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Mr. Rock: That is when they are green. How is it when they are 

 dried? 



Mr. Motheral: I judge Santa Clara makes a little sweeter prune. 

 I believe they claim they have a little better prune; I don't know how 

 that is. But I believe we can grow more wood and larger prunes than 

 can be grown anywhere in the State outside of Bakersfield and Placer- 

 ville. But we are liable all the while to have our trees die from water, 

 because the water is so close to the surface. Some men are anxious to 

 have all the water possible, and they overdo the thing and kill the 

 trees. We have another difficulty with us that you do not have in 

 your country, and that is alkali. Wherever we have a stratum of clay 

 near the surface we are constantly in danger of raising that alkali to 

 the surface and getting it so strong that our trees will not grow. 



The following paper was read by Assistant Secretary Smith : 



THE CALIFORNIA PRUNE. 



By W. H. Aiken, of Wrights. 



The condition that confronts us this year, as prune growers, is that 

 the importers are largely supplying the demand for prunes in this coun- 

 try. They have fixed and maintained a low price, taking advantage of 

 & reduced tariff, low wages, and cheap freight. The united efforts of 

 exchanges and associations in California have not been able to raise the 

 price so fixed, even on a short crop. 



The fact that in order to supply the home demand we must make 

 importations unprofitable, does not alarm or discourage Californians. 

 With our sunlight, water, and soil, good cultivation, improved methods 

 of preparation for market, and superior quality as a healthful food 

 product, we can carry the war for trade into Europe, and make our cured 

 prunes an article of the world's commerce. For such a demand there 

 will be no over-production. 



There is no product of the soil in this State so profitable, even at 

 present prices, as the prune, and growers are to be congratulated. 



I desire to call your attention to the perforation of prunes as an 

 improved method of preparation for curing. I have successfully used 

 the "Burrell needle machine" for three years, and am entirely satisfied 

 with its work, and cheerfully commend its general use. The advantages 

 it has over the "dipper" are many and important, and I will call your 

 attention to a few that will be readily appreciated. The needle points 

 perforate the prunes sothat they cure evenly and well, and can be put 

 in bins from trays without the expense and trouble of picking over, and 

 without fear of mold, if properly cured. The " machine " can be taken 

 to the prunes and the best drying-ground, instead of bringing the 

 prunes to the distant "dipper" and frequently poor, badly exposed 

 grounds. 



The perforated prunes will stand the severe test of doubling upon the 

 trays, when not over half cured, and finally come off the trays soft and 

 pliable, yet cured to keep and not dried away to skin and pit. 



Ungraded prunes can be dried in this way evenly and well in good 



