206 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



the Union. Our peach-growers will always have a sure outlet for their 

 product dried, when they cannot sell it at a fair price in a green state, hut 

 overripe, burnt fruit must be picked out and never mixed with the bright 

 fruit. 



Apricots. — We note a large increase in the output of this fruit, which is 

 one of our most favored of California dried fruits by eastern dealers. The 

 bulk of the stock produced this year found ready buyers east at prices 

 generally remunerative, and much more could have been sold if the stock 

 could have been had at the right time. We go into 1886 with the lightest 

 stocks within our remembrance. We this year suggest to all producers of 

 sun-dried apricots that they bleach the same, as the extra cost of so doing 

 is but trifling, and in that shape the fruit is much more attractive, finds a 

 quicker sale, and what is better still, at greatly enhanced prices. 



Pitted Plums. — The product of 1885 is somewhat in excess of 1884, but, 

 as with apples, the low figures discouraged many dryers who allowed their 

 fruit to rot or fed it to the pigs. This in our opinion was unwise, for the 

 low prices prevailing have so stimulated the consumption of this really 

 choice fruit, that we have found new markets for it in sections east where 

 it was never before known. Once introduced and a demand created 

 another year will no doubt bring about a renewed call for these goods, 

 which will enable dealers to again advance prices to that point which will 

 pay the producer a fair return for his labor. 



Nectarines. — The quantity of this fruit dried is still comparatively light, 

 but it is one of our best fruits, and as it becomes better known to the trade 

 we look for a larger demand. 



Prices during the season have ruled about the same as apricots. 



California Figs. — While it has been slow work introducing our black figs 

 in eastern markets on account of their color, we nevertheless discover that 

 where they are once taken duplicate orders generally follow. 



On this coast the sale of these figs now outranks the imported fiftyfold, 

 and we anticipate an ever-growing demand. 



Parcels of California white figs from Riverside were on sale this year, 

 which in our opinion were superior to the best imported, but unfortunately 

 the quantity produced is still small. 



EVAPORATED FRUITS. 



Evaporated Apples. — We estimate the production for 1885, at 750,000 

 pounds, or about double that of 1884. 



It is with pleasure that we record this large increase, for it is an indica- 

 tion that the process of evaporation in time will largely take the place of 

 the sun-dried, which is as it should be. The evaporated fruits of Califor- 

 nia, when properly prepared and packed, have no equal anywhere, and 

 while they readily command and are worth double the price of the sun- 

 dried, and sometimes even more, it is our experience that the trade of the 

 country is gradually finding out what we have been repeating for years, 

 that evaporated fruits, besides being more cleanly and far more handsome 

 in appearance, are, also, even at the enhanced prices, relatively cheaper in 

 every-day consumption than the sun-dried. We have a vast territory trib- 

 utary to San Francisco, north, south, and as far east as Chicago, Avhich 

 draw their supplies of dried fruits from California, and it therefore behooves 



