The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1867-07-16
FRUIT CROP.

We give below circular letter from Phil
adelphia firm in regard to the fruit trade this
season. Prices will not be so large this season
as last, but with the large crop that we Will
> probably have, it will prove great source OF
income to the country. We advise our people
* to save every pound of fruit they possibly can:
-" PHILADELPHIA, June 18th, ls6!-IEade
10 domestic Dried Fruits" within a few years,
has grown to a vast magnitude, and no" enters
into the business calculations OF almost every
farmer and merchant in the entire country.
Prior to the late war, the South, particularly
the States of Virginia, North Carolina, Tennes-
see, and Northern Georgia, were the principal
sources of supply, of what is termed IN the
large markets, Southern fruit" Owing to the
general prostration of all business Interests
through the South, caused 10y the war, the far
ners and producers in almost every Southern
State are pow turning their attention to the
business OF drying fruit, as source Of income
For the purpose of Informing every one engaged
in this business, as to the best method OF pre-
pairing their fruit for market-to make it most
saleable, aud to bring the highest prices, The
following suggestions are made: First In re-
gard to
I PEAcHRs.-Whether peaches are pealed or
pnpealed, don't wait for the fruit to become
perfectly ripe aud mellow, because in this case,
they will dry dark in color, and while ripe
peach is intrinsically better than hard one yet
the demand among the buyers is universally for
bright coored peaches, whether pared or. un-
pared. And in regard to pared peaches, not
only is bright color essential for ready sale at
highest prices, but they should be cut as fine
as little care and patience viii! allow. Instead
of cutting pared peach into halves or quarters,
by cutting it into ten or fifteen quarters" and
taking pains in regard to proper r;peDess of the
fruit it will dry quicker, and be made far more
saleable. To draw comparison between the
pared peaches of the Eastern Shore of Virginia
and Georgia, Gin both of which States they pre-
pare bright and fine cut pared peaches,) with
the pared peaches of North Carolina and Ten
nessee, from which States the pared peaches
generally come to market coarse cut and dried
from peaches too ripe, it is only necessary to
state that for the last two years, Virginia and
Georgia pared peaches have brought prices
third higher than has been realized for North
Carolina or Tennessee pared peaches. All this
can DE obviated by care and paius. The rule
of color will apply to IMPAIRED peaches as well
as to pared, but is reversed entirely in regard to
cut. IMPAIRED peaches dried in halves, sell
much better than when mixed with quarters,
or when entirely quarters. The difference OF
price ranges from year to year, an average OF
fully two cents per pound more for all halves,
than for mixed, or quarters Gaze should be
taken in drying impaired peaches, to select fine
large fruit, as the demand always runs for large
bright halves If dried in kilns or ovens, don't
let them get burned, and in packing for market
let them get thoroughly cool and dry before
shipping. Don't mix different qualities in the
same package, as it is always discovered, and
the sale will be based upon the poorest quality
In the barrel or sack
ABOUT DRIED APPLES Select good sound
fruit-not ripe to melIowness. Pare them clean,
take the cores entirely out, and cut in as fine
slices as patience and labor will allow. Be very
careful in thoroughly drying them of bright
color, and the difference in price obtained over
the ordinary rough cut, dark-coored, and not
we'll cored apples, will more than pay for the
time and trouble of so doing. You can't make
bright colored dried apple or peach out of
mellow ipe fruit, and the bright colored fruit
will always out-sel the dark.
BLACKBERRIEs--Haye become great sta
pie. They should be thoroughly dried (not
burned) before packed for market. If packed
too soon they breed worms, become mouldy,
and eventually worthless. A good many barrels
OF last seasons crop persisted entirely by being
packed too green, and number of these un-
merchantable barrels having accidently been
shipped to far Northwestern markets, the fact
of their bad condition has had prejudicial eff.
feet on Southern backberrics which great care
in drying and packing this year will overcome.
OUNCES AND PEARs-Ncely prepared by
thorough pairing, coring and drying, cut as fne
as pared peaches ought to be, will bring fair
prices. 80