The record-union., 1899-10-17

| such large sizes and never have the
| growers had such opportunity TO make
reputation in Europe for the size and
| quality of their products. During the
/ past two weeks the agency of the santa
/ Clara County Fruit Exchange has for
| warded sixty carloads of prunes on
European orders, and all the large
! shipping firms are doing a relatively
large business with European houses.
After interviews with prominent fruit
! growers, shippers and dealers, we deem
it safe to- predict that the expectation
of California prunes to Europe this
season will reach 25,OOO,00O pounds
/ quantity equal to LOCO carloads. This
exceptional European demand cannot
fail to have buoyant effect on the
American market.
The Eastern trade is ordering only
for it's immediate needs. The dealing
in futures is practically nil. But this
condition cannot last long, and the only
thing for the grower to do is to wait,
! knowing that the ultimate situation is
in his own hands. The European de-
/ mand at the very beginning of the sea-
| son must necessarily work to the ad-
vantage of the grower, as it will result
in the placing of a large quantity OF
prunes abroad, and the supply will be
| lessened to that extent. AS the "Mer-
cury has already pointed out, there
! is a general shortage of the prune
crop this year, both in Europe and
California, hence early sales in Europe
ought to result in an active demand
and a brisk trade in the home market
/ later on.
DRYING PRUNES.
| Gridley Herald: The apparatus for
handling prunes on the Fredonia or
chard is now being used on the silver
variety The prunes are dumped,
| box full at a time, into a vat of hot
| lye water are elevated by an endless
| chain of buckets into another tank OF
| fresh water, where the lye is washed
| off the fruit. Another elevator takes
| them from this vat and drops them
! onto the prickers, where each prune
! rolls over a thousand or more needle
! points, which prick the skin. The
| fruit rolls onto the trays from this
| machine and by a shaking frame on
| which the trays are set, the prunes
are evenly spread over the surface o:
| the tray, and it is not necessary to
! touch the fruit from the time it is
picked, the whole operation of scalding,
washing, pricking, grading and spread
! ing being done by machinery. The
| fruit is exposed to the sun for GER
tain length of time, and then the trays
are stacked up in piles and the prunes
finish curing.
FRUIT AS DIET.
Pacific Rural Press: To a correspond
ent of the "Fruitman's Guide" lead
| ing physician of Bar Harbor said that
few people appreciate the value OF
fruit, not only in its natural state, but
in the various forms in which it is
cooked.
Oranges he continued ARE regu-
lar items in the provisioning of house
holds here At the breakfast table
they reign supreme. Delicious orange
marmalade is easy and inexpensive to
make, besides being healthy. Orange
ices, cakes and puddings permeated
with orange juice are also wholesome.
The most healthful cordial is made
from orange peeling, and is of great
value in certain forms Of Indigestion
Orange peel is eaten with relish in
Paris but in America with the eli
matte changes should only be indulged
in to a moderate extent, as it produces
indigestion. Lemons are household
necessities, and, when judiciously used,
are of great value, though the fancy
for drinking the juice of several lem
ons upon rising in the morning was,
unfortunately for the race, short
lived. Lemon juice is excellent for
colds, cholera and fevers Grapes
without the seeds are natures pam
acea for many of the ills of life. The
Delawares and COncords are the do
mestic favorites, while the Tokays are
decidedly popular and most wholesome
and the most welcome of the foreign
supplies From the above assortment
grape juice is made and is voted a
favorite beverage. This juice can be
made so easily and is so conducive to
health that it should be kept in the
stock of summer deiicacies in house
holds. Grapes and bread and butter
contain sufficient nutriment to satisfy
an ordinarily hungry person. Bananas
have a high standing for their intrinsic
value as food. In their natural state,
eaten raw, it is asserted that the
banana will keep the system in good
order for a longer period of time than
any other fruit known, with the ex-
ception of oranges. Bananas used as
a dessert, with a little sugar and cream,
are healthful. 1t must be remembered,
however. that this fruit is what is
known as hearty" and a large dish
of it at the close of a full meal may
cause some uneasiness, because it IS
just so much more food than the sys
tenn requires. This fruit is cooked in
various ways, pudding and fritters be
ing most popular. Banana sliced and
sprinkled with sugar make an excel
lent and healthy dessert we'll calculated
to encourage rest.
Apples are conducive to health. Per
sons suffering for want of sleep will
find this fruit a valuable acquisition
to create dowsiness. In Continental
Europe tremendous quantities of ap
pies are consumed, and European
physicians of prominence declare that
to eat an apple before retiring means
a peaceful nighta slumber. Fig pud-
dings make lucious dessert Fig jelly
made with ounce or apple juice is one
of the best possible luncheon dishes
for children.
If every family would use prunes
at least once a day the community