876 FRUIT CULTURE IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 



count it will be seen that the process of crystallizing fruits, as well as 

 the requisite apparatus, are exceedingly plain and simple. But the most 

 profusely furnished kitchen, abundant raw material, and a library of 

 books on cookery will not enable a novice to prepare a well cooked 

 dinner. 



There is so much in the art of crystallizing fruit, which can only be 

 learned by experience, that in order to begin the experiment with cer- 

 tainty of success, American pioneers in this manufacture should employ 

 competent French workmen to superintend the construction of their 

 plant, instruct the operatives, and superintend the whole process of pre- 

 serving and papking during the infancy of the business. 



The extent to which the crystallized ff uits of this country are imported 

 by the United States would seem to indicate that here is an opportu- 

 nity for a new and profitable enterprise. 



FRANK H. MASON, 



Consul. 



UNITED STATES CONSULATE, 



Marseilles, October 31, 1885. 



COGNAC. 



REPORT BY CONSUL IRISH. 



I have extended my inquiries as far as practicable for this portion of 

 France, and am enabled to state that the actual processes of crystallizing 

 fruits have been generally abandoned throughout the country, on ac- 

 count of the expense attending thereon and the general scarcity and 

 usually high price of fruit. 



However, there are, in all the towns of this region such as Cognac, 

 Angouleme, Saintes, Eochefort, La Eochelle, and Limoges, persons who 

 are familiar with the business, who deal in the crystallized fruit, and who 

 have formerly engaged in its manufacture. The testimony on the sub- 

 ject is to the effect that the process of crystallization is now largely and 

 almost entirely confined to a few points, namely : Clermont-Ferrand, in 

 the department of Puy-de-Dome, in the consular district of St. Etienne, 

 and Carcassonne, department of Aude, in the extreme south of France, 

 and in the bounds of the Cette agency of Marseilles. 



A reasonable amount of manufacturing is dxme at Paris, and also at 

 Bar le-Duc, department of Meuse, where the production is chiefly con- 

 fined to the preserving of currants, gooseberries, and such like fruit. 



Clermont-Ferrand is the most important place for this industry in 

 France, and as fruit is usually abundant and cheap in that locality, they 

 aro enabled to fflrnish the dealers throughout all this region to much 

 better advantage than the dealers themselves can manufacture it. 



As a consequence of the confinement of the work to localities beyond 

 my bounds it will be seen that I have not the data for its cost and extent 

 of production. 



