138 THE PRUNE. 



The quantity brought to the market up to this writing is calculated at about 

 72,000 quintals of 80-85 to 130-140 fruit. This explains the high prices paid dur- 

 ing the past week for a few baskets of 60-65, 70-75 fruit which have been offered 

 for sale. The situation may continue up to the end of this month for two reasons: 

 First, that the fruits 60-65s to 70-75s are, in the majority of cases, still on the 

 trees; secondly, the farmers, seeing that prices which have actually been paid 

 for some small lots have been very high, will keep the fruit back for some time. 

 Still, it is my opinion that prices will not be well established before the quanti- 

 ties brought to the markets correspond with the importance of the crop — that is 

 to say, not before the end of this month. 



Following are the prices recently paid for prunes in bulk on the markets of the 

 producing districts: Sizes 60-65 to the half kilo, 42 francs per 50 kilos; 60-75s, 

 32 francs; 80-85s, 21 francs; 90-95s, 16 francs; and 100-105s to the half kilo, 13 

 francs per 50 kilos. 



In 1897 the crop was about 250,000 French quintals, and the quantity brought 

 to market up to September 15 of that year had reached 175,000 quintals. 



Note. — The four sizes, 70-75 to 100-105 bulk prunes, converted into American 

 coin and weight, would be equal to $3.59 per 100 pounds in Bordeaux. To this 

 add freight, incidental expenses and duty of $2 per 100 pounds for cost laid down 

 in New York city. 



PRUNES IN SERVIA. 



The cured-prune industry of Servia is an extremely iraj^ortant fea- 

 ture of that country's exports. It is stated that the excellent and 

 abundant prune crop of 1897 will add fifteen million francs, or close 

 to three million dollars, to the total value of the exports from Servia. 

 The high value placed upon the dried-prune exports for this year is 

 not so much owing to the meager and indifferent crops of Bosnia, 

 Slavonia, and Bohemia, as to an order issued by the minister of agri- 

 culture as to the best method of gathering, drying and i^reparing the 

 article for shipment. The instructions under this order have been 

 enforced with great strictness, says the Fruit Oroioer, of London, 

 and has led to a vast improvement in the quality of the exported 

 product. This excellent result from the supervision of his depart- 

 ment has given the minister of agriculture an incentive to exercise 

 more rigorous supervision over other articles exported from Servia 

 which come under the control of the department. 



PRUNES AS FOOD. 



Speaking of what it terms "the plum famine" in England, the 

 Fruit Groiver, of London, says : "And the mere fact that the public 

 will, on a pinch, pay from twenty-four to thirty-two shillings per 

 bushel for plums proves that that fruit has become one of the most 

 popular food-products of the day. When we say food-products, we 

 mean it. The fruit is rich in sugar, albumen, and blood-thinning 

 juices, and, when dried and sold in the form of prunes, becomes the 

 most perfect food-product known. Science has demonstrated the fact 

 that people can live in good health solely upon prunes, and, as in this 



