The Dried Fruits Of America

Up to within a short period the United States has been entirely dependent upon the South of Europe for its supply of the luxury of dried fruit, such as raisins, Zante currants, prunes, figs, etc. The total amount imported by the United States is not less, in round figures, than 115,000,000. Several years ago Califor nia started on a large scale the cultivation of the grape, and it was successful. Succeeding thia came the experiment of drying the fruit to a raisin. Samples of the raisins were sent to Europe, and when shown to Mr. Clemens, the great raisin factor of Malaga, he remarked that in time the California raisins would supply the United States' market to the exclusión of the foreign product. California is now coming to the front in this matter, and from recent' experiments made by the Alden Evaporator it has become evident that the United States is soon to be made independent of foreign supplies of raisins, currants, prunes, etc. There is another artiole of dried fruit that bids fair to become important in the commerce of this country, and that is dried peaches. In Indiana, Kentucky, Tennes8ee, and Georgia there are immense peach orchards covering hundreds of acres ; by a new process tho peaoh is now pared, sliced and dried in such a manner as to niake it one of the most delicious of dessert dishes. In Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Illinois the trade in dried blackberries and raspberries has become immense, and there are houses in Chicago that can flll on demand an order for 500 barrels. The Bystem of drying fruit in this country by hot air, instead of the old process of drying in the sun or kiln, has proved of great value. The enhanced prices at which the foreign fruitdealers have held their products during the past four or five years have driven our importers to the necessity of reducing their orders and compelling the shipments to bo made on consignment ; and now that it is demonstrated that our Western slope can furnish all and more than is sufficient for home consumption, we may look for a speedy release from foreign dependence.