STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 217 



The quality of the dried peaches this year, as a whole, has run good, al- 

 though in some sections the product was damaged by untimely showers 

 which blackened the fruit during the drying process. There is no fruit 

 produced in the world in the way of a peach like the California in size or 

 in flavor, and when properly prepared for market it realizes the highest 

 prices in all the markets of the Union. The market for our dried peaches 

 and dried apricots, of all kinds, for that matter, has been and is constantly 

 extending, and where heretofore we have been largely dependent upon one 

 or two large western markets to move our surplus, the demand is now 

 becoming universal all over the Union. The planting of peach orchards 

 still continues in every portion of the State, but with the increased demand 

 before noted for our green and dried fruit, not only from our own country 

 but from every country in the world, there is no possible chance of over- 

 doing the business, although the fancy margins that have been realized by 

 many of our large orchards may not always be obtained. 



Sun-dried Pitted Plums. — Such low prices have been ruling on this fruit 

 for two or three years that growers became very much dissatisfied and fed 

 their fruit to the pigs, let it rot, or sold it to the canners at whatever they 

 could get for it. The result was a small outturn of dried pitted plums. 

 This, however, brought about increased prices, and what packers realized 

 for such stock as was prepared, should show a nice, margin to the pro- 

 ducers.* We go out of the year with a very light stock here, and it is quite 

 likely that another year supplies will be more ample. For trade who like 

 a tart fruit, there is nothing grown anywhere superior to the California 

 pitted plums. 



Sun-dried Pears. — We report a small quantity dried this year, owing 

 partially to a shortage of the crop of proper varieties and also a good de- 

 mand for canning purposes; like apples, the demand for pears nowadays 

 is largely running on evaporated bleached fruit, which have a fair steady 

 jobbing demand and brings fair returns to the producer. We recommend 

 that all growers of this fruit bleach it, and the common sun-dried un- 

 bleached fruit be done away with. 



Dried Grapes. — There has been quite a large increase in the quantity of 

 this fruit this year. The California dried grape not only makes a good 

 cheap cooking raisin, but it also makes an excellent table sauce when 

 properly prepared. It is produced principally from the Mission and Zin- 

 fandel grape, and as its excellence is becoming better known, the trade for 

 this fruit is constantly extending. Putting these grapes up dried, affords 

 another outlet to all growers of grapes of these varieties who find a dull 

 market in selling them for wine purposes. It also gives them an outlet 

 and relieves them from any squeezing on the part of the wine makers. 



Sun-dried Nectarines. — No finer fruit is grown in California than the 

 nectarine. In fact, it is one of the choicest produced in this State. It 

 has, however, been greatly neglected by the trade generally. This prin- 

 cipally has come, no doubt, from a lack of knowledge of the superiority of 

 this fruit. Wherever the nectarine has been used, it is noticed that dupli- 

 cate orders follow. In our opinion the nectarine, in flavor, is superior to 

 the apricot or peach, and we hope to see the time when they will rank 

 equal in price with either of these fruits and be taken freely. There are 

 many sections in California where the nectarine is produced most abun- 

 dantly and of the most luscious fruit. 



