90 



that there is no comparison in appearance or taste. Their jams, jellies, and 

 marmalades, also syrups, are far superior to all others. What is the out- 

 look for pears? Let us look at it for a moment. Just see the demand there 

 is for pears in the East. First, our pears are far superior, and can be sold 

 in the East some time before their pears are ripe. They can also be picked 

 some time before they are ripe, and will ripen in ten or fifteen days, or about 

 the time they arrive in the eastern markets. Then our Bartlett pears are 

 not only shipped East, but are canned to a large extent, and are sent not 

 only to the East, but to Great Britain, and some to Europe and other coun- 

 tries; and besides this they can be dried and command fair prices. Then 

 they can be crystallized, and there is a demand for them that is difficult to 

 supply, as at present the supply is not equal to the demand at all. 



PEARS, 



As far as pears are concerned, we can sell all we can raise for many 

 years. In fact, there is no glutting the market if they are properly dis- 

 tributed and sold at a price that people can afford to give — not 10, 20, or 

 25 cents a pound, but retailed to the consumer at 6 cents, which will allow 

 the producer a fair price, pay the freight, and leave a margin besides. 



PRUNES. 



One word as to overproduction of prunes. There is no reason why Cali- 

 fornia cannot produce the sixty million pounds of prunes, instead of having 

 to import them. A prominent horticulturist of San Jose, who has a large 

 orchard of prunes, said he could raise prunes and dry them, all ready for 

 the market, at 5 cents per pound and make a net profit of $100 per acre. 

 There is no immediate danger of it, but if the price is ever reduced to that 

 figure, then, instead of there being a demand for those sixty million pounds 

 of prunes, besides what we already produce in California, there would be 

 a demand at that price for two hundred million pounds. This holds good 

 for all other fruits. If they are cheap, then there would be vast quantities 

 consumed. 



APPLES. 



In regard to the apple, there is much to say. The origin of the apple is 

 not known. The apple is mentioned in the Bible, but it was not the apple 

 that we have to-day. Pliny says there were twenty-two varieties known to 

 the Romans. We have several hundred varieties. Downing says, " The 

 apple is the world renowned fruit of temperate climates." The growth, 

 size, and quality vary in different localities. Some apples are adapted to 

 one locality, and in others will not succeed at all. The apple is better 

 known than any other fruit, and, all things considered, is the best fruit 

 known. As a food it can be compared to bread and meat. Its use is con- 

 ducive to health, and it can be used in various ways. Vast quantities of 

 this fruit are consumed, furnishing a good and wholesome diet for the 

 millions. In fact, it is hard to say too much about the apple as a food. 

 The varieties of apples I would recommend are the following : White 

 Winter Pearmain, Yellow Newtown Pippin, R. I. Greening, Ben. Davis, 

 Jonathan, Yellow Bellflower, Smith's Cider, Fall Pippin, Skinner's Pippin 

 Early Harvest, and Red Astrachan. 



