STATISTICS OF IMPORTATION, PRODUCTION AND PRICES.
Reading edition
Production of Raisins in California from to 1889:
Twenty- pound boxes.
1873 6,000
1874 9,000
1875 11,000
1876 19,000
1877 32,000
1878 48,000
1879 65,000
1880 75,000
1881 90,000
1882 115,000
1883 140,000
1884 175,000
1885 500,000
1886 700,000
1887 800,000
1888 963,000
1889 1,000,000
The California crop, from 1885 to 1889, was divided between the various raisin districts of the State about as follows:
1885. 1886. 1887. 1888. 1889.
Fresno 107,000 225,000 350,000 440,000 475,000
Riverside and San Bernardino 129,000 195,000 190,000 270,000 265,000
Orange County and Los Angeles County 139,000 180,000 85,000 42,000 8,000
Woodland and Davisville 67,000 75,000 125,000 115,000 120,000
San Diego 10,000 25,000 20,000 40,000 75,000
Tulare 6,000 8,000 10,000 11,000 15,000
Kern — — — — 4,000
Scattering 12,000 15,000 20,000 25,000 25,000
470,000 723,000 800,000 943,000 987,000
Number of Acres in Raisin Grapes in California in 1890:
Fresno district 30,000 acres.
Balance of San Joaquin valley 10,000 “
San Bernardino district 5,000 “
San Diego and El Cajon 6,000 “
Yolo and Solano 8,000 “
Balance of the State 7,000 “
66,000 “
This includes grapes in bearing, as well as vines lately set out.
California and Malaga Prices, Importations, etc., from 1871 to 1889:
The following statistics of prices of California and Malaga raisins have been mostly compiled from various sources, such as the Fresno Expositor, the San Francisco Journal of Commerce, the Fruit Grower, etc. These statistics and notes will give a fair idea of the progress made by the raisin industry in this State since 1873, the year when our raisins first cut any conspicuous figure in the market of this continent. The first struggle of the raisin-producers of this Coast was directed against the importers of Malaga raisins, and against the prejudice of our own consumers. It took about ten years to supersede the Malaga product by our own. The following table gives the importation of Malaga raisins to this State from 1871 to 1884:
Twenty- pound boxes.
1871 16,534
1872 36,153
1873 27,692
1874 35,447
1875 22,228
1876 29,187
1877 13,357
1878 14,824
1879 10,884
1880 3,988
1881 1,719
1882 1,218
1883 633
1884 1,437
1885 800
1886 —
1887 —
1888 —
1889 —
It will be observed that the imports began to fall off in 1875, being that year more than 13,000 boxes short of the preceding year. In 1876 the importations struggled back to 29,187, still being more than 6,000 boxes short of the importations of 1874; and then the battle was practically won, for in the succeeding years the importations dwindled away until in 1883 only 633 boxes were imported. The figures from 1886 to date are not obtainable, but are so insignificant as to be considered unnecessary to record.
1873.
—In 1873 the market was liberally supplied with Malaga raisins, which brought at wholesale the following prices: Layers, whole boxes, $3.00 to $3.75; half boxes, $3.621⁄2; quarters, $3.75; eighths, $4.00 to $4.25; London layers, $4.50.
1874.
—Coming down to 1874, the Malaga still holds the fort, layers bringing $3.25 for whole boxes, and $3.121⁄2 for half boxes, with the customary advance on fractions. In all this time the California raisin was too insignificant for notice, and was not quoted by commercial papers.
1875.
—On January 14, 1875, this significant comment appears in the Journal of Commerce: “A decided change is being wrought in the markets of this coast respecting the use of Malaga raisins, figs, Zante currants, Hungarian prunes, almonds, walnuts, etc. In fact, from this time forward Pacific Coast supplies of bunch raisins and dried fruits generally are to be produced here in large quantities, and in favorable seasons we will doubtless have a large surplus of almonds (hard, soft and paper shells), English walnuts, chestnuts, hickory nuts, raisins, figs, etc.”
On November 4, 1875, it was recorded that up to the 1st of November there had been received 6,000 boxes of California raisins, “the quality generally good,” worth from eight to ten cents per pound, say $2.00 and $2.25 per box of twenty-two pounds net; London layers, $3.50 and $3.75.
1876.
—In January of 1876 Malagas were quoted at $3.25 and $3.50, California raisins bringing ten and twelve and one-half cents per pound. The following comment was made at that time, which may be considered as another mile-stone in the progress of the California industry: “Malaga raisins have been imported to very much less extent the present than last season, owing to the large products of California cured, which latter have amounted to upwards of 30,000 boxes, about one-half of which have been of prime quality, suitable for table use, a portion being poorly cured and considerably inferior to the imported, but have sold at lower rates for ordinary cooking purposes.”
The California raisin was now fairly on its feet, so to speak, and was in lively competition with the Malaga dried grape. The market reports spoke well of Blowers’ California Muscatels and Briggs’ bunch raisins. The jobbers, however, were loth to give up the Malaga; but to sell that article they had to import an extra choice quality, as the public was beginning to show a marked preference for the home product. In proof of this the following extract, dated November 9, 1876, is given: “The quality of the Malaga raisins now here is superior to any ever before imported, and have a preference over our best California raisins. This, however, will not always be the case, as experience makes perfect, and in a few years we will be entirely independent of the Old World for all sorts of dried fruits.”
1877.
—In November, 1877, very complimentary notice is made of Blowers’ layer raisins from Woodland, which brought $2.75 and $3.00 per box. Briggs’ raisins were worth $2.25 and $2.70. This extract, dated January 18, 1877, is still another landmark in the raisin industry: “The consumption of raisins has been fully up to the average of past years, yet divided between Malaga imports and our own California production. Of the latter, upwards of 20,000 boxes have been already marketed; and, had it not been for the unusual and unexpected heavy rainfall in October, there is every reason to believe that our home crop of bunch and layer raisins would have reached 50,000 boxes of twenty pounds each. Blowers’ Muscat raisins were superior and in every way equal to the imported. Briggs, of Marysville, also turned out several thousand boxes of bunch, and others have made a creditable beginning. Enough has been done here in this line to satisfy our grape-growers that raisin-curing is to be, in the near future, a prominent California interest, and, to do it successfully, the sun-drying process is infinitely superior to that of machine-drying. Sheds must be erected and prepared in time to protect the fruit from early rain, and then the working process is sure to all who have the right kind of grapes. Then uniform weight in twenty, ten and five pound boxes, all handsomely put up in fancy papered boxes, and California then will be prepared to secure all the raisin trade west of the Rocky Mountains, and a good part of that of the Eastern States. As it is, those of our merchants importing Malaga raisins from New York confine themselves to London layers and others of the best and choicest quality, leaving the home market to be cared for, in a great measure, by those of our own production. As a result, raisins have ruled low all the winter, and are likely to do so for a long time to come.”
1878.
—In 1878 several carloads of California raisins were sent to Chicago, New York and Boston, and were well received by the trade. In October of that year, California layers were bringing $2.50 and $3.25. Imports had fallen away more than forty per cent from the figures of 1874.
1879.
—In 1879 the ruling prices for California raisins, in lots of 250 boxes and upwards, were: Common layers, $2.00 for wholes, $2.25 for halves, $2.50 for quarters, $3.00 for eighths; London layers, $2.25 to $2.50 for wholes, $2.50 to $2.75 for halves, $2.75 to $3.00 for quarters, $3.25 to $3.50 for eighths.
1880.
—In October, 1880, the following quotations were made: Briggs’ layers, $2.00 and $2.75 per box. California raisins, in lots of 250 boxes and upwards, common layers, $2.50 and $2.25 per box; London layers, $2.50 per box.
1881.
—In November of 1881, Malaga ruled high in the East, and in consequence prices were generally higher here, quotations for the California article running $2.50 for wholes, $2.75 for halves, $3.00 for quarters, and $3.25 for eighths, in lots of one hundred boxes. London layers, twenty-five cents per box more.
1882.
—In 1882 prices ran $2.371⁄2 and $2.75. During all the period just reviewed, the duty was two and a half cents per pound on raisins; but in March, 1883, the duty was reduced to two cents, and yet importations for that year were only 633 boxes,—a rather singular fact. The reduction in duty does not seem to have had a very bad effect on prices, because, as is easily evident from the small importation, no competition to speak of was encountered in the local market, and, as in that year the imports at New York from Spain were many thousands of boxes short, Eastern competition was reduced to a minimum. Prices here ruled through the year at an average of from seven to eight cents a pound, anything especially choice bringing better prices.
1883.
—In 1883 California made a big stride forward in packing and curing, and fancy raisins were put up in layers and cartoons. The Dehesa brand and other fancy brands made their appearance, and as high as one dollar was paid for quarters of five pounds each, and T. C. White’s and Miss Austin’s brands became famous.
1884.
—In 1884, the year following that in which the duty was reduced to two cents, the following prices prevailed:
In January the following quotations are recorded: Malaga layers, $3.50 for wholes, $5.00 for halves, and $5.50 for quarters in frames. Valencia raisins, fifteen cents per pound. Loose Muscatels, $1.60. London layers, $4.00. Briggs, wholes $2.50,—usual advance of twenty-five cents on fractions. Blowers, wholes $——, quarters $3.50, eighths $3.75. Other raisins, $2.50 in large lots; quarter and eighth boxes twenty-five cents higher.
In August the following were the quotations: Malaga layers, $3.50 for wholes, $4.00 for halves, and $4.50 for quarters in frames. Valencias, fifteen cents per pound. Loose Muscatels, $1.90. London layers, $3.00. Briggs, wholes $1.40, halves $1.75, quarters $2.25, eighths $2.75. Blowers, wholes $2.25, halves $2.50, quarters $2.75, eighths $3.00.
In October the following quotations are to be found: Common layers, $1.00 to $1.25 for wholes, $1.50 for halves, $1.75 for quarters, $2.25 for eighths. London layers, $1.35 to $1.50 for wholes, $1.95 for halves, $2.00 for quarters, $2.50 for eighths.
In November, 1884, the following comment is made: The California raisin pack will probably be 100,000 boxes. There would have been much more but for the October rains, that prevented proper curing. The crop in Europe is short, too, and prices are much higher than they were a year ago. It is said that 15,000 boxes have been sold for the East. We quote: Malaga layers, $3.75 for wholes, $4.00 for halves, and $4.50 for quarters in frames. Valencia raisins, fifteen cents per pound. Loose Muscatels, $1.90. London layers, $4.00. Briggs, wholes $1.75, halves $2.00, quarters $2.35 to $2.50. Blowers, wholes $2.00, halves $2.25, quarters $2.50, eighths $2.75. California layers, wholes $1.50, halves $1.75, quarters $2.00.
1885.
—In 1885 the market showed a gratifying ability to absorb at profitable rates a good article, for prices ran: California common layers, $1.75 for wholes, $2.00 for halves, $2.25 for quarters. Briggs, wholes $2.00, with an advance of twenty-five cents on fractions. Blowers, $2.25 for wholes, with an advance of twenty-five cents on fractions.
1886.
—In 1886 quotations show that only extra choice Malagas were imported, and that, too, for a limited trade. Prices were: Malaga layers, $4.00 for wholes, $4.25 and $4.75 for halves and quarters. Valencia raisins, fifteen cents per pound. London layers, $3.00. California layers, wholes $1.75,—usual advance of twenty-five cents on fractions. Briggs, wholes $2.00, halves $2.25, etc. Blowers, wholes $2.25,—usual advance on fractions.
For 1886 the market is reviewed as follows: The past year has been the greatest for California dried fruit that the State has ever seen. There has been an increase in every item, and a specially heavy increase in the matter of raisins, the production of which has increased so fast that they have become a leading article of merchandise. Where we were large importers and generous consumers, more in proportion to our size than any one else in the world, we have almost totally ceased importation and are among the largest producers and exporters in the world, next to Spain itself. The total receipts of imported raisins at New York for the season of 1886-87 were as follows: 911,816 boxes of Valencias, 427,936 boxes of Malagas, 400 half boxes of Malagas, 88,657 boxes of Sultanas. The California pack is this year almost doubled, and shows great improvement in quality and packing.
1887.
—In October, 1887, prices were quoted as follows: London layers, per box, $2.00 to $2.25. Loose Muscatels, from $1.50 to $1.80.
Riverside, El Cajon and Fresno raisins of excellent quality are now in the market, and Butler and Forsyth raisins in Fresno begin to rival the very best imported brands. Many large packing-houses are established in Fresno, Riverside and El Cajon.
1888.
—The pack reaches in California 850,000 boxes, and the Fresno as well as the Riverside raisins are very large and choice. Forsyth and Butler raisins take the lead, some of the choicest layers bringing as high as one dollar per five-pound quarter box. Only 112,000 boxes of Malaga raisins are imported to the United States.
In October, 1888, the following prices were obtained for imported raisins at auction sale in New York: 645 boxes best London Layers, $3.25 to $3.121⁄2; 348 Imperial Cabinets, $3.35 to $3.20; 200 fine Dehesa Bunches, $4.50 to $3.75; 50 Imperial Dehesa Bunches, $5.65; 104 Dehesa Bunches, $4.05 to $4.00; 100 Finest Selected Clusters, $4.45 to $4.40; 50 Finest Royal Clusters, $4.75; 3 Imperial Excelsior Dehesa Loose Muscatels, $5.00; 140 Imperial Loose Muscatels, $3.30 to $2.15; 1 Imperial Excelsior Dehesa Clusters, $5.50; 9 Imperial Dehesa Clusters, $5.121⁄2 to $5.00; 2 Dehesa Dessert Fruit, $4.10; 1,194 Finest Valencia Layers, 81⁄8 to 8 cents; 899 Finest Valencia Raisins, 7 to 63⁄4 cents; 150 half boxes Finest Valencia Layers, 81⁄8 to 8 cents; 246 boxes Finest Sultanas, 81⁄4 to 8 cents.
At the same time California layers were quoted at from $1.80 to $2.25 for medium grades, while for Dehesa and Imperial quarter boxes from eighty cents to one dollar were realized. Raisins in sweatboxes were bought by packers at five cents per pound, prices not rated according to quality.
1889.
—The crop of 1889 was not as large as at first calculated, on account of loss through unusual and heavy rains. It was especially the second crop which suffered. The first crop was good, and brought good prices, average layers bringing from $1.75 to $2.25 per box of twenty pounds. Great improvement is made in packing and labels, and our average raisins are better than the average imported Malagas. Our choicest layers, however, do not yet equal in size, curing and packing the choicest Malagas, and no efforts have been made to compete with them. There are at least four higher grades packed in Malaga which we do not produce here. During last season raisins in sweatboxes have ruled higher than before, and have been bought by packers at from three to seven cents.
1890 (to July).
—The crop promises to be as large as last year. It is greatly in demand, and representatives of Eastern and California dealers have already bought up the most of the coming crop at prices averaging one-half a cent more per pound than last year.
From the above statistics we learn that through the production of raisins in California the price of sun-dried raisins to the consumer on this coast has been lowered from $3.00, $3.75, $4.00 and $4.50 in 1873 to $2.00 and $2.50 in 1890. The importation of Malaga raisins in the United States has greatly diminished, while that of Valencia or “dipped” raisins has increased. In 1873, the United States imported 35,271,312 pounds of raisins, for which it paid $2,292,948, while in 1888 our importation was 40,340,117 pounds, or about five million pounds more, for which we paid $2,098,503, or about $200,000 less.
Exports of Valencia Raisins from 1850 to 1889, according to English estimates:
Year. Eng- land. Ame- rica. Other Places. Total Tons.
1850 9,423 165 — 9,588
1851 8,491 285 787 9,563
1852 8,844 320 — 9,164
1853 7,883 99 70 8,052
1854 7,206 296 50 7,552
1855 7,464 736 85 8,285
1856 8,909 — 12 8,921
1857 9,485 — — 7,900
1858 13,542 654 182 14,378
1859 9,546 163 113 9,822
1860 7,257 2,831 454 10,542
1861 8,072 63 143 8,278
1862 7,564 — 238 7,900
1863 12,290 125 100 12,515
1864 8,655 38 182 8,875
1865 9,863 362 12 10,237
1866 12,735 403 473 13,611
1867 12,701 668 177 13,546
1868 14,293 3,095 794 18,182
1869 8,434 1,857 25 10,316
1870 10,060 2,210 110 12,380
1871 12,578 5,210 625 18,413
1872 15,677 4,088 535 20,300
1873 10,796 2,960 710 14,466
1874 13,724 5,513 439 19,676
1875 12,568 6,590 595 19,753
1876 15,272 3,816 676 19,764
1877 — — — —
1878 — — — —15
1879 15,231 9,525 1,244 26,100
1880 13,026 8,977 892 22,895
1881 17,507 10,169 969 28,625
1882 18,121 21,593 1,732 41,346
1883 19,644 16,722 3,983 40,349
1884 10,210 9,686 4,289 24,185
1885 10,250 9,397 3,596 23,243
1886 15,194 15,687 16,113 36,994
1887 16,648 18,831 3,479 38,958
1888 15,524 12,245 4,655 32,424
1889 12,000 14,645 1,724 27,369
Exports of Malaga Raisins from 1864 to 1889:
Year. U.S. British Colon’s. Great Britain. France. North Europe. South Am. Sun- dries. Total Boxes. Total Tons.
1864 879,794 45,906 258,458 137,379 59,659 109,741 209,000 1,200,000 13,200
1865 879,794 75,708 269,072 171,743 64,319 96,658 255,000 1,800,000 19,800
1866 907,305 72,208 220,756 178,862 62,076 115,305 191,000 1,750,000 19,250
1867 966,724 96,124 166,737 129,391 58,222 116,762 135,000 1,670,000 18,370
1868 1,053,726 125,407 222,426 163,306 64,262 103,082 215,000 1,950,000 22,450
1869 767,321 58,265 175,602 117,612 82,472 67,634 80,800 1,350,000 14,850
1870 1,331,937 120,039 216,015 90,193 57,687 113,755 270,000 2,200,000 24,200
1871 1,147,633 98,817 183,916 161,123 69,800 87,242 274,000 2,200,000 24,200
1872 1,325,705 95,024 383,890 230,046 72,788 119,042 — 1,920,000 21,120
1873 1,368,822 45,495 241,325 196,239 99,424 — 140,000 2,500,000 27,500
1874 1,320,000 43,490 240,000 200,000 99,500 — — 2,160,000 23,760
1875 976,000 42,000 271,000 203,000 98,000 — 98,000 1,670,000 18,370
1876 1,321,000 52,000 357,000 276,000 115,000 — 91,000 2,252,000 24,772
1877 1,250,000 56,600 250,000 300,000 100,000 — — 2,200,000 24,200
1878 1,182,088 58,242 194,471 330,767 99,661 98,429 211,000 2,180,000 23,980
1879 1,146,228 30,598 237,659 368,420 107,888 63,688 170,000 2,125,000 23,372
1880 1,115,101 46,717 174,126 297,412 108,222 75,456 197,000 2,015,000 22,165
1881 1,043,727 31,730 141,415 251,382 101,828 81,196 147,000 1,800,000 19,800
1882 967,571 38,431 176,349 277,253 130,646 98,007 178,000 1,200,000 13,200
1883 — — — — — — — — —
1884 — — — — — — — — —
1885 — — — — — — — — —
1886 — — — — — — — — —
1887 — — — — — — — 850,000 9,350
1888 — — — — — — — 850,000 8,250
1889 120,000 — — — — — — 750,000 —
First Cost of Crop of Valencia Raisins, according to the “California Fruit Grower:”
1884, from $4.00 to $6.00 per hundred pounds.
1885, “ 5.00 to 6.00 “ “ “
1886, “ 3.00 to 5.00 “ “ “
1887, 4.00 “ “ “
1888, from 2.00 to 4.00 “ “ “
1889, 3.50 “ “ “
Production and Distribution of Smyrna Raisins from 1844 to 1884, according to U. S. Consular Reports:
1844 8,000 tons.
1868 19,000 “
1871 48,000 “
1872 31,000 “
1879 75,000 “
1881 49,000 “
1884 95,000 “
According to English estimates, the raisin crop of Smyrna only reached 27,000 tons in 1876, and was divided as follows:
Red Raisins.—Chesme 5,100 tons.
Red Raisins.—Vourla 5,000 “
Red Raisins.—Yerly 2,800 “
Red Raisins.—Carabourna 1,600 “
14,500 tons.
Sultanas.—Chesme 7,400 tons.
Sultanas.—Vourla 3,100 “
Sultanas.—Yerly 1,150 “
Sultanas.—Carabourna 800 “
12,450 tons.
26,950 tons.
This crop was distributed as follows:
Red Raisins.—England 2,699 tons.
Red Raisins.—North of Europe 6,488 “
Red Raisins.—Trieste 2,260 “
Red Raisins.—Russia and Turkey 2,995 “
14,442 tons.
Sultanas.—England 7,945 tons.
Sultanas.—North of Europe 1,525 “
Sultanas.—Trieste 2,820 “
Sultanas.—Russia, etc. 285 “
12,575 tons.
27,017 tons.
The World’s Raisin Production in 1889:
Greece 125,000 tons.
Smyrna 120,000 “
Valencia 28,000 “
Lipari, Calabria and Pantellaria 15,000 “
California 10,000 “
Malaga 8,000 “
Scattered 5,000 “
Chile 1,000 “
312,000 tons.
The above does not include dried wine grapes from Italy, California and Algiers, nor any raisins made in Australia (Victoria).
Statement Showing the Quantity and Value of Currants, Figs and Raisins Imported and Entered for Consumption in the United States from 1873 to 1878:
Year Ending June 30. RAISINS. CURRANTS, Zante and All Other. FIGS.
Quantity. Value. Quantity. Value. Quantity. Value.
Pounds. Dollars. Pounds. Dollars. Pounds. Dollars.
1873 35,271,312 2,292,948 83 14,141,797 566,386 49 7,995,035 506,205 45
1874 36,419,922 2,544,605 95 19,319,191 752,694 00 5,630,292 391,300 16
1875 30,501,316 2,443,155 50 19,334,458 771,384 56 4,659,860 357,823 99
1876 32,221,065 2,425,277 14 20,911,061 856,425 62 5,056,779 361,835 53
1877 32,419,637 2,109,333 60 17,152,664 749,488 00 5,889,011 398,982 22
1878 32,931,736 1,904,866 13 17,941,352 776,827 00 3,873,884 262,428 15
Statement Showing the Quantity and Value of Currants, Figs and Raisins Imported and Entered for Consumption in the United States, with Rates of Duty, etc., from 1879 to 1888:
RAISINS.
Year Ending June 30. Quantity. Value. Rate of Duty. Amount of Duty Col- lected. Addi- tional and Discrim- inating Duty.
Pounds. Dollars. Per lb. Dollars. Dollars.
1879 38,523,535 1,943,941 14 21⁄2 c. 963,088 42 92 51
1880 39,542,925 2,274,763 00 21⁄2 c. 988,573 19 48 43
1881 39,654,755 2,711,771 74 21⁄2 c. 991,368 94 80 50
1882 43,779,867 3,260,033 74 21⁄2 c. 1,094,496 71 —
1883 51,487,389 3,495,599 45 21⁄2 c. 1,287,184 77 20 70
1884 56,676,658 3,543,916 15 2 cts. 1,133,533 15 52 70
1885 39,778,695 2,728,847 46 2 cts. 795,573 90 247 35
1886 37,999,306 2,782,599 76 2 cts. 759,986 12 50 00
1887 40,660,603 2,297,469 30 2 cts. 813,212 06 34 00
1888 40,340,117 2,098,503 00 2 cts. 806,802 34 80 10
CURRANTS, Zante or Other.
Year Ending June 30. Quantity. Value. Rate of Duty. Amount of Duty Col- lected. Addi- tional and Discrim- inating Duty.
Pounds. Dollars. Per lb. Dollars. Dollars.
1879 17,405,347 520,831 07 1 ct. 174,053 47 —
1880 18,007,492 600,603 40 1 ct. 180,074 92 —
1881 21,631,512 845,773 00 1 ct. 216,315 12 —
1882 32,592,231 1,388,886 00 1 ct. 325,922 31 —
1883 31,171,171 1,247,504 00 1 ct. 311,711 71 —
1884 32,743,712 1,220,575 16 1 ct. 327,437 12 —
1885 25,534,507 723,415 00 1 ct. 255,345 07 —
1886 22,623,171 744,784 00 1 ct. 226,231 71 117 80
1887 29,196,393 1,062,326 00 1 ct. 291,963 93 —
1888 30,636,424 1,176,532 76 1 ct. 306,364 24 —
FIGS.
Year Ending June 30. Quantity. Value. Rate of Duty. Amount of Duty Col- lected. Addi- tional and Discrim- inating Duty.
Pounds. Dollars. Per lb. Dollars. Dollars.
1879 3,369,475 247,075 06 21⁄2 c. 84,236 89 —
1880 6,266,413 440,507 00 21⁄2 c. 156,660 34 —
1881 3,420,427 379,382 55 21⁄2 c. 85,510 72 —
1882 8,874,186 678,341 87 21⁄2 c. 221,854 70 —
1883 5,345,324 489,108 38 21⁄2 c. 133,633 09 —
1884 7,840,634 504,532 02 2 cts. 156,812 68 —
1885 7,774,492 516,083 63 2 cts. 155,489 84 6 50
1886 6,988,642 499,985 80 2 cts. 139,772 84 —
1887 8,752,898 488,632 00 2 cts. 175,057 96 137 00
1888 9,965,584 495,541 50 2 cts. 199,311 68 —
Statement of Consumption of Currants and Raisins per Head of Total Population in 1884:
United Kingdom of Great Britain. 4.38 pounds.
United States of North America. 1.70 “
Prices Ruling in the California Raisin Districts:
It is not my intention to give here a regular prospective estimate of the cost of a raisin vineyard and the profits to be derived therefrom. Such an estimate, applicable to every case, cannot be made out; about it not two raisin-growers with equal experience would agree. Below I simply give isolated statistics of costs of the various operations necessary in the raisin industry. Each one can figure for himself, and my advice is to add liberally to the calculated expenses, if disappointment would be avoided.
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.
Trays, twenty-four by thirty-six inches, cost ten cents in shooks, nailing one cent, nails one cent, total about twelve cents per tray.
Sweatboxes, fifty cents apiece when ready.
Packing-boxes: Wholes of twenty pounds, in shooks, six cents, nailing and nails two cents, total eight cents each. Halves of ten pounds, in shooks, four cents, nailing and nails one and one-half cents, total five and one-half cents. Quarter boxes of five pounds, in shooks, three and one-half cents, nailing and nails one and one-half cents, total five cents each.
Twenty pounds of layer raisins will contain about one-half pound of stems.
Cost of curing cannot be calculated. It depends upon the manner in which it is done.
Picking: One man can pick from twenty-five to fifty trays of twenty pounds each a day, at a cost of say from two to three cents per tray, or about a half a ton of grapes a day, equal to a cost per ton of two dollars and fifty cents. This places the grapes on the trays, but does not assort them. By assorting the grapes when picking, the cost is increased, but better raisins and more good raisins are obtained.
Turning: Two men can turn twenty acres of grapes a day.
Packing London Layers: One man can pack “carefully” ten wholes or forty trays (of five pounds each) per day. Cost about twelve and a half cents per box.
Packing Dehesas: One man can pack ten quarters of five pounds each a day. Cost twelve and one-half cents per quarter box. This includes facing.
Packing Loose: One man can pack one hundred boxes per day.
Facing-plate (T. C. White’s): Large plate, size nine by eighteen inches, five dollars per plate. Cartoon plate, size five by ten inches, two dollars and fifty cents per plate.
Manilla paper for sweatboxes, one hundred and fifty pounds per ream at fifteen dollars per ream, size thirty-six by forty-eight. The sheets to be cut in two to fit the boxes.
Stemming: Steam stemmers can separate and assort fifty tons a day. Hand stemmers run by two men can separate about five tons per day.
Papers for boxes cost, according to quality, three cents per box, more or less.