364 COFFEE. 



upon the price, especially in the English market, where these 

 matters are understood and appreciated better than in America. 

 Indeed, until within the last two or three years, anything has been 

 considered good enough to ship to America, and the orders which 

 came from the United States for currants always contained limits 

 as to price, but none whatever as to quality ; of course, this re- 

 sulted in all the poor goods going to the American market. Of 

 late, however, the trade in the United States has been getting into 

 other hands, wholesale grocers and distributing f rait merchants 

 importing direct, where before a few speculative importing houses, 

 which knew or cared little about the wants of the retail trade, con- 

 trolled the entire business, and a much better and cleaner quality 

 is now required for the American market than heretofore. We 

 have yet, however, something to learn in regard to ihejlawor of 

 the fruit. Some districts are greatly to be preferred in this re- 

 spect. Their product contains a much larger percentage of sac- 

 charine matter, and the London houses, which have a first-class 

 trade, will sometimes pay nearly double the price for favorite 

 brands that they will for the ordinary run of goods. 



The following statistics of the production of currants, together 

 with the ruling prices, are interesting, as showing the course of 

 trade : 



In 1851 and previous years the production was large, and the 

 average first-cost price about $25 per 1,000 pounds. 



In 1852 a severe blight suddenly affected a portion of the ciu-- 

 rant district, the production fell to 13,584 tons, and the price rose 

 to $62 per 1,000 pounds. 



In 1853 the blight extended still further, affecting nearly the 

 whole currant-producing territory ; but 4,998 tons were produced, 

 and prices ranged between $5Y and $93 per 1,000 pounds, the 

 lowest price being for the poorest quality. 



In 1854 the production was 6,121 tons, and the range of prices 

 $45 to $€5. 



In 1855 the production was 7,128 tons, and the range of 

 prices $110 to $120, a great speculation having been inaugur- 

 ated that year, which continued through the two subsequent 

 years. 



In 1856, having to a certain extent recovered from the blight, 



