The record-union., 1891-09-24
CALIFORNIA DRIED FRUITS
Something That is Worth Thinking
About.


About.
J. Parker Whitney, of Rocklin, Placer
County, is sending out the following let
ter, which will be read with interest:
Peaches. pears, apricots, nectarines,
cherries, piums, etc., are grown and
dried in California in great quantity and
perfection. They are practically un-
known in England.
Freight rates and time from California
to England have latterly become much
reduced. Methods of artificial drying
have made great progress.
Timed California fruits are well
known in England, but are much more
expensive, in an economic sense, than
dried fruits.
A heavy duty is paid upon tin in Amer
lea, and labor is higher here than in Eng
land. Besides, the timing business is
practically monopoly, and pays large
profits.
The drying business can be followed
by the fruit-growers, who grade and ship
direct through the commission dealers.
Fruit, properly dried, retains all its
natural qualities. Simply relieved from
a large percentage of moisture it is avail
able in a compact form for shipment and
use to any part Of the world.
BY soaking the dried fruit in water for
moderate period it Swells out in APP
proach to its original form. Sugar is
added TO taste, and heat, as may be re-
quired, and a palatable adjunct is at hand
for sauce or tarts.
With bread and sauce a substantial
meal can be made, and it may be n ques-
ton, in a hygienic sense, IL advantage
would not be gained by Il more frequent
change from the usual meat regimen to
the cooling and relaxing elements of
fruit.
But the question sought to be solved is:
If California dried fruits cannot become a
substantial article of food among the Eng
lish wage earners? If it cannot III this
season of comparatively high bread and
competition with the ordinary articles of
food? And while bearing its proportion
OF support, add pleasant and attractive
variety to the usual course?
Some eXertion may be necessary at the
outset, but the dried fruit will be sure,
sooner or later, to find it's way into the
British household, for California is in
creasing so rapidly in its fruit production
that it now becomes necessary to look
around for distant markets.
Some idea of the rapid increase of dried
fruit here, may be shown III the two arti-
cles-raisins and prunes. OF the former,
the United States, very few years ago,
imported from Spain from 100000 to
100000 boxes of twenty pounds each,
while last year, with an increased popu-
lation, the total import scarcely exceeded
800, 900 boxes, while the State of Califor-
MIA produced 100000 boxes; and in the
article of prunes, California shipped
nearly 1000 carloads to the other States,
which in quality outsold the best grades
from France. However favorable the
Malaga district of Spain for the produc-
ton Of raisins, and however low the min
imized labor there, and the low rates of
freight to London, California will be CONF
pelled to compete in that article, with that
district, in the London market within five
years. That is, under normal conditions
The estimate, and it may be accounted
conservative one, of the annual product
Of raisins in California from the vines al
ready planted, to be in full bearing con-
dition in four years. is placed at from
100000 to 100000 boxes. The average
yield from the California VINEYARDS is
from four to five times larger than from
those Of Malaga, the latter being upon
lands which have been worn by cultiya-
ton for hundreds of years. The amount
of fresh and dried fruits sent out Of Cali
fornia last year to the other States some
what exceeded $4,000 carloads, and this
business has altogether grown up within
few years.
Owing to the profitable results arising
from the favorable character of the soil
and climate, with an increasing popula-
ton, it can scarcely be expected that the
business will rest at its present level, but
that it will increase, and become much
! better known than at present.
The writer is not connected with any
dealings i'll fruit, or fruit-grower other
wise than of raisins, in which he was one
of the first TO engage, but having received,
almost upon the day of his departure
from London, joint letter from several
of his friends in California, perhaps more
largely interested in fruit-growing than
any others, asking him to establish an
opening in England for California dried
fruits, mentioned the subject to friends in
London, Messrs. w. IL a. Gilbey, to
| whom he had been under obligations for
many attentions rendered, and was sur
prised and gratified to be informed that
| they would undertake to receive the sam
pies, and submit them directly to the at
tention of those who would be likely; if
any, to take interest in the proposed busi-
ness.