240 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



large increase in this product year by year, though of course they will 

 never equal the quality of our French prunes. 



Apples, Sun-dried. — As will be noticed by our report, the supply this year 

 has been heavily decreased. This is accounted for by the fact of the 

 extremely low prices that ruled last year, far below the cost of production, 

 which discouraged producers from entering the business again this season. 



In addition to this, we may also mention that we think the day of sun- 

 dried apples is rapidly passing by, and that this fruit is being supplanted 

 everywhere by the machine or evaporated apples, which are very hand- 

 some in appearance, more cleanly, bring better returns to the producers, 

 and which are being taken pretty generally by the whole retail trade of the 

 country in preference to the sun-dried. We are very glad to note this fact, 

 as a choice evaporated apple, besides being in every way better, is also 

 more economical to the general consumer than the sun-dried fruit. 



Sun-dried Peaches. — We report quite a large falling off from last year in 

 the production of this fruit also. This is easily explained from the fact 

 that the crop itself was light, and was very largely bought up in a fresh 

 state, early in the season, by our large canning establishments, and also 

 largely shipped East in car lots in a fresh state for sale in eastern mar- 

 kets. Fancy prices were obtained by our growers this year for this fruit 

 in the green state, and naturally the quantity that was dried was cut short 

 very seriously. The net results to shippers East of the green fruit has 

 been, we understand, in many instances quite unsatisfactory, and the 

 chances are that another year the product of California peaches will be 

 again increased. 



The dried peaches from this side are in favor all over the United States, 

 being superior to anything produced elsewhere. 



There is no possible chance of overdoing the eastern demand, as new 

 markets are being constantly opened up year by year, and at prices remu- 

 nerative to our growers. The planting of peach trees is still going on in 

 different portions of the State, and the growers can depend upon it that 

 they will never have to search very far for a market for all they can 

 produce. 



Sun-dried Pitted Plums. — The same remarks as to peaches will apply to 

 plums. Growers of this fruit became very much discouraged last year, 

 and this season, instead of drying, many sold their fruit at a low price to 

 the canners, or let it rot on the ground. The result is a decline in the pro- 

 duct, as compared with 1885. In consequence of this prices have been 

 much better, and all good plums are now bringing figures that pay the 

 growers well, and we look for a heavy output next year, if nothing happens 

 to the growing crop. 



Like our California peaches, our plums are in equal favor in the East, 

 being the finest plums seen anywhere. There will always be a good de- 

 mand at fair prices for any quantity of plums that California can produce, 

 and it is only necessary to take care in proper curing, drying, and the way 

 in which they are put up for market. 



Sun-dried Pears. — Only a small quantity of this fruit was dried this 

 year, owing to the lack of the green article. The demand, however, from 

 different markets has also ruled very small, so that shortage in supplies 

 was not particularly felt. We note, with pears, that the demand, like 

 apples, is running on the evaporated instead of the sun-dried, and we 



