is ruinous to the crop, and which, during the period of gathering in the currant islands, is considered a great calamity.” But even in Zante and Cephalonia in Greece, the crop is sometimes greatly injured on account of rain. Thus in 1857 a crop of fifty thousand tons was expected, but disastrous rains in August injured the raisin grapes to such an extent that seventeen thousand tons were totally destroyed, and twelve thousand tons became unfit for anything else than distilling. Malaga in Spain, which of all the districts most resembles California, has undergone similar experiences, both damaging and ruinous.