222 



TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



1873. -- 6,000 boxes. 



1874 -- 9,000 boxes. 



1875 - 11,000 boxes. 



1876 1. 19,000 boxes. 



1877 .- - 32,000 boxes. 



1878 --- 48,000 boxes. 



1879 --- -- 65,000 boxes. 



1S80 75,000 boxes. 



1881 90,000 boxes. 



1882 115,000 boxes. 



1883 140,000 boxes. 



1884 - 175,000 boxes. 



1885 - 500,000 boxes. 



1886 - - 703,000 boxes. 



1887 800,000 boxes. 



1888 -- 915,000 boxes. 



California Prunes. — The output of prunes this year has been abundant. 

 In fact, we may say that the crop was very large and of very nice quality 

 generally; but the prices realized have been much less than last year. 

 This has been brought about partly on account of the large crop, no doubt, 

 and partly on account of foolish consignments which have been made by 

 many of our growers to eastern houses on commission. After one or two years' 

 experience in this consignment business, we have no doubt our producers 

 will realize that they can always do better by meeting the market at home, 

 selling their goods at the best obtainable price cash, and end the trans- 

 action. While many of the parties to whom they consigned East no doubt 

 did the best that was possible, the average commission house has but one 

 object in view after receiving the consignment, and that is to get rid of it 

 as soon as possible, especially if any advances have been made. This 

 leads to constant cutting and competition between these commission houses, 

 a consequent reduction in price, and an ultimate loss to the shipper. With 

 the excellent quality of the California prune, with its established reputation 

 now throughout all" of the great western cities, there is no reason whatever 

 why these goods should be sold at the ridiculous prices at which they have 

 been sold this year in eastern cities. No change, however, can be expected 

 as long as these consignments continue. The California prune is a better 

 fruit in every way than the French. It is of better quality when cooked 

 and of better flavor. It is more like a date; and the far western trade, 

 which have used them largely in the past few years, we believe prefer them 

 at higher prices than the imported goods. This year a French "process" 

 was introduced here with a result that the color of the prunes so " processed " 

 were changed so as to imitate the French goods. While, of course, the 

 fruit looks nice, in what way it is made any better, or of any more value, 

 it is not easy to say. The natural French prune of California as it grows 

 and as it is cured, without any "processing," is one of the choicest and best 

 fruits that grows on this green earth. To doctor it and "process" it to 

 make it black like the French fruit does not add one mite to its real merit. 

 In fact, it greatly detracts, in our opinion. It may be that some dealers 

 will pay more for a few of these processed prunes because they imitate the 

 French; but we do not believe that the mass of the consuming public want 

 them in that shape, or that they will pay as much for them as they_ will for 

 the natural California prune. Year by year the grading as to sizes is being 

 improved upon; but there is still a great deal of room for improvement in 

 this respect. A packer who grades his fruit straight 60 to 75'stothe 

 pound, finds it difficult to compete with his neighbor who puts up his fruit 

 running 70 to 100 to the pound and stencils it on his boxes 60 to 75's to the 

 pound. The Santa Clara Valley may still be considered the home of the 

 California prune, although many other new sections of the State are now 

 producing fruit of an equal quality. There is room for any amount of 

 expanse in the prune business; and California has tens of thousands of 

 acres adapted to its industry. 



