364 THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 



PEACHES. 



The canner wants a peach of golden color, of good and symmetrical 

 size, without color at the pit, and with a small pit. For these reasons 

 of the freestone varieties he prefers the Muir and the Loyell. The 

 latter usually commands a premium over other freestone varieties, but 

 the chief objection to this peach is that it ripens in late August, when 

 the canner is overtaxed with many varieties of fruit. If a peach similar 

 to the Lovell could be developed to ripen in July or in the middle of 

 September it would be in high favor. About 24,000 tons are canned 

 annuallv, with prices about $22.50 per ton for Lovell, and $17.50 for 

 other varieties, like the Muir and Early Crawford. Other varieties 

 which mav do well for shipping purposes, like Alexander, Hale Early, 

 Marv 's Ciioice, Picquets Late, are not desirable for canning. 



In spite of the increased trouble and expense of removing the pit, 

 yellow clings are the most desirable of all California canned fruits, 

 and more of these are canned than any other variety. Fortunately, 

 different varieties have been propagated from the old original lemon 

 cling, so that the canner gets an almost continuous season from late 

 July until late September— beginning with the Tuscans, Orange, 

 Mckevitt, Sellers, and Phillips, and ending with the Levy Late clings. 

 Owing to the congestion of peaches, pears, plums and berries in August, 

 the Early Tuscans and Late Phillips and Levy are preferred by canners. 

 The Phillips is perhaps the most popular, by reason of the firm texture, 

 golden color, small pit and uniform and symmetrical size. An average 

 price delivered at the cannery would be about $25 per ton for Phillips 

 and Tuscan and $20 for other varieties. As with the freestone varieties, 

 the clings are graded, washed, peeled, halved and pitted, although in 

 the case of the clings a considerable demand has developed for slices. 

 About 35,000 tons are used for canning. The White Heath Clings were 

 formerly quite popular, but they apparently did not bear well enough 

 to suit the growers, and inferior varieties of white clings, like the 

 George's Late, were planted, which were not at all satisfactory to con- 

 sumers. They were tough, flavorless and red at the pit. With a good 

 white cling like the McKevitt, particularly one ripening in September, 

 this trade can be gradually recovered; and there is a need for this 

 fruit. Canners will pay a premium over the price of yellow clings. 

 About 900 tons are used for canning. 



PEARS. 



Bartlett pears are in good demand and canners use ordinarily about 

 20,000 tons per annum. The price ranges from $30 to $40 per ton, 

 sometimes in years of light crop running to higher figures. Canners 

 usually buy on specifications requiring the fruit to be free from scab 

 and worms, to be of symmetrical shape and not less than 2J inches in 

 diameter. In preparation the fruit is peeled, halved and cored. The 

 pear is a very satisfactory fruit to handle, because it is better when 

 picked before ripening. It is hauled when finn, and is accordingly 

 delivered to the cannery free from bruises such as often come to other 

 varieties. In the cannery the fruit is graded over and worked up as it 

 ripens. While there has been serious difficulty with the pear blight, 

 this variety seems to promise the grower the best results for years to 

 come, assuming that he has suitable land. He has a good market for 



