126 PEACH CULTUKE. 



prices can be obtained, while ripe peaches, in their nat- 

 ural state, must be shipped and sold at once. Besides, 

 evaporated peaches are a most delicious and wholesome 

 luxury, one that will surely make its own way after the 

 first introduction. Indeed, desiccated peaches are now 

 so popular that they are usually all engaged as soon as 

 dried, and often before. They always bring good prices, 

 and are growing in popularity every year. The average 

 price for evaporated peaches, of good quality, is about 

 thirty cents a pound. We now speak of peeled ones. 

 Unpeeled fruit does not bring half so much and should 

 not, for only the very inferior is dried without peeling. 

 Desiccated peaches may be procured at almost any good 

 family grocery store, done up in neat boxes. The white 

 colored are preferred ; but this only shows the ignorance 

 of the purchasing public. The purest and best are of a 

 light amber color. This is the dried peach in its nat- 

 ural state. The white have been bleached by the use of 

 sulphur. This is done by evaporators in self-defence, as 

 the white fruit will always sell better, and at a higher 

 price than the amber. The difference is usually from 

 two to four cents a pound. It is contended that the 

 bleaching does no harm, and, therefore, is an innocent 

 concession to a popular prejudice. All the sulphur con- 

 tained in the fruit may not render it unhealthf ul, but, to 

 our taste, it does take away part of its delicate flavor, and 

 renders it less palatable ; and, for this reason, we never 

 use any bleached fruit. 



We might occupy a long chapter in describing the evap- 

 orators and the manner of using them ; but it would not 

 add to the practical advantage of this little treatise. We 

 will simply say that there are perhaps a dozen patented 

 ones, every one of which claims to possess some special 

 advantage, and nearly all of which are really good. A 

 planter, in making a selection, will be governed, in a 

 great measure, by his requirements. If he has a great 



