Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-08-08
The Dried Fruit Trade.

The last fruit circular Of Toland Il Cow
an, Philadelphia, contains information and
advice so seasonable, and so valuable withal,
that we consider large portion of it wor-
thy of repetition in our columns. The fol-
lowing extract will be of interest to many
readers, especially in the country:
The trade in dried fruit has of late years
assumed such importance as to render it
worldly the serious attention of the produ-
Ger, as well as the merchant who collects it
and sends it to market. We propose giving
both parties few hints, the result of our
experience, and the best method of securing
the highest market prices.
First, as 20 quality, if the fruit is of an
inferior kind, no skill or care can make it
choice when it is dried; then, when it is pos
sible, let the best fruit be selected. If ap-
pies, the skin should be entirely peeled off,
the cores all taken out and sliced thin; if
peeled peaches, take the fruit before it ripens
to softness, peel carefully and take all seeds
out. If you do not succeed in securing
your peeled peaches bright and clean, your
time will be worse than lost, as dark peeled
peaches are worth much less than unpeeled,
and are sometimes entirely nnSaleable. If
unpeeled peaches, cut carefully in halves,
do not mangle them, let them all be in
halves; cliDg-stOnes or other peaches that
cannot be cut in halves should be cut as
large as possible. Damsons and cherries
should be carefully seeded and kept scrupu-
lousy clean, no doctoring with mOlasses
and sugar or any other supposed preserver;
dry well, that is the best preserver; if you
dry your fruit in the sun, do not let the
rain or heavy deWs fall on it; if dried on
kilnS, do not let it become scorched with
fire or darkened by smoke. This applies
to apples, peaches, pears, etc, in fact, to all
kinds of fruit, except that damsons, black
berries and cherries are naturally dark; still,
neglect OF these suggestions will damage
those likewise.
Blackberries are more saleable IL packed
in barrels of about 200 lbs each.
The several grades or qualities of fruit
should be carefully assOrted-frst, sec
ond, third; and each grade packed by itself
and shipped under its own proper class.
Never pack your fruit i'll dirty packages,
as salt, fish or sugar barrels, improperly
cleaned, lessons the value Of the fruit from
one to three cents per ID.
New and clean barrels, neatly packed,
add, III great measure, to the value of the
goods.
Pack your fruit honestly, let there be no
topping of-nO good fruit on top and bot
tom, and inferior in the middle. The buy /
ers strip the goods, and in all such cases we
are compelled to sell bad and good at the |
lowest price, and often when sold, demand
reclamation. We do not desire to handle
such goods. 4
We deem it an unwise plan for persons
living far away from the market to limit
price on their goods. You should consign
to houses having your fullest confidence,
and instruct them to sell to the best advan-
tage. You can thus turn your money sew
eral times season, and are sure to DO bet
ter than if you had tied the hands of your.
consiguee. .- /
The results of your enterprise will de-.
pend chiefly in following the above obser-
Vanc S, aided and guided by your own ex-
i