Fruits, Vegetables and General Interests. 



peared in Europe, the vines have been infested with it, and 

 of late years to a very great extent. For instance, this year 

 (1891) the mildew has made such havoc among the vines, 

 that the crop will be some 10,000 to 12,000 tons shorter than 

 last year. For this result the farmers are greatly to blame. 

 It is well known that sulphur is a sure remedy when of good 

 quality and properly employed, but the sulphur generally 

 used here is of inferior quality and not employed in sufficient 

 quantity. The majority of growers sulphur their vines only 

 once, and do this too late, when the havoc is already done by 

 the mildew. The sulphuring is generally performed in June, 

 when the berries have set, and it ought to be done before and 

 after the blooming at least two or three times. The impor- 

 tant operations of scalding and drying are neglected to such 

 an extent that the quality of the raisins is seriously affected. 

 Many growers collect the grapes before they are sufficiently 

 matured, thus producing raisins which consist only of skin Valencia 

 and seeds, containing little or no pulp. Too frequently the ralsins - 

 scalding is improperly performed, as the growers do not rinse 

 or wash the grapes before dipping them in lye. The grapes, 

 after being scalded, should be placed on platforms made of 

 reeds, and exposed to the sun ; but many growers and farmers 

 are too poor or neglectful to provide the necessary platforms, 

 and dry the grapes on the soil between the vines or elsewhere 

 on the bare ground, thus not being able to cover the grapes 

 during the night or in case of bad weather setting in. By not 

 rinsing the grapes and by drying them on the soil, much dirt 

 adheres to them, which is of course a great objection to these 

 raisins. They are able to retain their keeping quality 

 for a short period only, and are apt to mold and lose their 

 flavor. There is no doubt that the quality of the Valencia 

 raisins in general could be considerably improved, were more 

 care taken in their cultivation, scalding and curing by the 

 growers and farmers." 



The prune, peach, apricot, and other crops of California were 

 large this year, and they are constantly increasing in import- 

 ance in the markets of the world. The total amount of green 

 deciduous fruits shipped from the state up to December 1, caHfor- 

 1 891, is estimated at 78,600,000 pounds. Dried fruits are nia cr °P s> 

 estimated at upwards of 50,000,000 pounds, although it is in- 

 possible to determine what the final output of the year will 



