Los Angeles daily herald., 1876-02-08
Fruits and Vegetables.

we uaNt frequently caiiei tho ae-
tention of farmers and orchardists to
the great demand there is for Cali
fornia dried fruits and vegetables in
the army and navy of the United
States, and in Europe and Asia. We
have just read letter from the
President of the Alden Fruit Pre-
serving Company in which he states
that he cannot fill the orders sent
to him from the Commissary Gen.
eral at Washington. We have also
seen an order from the Assistant Ad-
jutant General to the commanders of
the different posts to order the Alden
fruits and vegetables. In this order
he mentions the economy Of using
these fruits, compared with sun dried
or fresh fruits, and at double the price
the Alden fruits are thirty per cent.
cheaper. Fruits and vegetables cured
by this process retain all their fresh
ness for years, and if put to soak in
water one hour before using, it is to
all intents and purposes fresh fruit
or vegetables again. Besides this
advantage of having fresh fruit
at any season or in any cline, there is
never any worm or insect in it. Add
to this the advantage in freight. For
instance, 5S pounds of onions, for all
culinary purposes, is equal to five
bags, or 500 pounds of fresh onions,
and so with all other fruits and veget-
ables. Only think of the advantage
this would be in the army or navy, or
in the mines. We mention these
things for the purpose of calling the
attention of our farmers to the source
of wealth in their reach. Here are the
prices of cured fruits and vegetables,
given by Littlefield & Webb of San
Francisco, cured by the Alden pro-
cess: Apples, lac. per b.; apricots,
33ac.; cherries and currents, Ito 25c.;
sweet corn, 2Sc.; onions, &c.,; pears,
(Bartlett) $780,; assorted, DC; peaches,
peeled, &c.; whole cling, 20c.; unpar-
ed whole, 20c.; impaired and pitted,
Csc. prunes, is to 2Oc.; green peas, 81
to 4Oc.; Irish potatoes, 123c.; sweet po-
tatoes, &c.,; squash, &c.,; Tomatoes,
&c.; When We take into considera-
tion the fact that all articles
cured by the Alden process re.
tain their weight much more than
when dried in the sun, these figures
are enormous. Is there any reason
why every fruit grower, gardener and
farmer in the county should not grow
rich ? The demand is unlimited--no
danger of Cutting the market. If all
this county was in fruits and vegeta-
bles and prepared for market by this
process, 1t would not:be drop in the
bucket. Now is the time to prepare
for the coming crop. We have fruit
dryer in this city with capacity to
cure several tons per day; and on ac-
count of the late frost last Spring ii
has been idle all this year. Now let
the farmers try themselves and see
how much fruit and vegetables they
can raise. There is a sure market for
all of it at a good price. Do not be
afraid of a monopoly of this business,
there are several fruit dryers patented.
Besides Mr.. Davis don't want your
produce at starving price the
the figures he can get will enable him
to pay you we'll for all you send to
him. With such soil, such a climate,
and such a market there never was
such an opening to make money as
the peole of Los Angeles county have.
Now sow your seeds, prune your trees,
plow your ground anu make the earth
team with the richest fruits in the
world.