266 
There are usually six sizes: first, those ranging from 40 to 50 to the 
pound; second, 50 to 60 to the pound; third, 60 to 70 to the pound ; 
fourth, 70 to 80 to the pound; fifth, 80 to 90 to the pound; and sixth, 
all below 90. : 
PACKING. 
The final operation in the handling of the prune is packing, and here 
judgment is required in putting up a thoroughly good 
article, that will present an attractive appearance and force its way on 
which is not, as he runs his 5, fingers over the piles before him. Much of 
the fruit is packed in tone s of 10 lbs., 25 lbs., and 50 lbs. each, but of 
ques s d f : E 
2 
either boxed by the eastern dealer or sold direct from the sacks to t 
consumer. i 
The prune crop of 1889 was variously estimated at from 15,000,000 lbs. 
to 18,000,000 lbs., and it was sold at fair —€— ranging from 5 c. to 9 c. 
(24d. to 43d.) per lb., the average in the market being 2 c. (1d.) higher 
than the imported. The er op of 1890 was a e) to fall short, owing 
size. At the end of the season it was apparent that the output was but 
very little, if at all, less than the preceding year. Prices for green fruit 
delivered ns fen driers’ ranged from 21 dol. to 30 dol. (44. 6s. 9d. to 
64. 4s.) per 
e following table gives the foreign import and California pro- 
duction for the six years from 1885 to 1891, inclusive :— 







Foreign Imports, by years, California Production, by years, 
ending June goth, ending December gist. 
Year. 
: Value . Val 
Quantity. in eurrency. Quantity. in sterling, 
Pounds. Dollars. Pounds. £ t wd. 
1885 - - 57,631,820 2,147,505 — 443,699 7 4 
1886 - - 64,995,545 2,026,595 2,000,000 418,717 19 4 
1887 ~ - 92,032,625 2,999,648 1,825,000 619,761 19 6 
1888 - - 70,626,027 2,197,150 2,100,000 453,956 12 1 
1889 - - 46,154,825 1,423,304 15,200,000 294071 1 5 
1890 - - 58,093,410 1,789,176 12,200,000 369,663 19 2 
1891 - - 6 000 |” M 





The importation of prunes into the United States fo: the year 
1890, to December 31st, was 61,905,782 Ibs. valued at 2,819,420 «ol. 
(582,5241. 15s. 8d.), an increase over the importation of 1889 of 
18,188,429 lbs., and an increased value of 584,029 dol. (120,6671. 2s. 11d.) 
The product of the State of California for the same period is given for 
1889 at 35300.000 lbs., and 1890 at 12,200,000 Ibs., or 28,517,353 lbs. 
ere imported in n 1890, It would appear while the 
