STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 129 



maintained tlieir regular prices, but Alden apples advanced in June to 

 twenty cents net at the factories, and Alden raspljerries sold during the 

 season at from forty-five to fifty cents, and Alden peaches at sixteen 

 cents for unpeeled, and from forty to forty-five cents for peeled. Canned 

 corn, pumpkin and scpiash, which you could buy at your own price in any 

 quantities, demoralized the market for Alden products of those kinds; 

 yet still the sale of even these Alden goods, of good quality, was remun- 

 erative. The cost of evaporation of Alden fruits now is merely a question 

 of fuel, of e.xpense of preparation. The quality and market are established. 

 After five years of experimenting and improving, the machine for the 

 preparation of apples (pared, cored and sliced) has been rendered nearly 

 perfect, and this year, for the first time, its working has been entirely 

 satisfactory. Fuel at the various Alden factories cost this year from one- 

 fourth to seven-tenths of a cent per pound. But now for some statistical 

 facts : 



I have taken some pains to obtain for presentation some condensed, 

 dried facts, from which all the water lias been thoroughly evaporated. 

 In evaporating or drying fruit, as well as in growing fruit, varied success 

 is attained according to the business intelligence, economy, and care of 

 operations, though nearly every -Alden factory this year, that has been 

 operated, has been successful, financially and otherwise. 



I estimate the Alden products for 1875 ^^ 1,500,000 i:)ounds, about 

 a quarter less than last year, owing to the scarcity of fruit in many sec- 

 tions where Alden evaporators are located. Quite a number of factories 

 were operated only a few days, and a few were not opened at all this 

 year, owing to a failure of apples and leading fruits in their vicinity. The 

 demoralized state of the market in canned vegetables, and the poor 

 condition in which some Alden vegetables were placed upon the market, 

 affected the price and sale of Alden vegetables last year, and as a conse- 

 quence less were evaporated this year, though all good Alden vegetables 

 are meeting now a good market for this time of year. The decrease in 

 the amount of Alden vegetables helps to lessen the amount of Alden pro- 

 duct this year. Thirty-one new Alden evaporators were erected in the 

 United States this year, the larger portion being on the Pacific slope — 

 only two being erected in Michigan and four in Ohio. The fruit crop of 

 Oregon was large this year, and they are quite extensively utilizing it by 

 the Alden process. 



I have solicited statements from all the Alden factories in the Missis- 

 sippi Valley as to their business in the year 1875, and have received a 

 large number, of which I will present a few, received within the last few 

 days. The Alden Fruit Preserving Company of Chicago has no interest, 

 directly or indirectly, in any of these factories or evaporators, of which 

 I will present statements. Some of these are owned by individuals, and 

 some by associations or companies. 



Two Alden evaporators at Parma, Mich., consumed and produced as 

 follows : 



Bushels apples evaporated, 4,940 ; cost of apples, $1,730.56 ; cost of 

 labor, $930.64 (this includes cost of packing and of preparation of corn 

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