3-082-387 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

Fruit-Growing in California: drying prunes, 1895. 'The fruit-fields of the world have been wonderfully increased in the last quarter of a century, and the eating of fruit has, consequently, become much more general. The banana, to take one instance, was quite unknown except as a rare delicacy not many years ago; now it is the popular feature of most fruit-barrows and the ordinary commodity of every fruiterer. California has given us an enormous supply of fruit, which by recent improvements is able to reach Europe in good, wholesome condition. Our Illustration shows the process of drying prunes. Wide strips of linen are laid on the ground, and on them are placed the newly picked fruit. The hot sun accomplishes the drying in a short while, and then the prunes are carefully packed for travelling, and are transported from the fields to be relished in all parts of the world. From recent statistics it appears that California produces at least 26,000,000 lb. of raisins annually. There are more than 200,000 acres in California under vines, and these yield nearly 15,000,000 gallons of wine'. From "Illustrated London News", 1895.