Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1901-11-21

less number Of trees to the acre Ia
order 10 do so.
The prune tree has its insect and
fungous pests, like all fruits, but care
and scientific attention neutralizes
them. Probably nowhere in the world
has the science of orcharding on a
large scale been raised to a higher
standard than in the prune districts
of California and nowhere will be
found thriftier trees or more perfect
fruit. In the care and the perfection
OF fruit resulting from it lie much Of
the superiority Of the California prune.
The notorious San Jose scale is prob
&b.- more q stranger 10 the orchards
about San Jose whose name it bears
than any other old orchard district in
the country. 1t was not native OF
Santa Clara valley, but was imported,
it is believed, from Japan, where it is
found in profusion on the native trees.
San Jose, however. was the FIRST local
ity where it was recognized as i dead
" enemy of fruit trees and where the
first successful efforts were made to
fight it, and hence the name it re-
ceived. What is true of the scale is
also true of the borer, Goblin moth.
curculio and other pests. They ars
fought by thep rune growers intelH-
gently and unremittingly, with the re,
suit that the orchards are thrifty and
clean.
1t is in the fall when the crop is
gathered that the greatest activity Is
witnessed. Beginning about the mid
die of August and extending to Octo-
Der, the picking, curing and housing of
the crop calls foT the labor of large
number of persons. Usually the fruit,
which is of rich reddish purple when
ripe, is permitted to fall to the ground,
either when shaken from the tree by
the wind or when the tree is purposly
shaken. The soft ground prevents In
jury from falling and the fruit lies
until picked up and placed in boxes,
generally several days. It is not
necessary in California to dry by ey-
peusiye artificial heat, as is the case
in Oregon and other prune-growing
sections. The fruit is cured naturally
in the sun and is of better quality than
that evaporated by heat in drying
houses. 1t is first dipped in a weak
solution of I've to cut the skin slightly
to facilitate the drying process, and
is then spread upon trays. which are
three by eight feet in size These
trays are then spread out upon the
ground and permitted to remain there
several days. A drying-yard often
covers several acres of ground rami-
fed by little railways, upon which
fiat cars piled high with trays of fruit
are pushed by hand to and from the
shed or house where the fruit is
handled. Should it rain, which sell
dom happens during the drying sea
son, the trays are stacked up during
the shower and spread out again at its
close Sun-cured fruit in California
means something entirely different
from what most persons have seen in
sun drying of the domestic sort.
After remaining several days on the
trays the fruit is permitted to dry
several days longer in the shade by
stacking the trays up in pile in such
lation of air When completely cured
the bulk Of the fresh pruue being re-
duced at the ratio of rom 2 TO III
pounds to one pound the prunes are
taken to the packing houses, where
they are graded to the various sizes
by being run through grading ma
chine, which automatically separates
the various sizes Upon this grading
the price of the fruit depends, the
grades being classified by the number
of prunes to the pound. These run by
tens from 20 to 80 to the pound to 80
to 100. The next size is 100 to 100 and
all above 100 constitute distinct size,
These little prunes are of little value
being chiefly skin and pit, and sell at
small rate per pound as compared
with the larger sizes. 1t is the cheap
ness of these small sizes which has
led to their use so freely and to their
becoming SO familiar a sight, while
the larger and finer fruit is not known
so we'll to the general public. The
price is based upon the size OF SO to
the pound. If this basis is four
Ct5ILSr ever -tLt ldl SCI IbrI44 Iiit5~ I'D
half cent more for each size, and
smaller half a cent less, though in
years when the large sizes are scarce
there is also premium in addition to
the regular graduation of price.
II is one of the grievances Of the
prune-growers that the fruit for which
they receive So cents q pound is re-
tailed at the grocery stores at from IL
| to 90 cents. No other food product
| takes on such added value between
! the producer and the consumer when
no work is done upon it to give it this
additional value, and it is one OF the
objects of the prune-growers in form
| ing a cooperative association TO get
prunes into the hands Of consumers
at more reasonable advance upon
| first cost, and thus stimulate consump-
| ton. The association also introduces
methods of inspecting and packing
which constitute a guaranty Of special
quality for it's fruit as compared with
that which goes upon the market with
out bearing it's brand.-San Jose Mer-
curry.
PRAIRIE SCHOONERS TO RACE.