Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-11-18

inch box would answer for early varieties
OF peaches; later on in the season a six
inch box would be required.
On motion of Tompkins, of Alameda
seconded by Hatch, it was decided that a
committee of three be appointed to con-
slider and report on the subject of fruit
boxes. The Chairman announced that he
would name the committee later on.
Williams, of Fresno, said that in ship
ping grapes East the crates should be well
rounded up, so that they may appear full
| when they get on the other side. He be-
lieved fruit should be sent in single crates,
though Eastern dealers appear to prefer
double crates.
Senator Buck agreed that grapes should
be fully packed. Still the fruit should not
be packed so as to bruise.
Mr.. Rutter, of Florin, said he had been
| packing grapes for many years. He had
sent grapes East fourteen years ago, in
| cork dust, with great success.
! George W. Gray said he believed cork
dust was preferable in fruit packing to pa
per wrapping. He had been experimenting
with tule which was light, tasteless, elas-
tic, and good absorbent.
| Williams, of Fresno, said that he also is
| experimenting with tule, chopped up fine
as material in which to pack grapes, and
he would let the fruit-growers know as to
| his success. He further stated that he had
| arranged TO obtain cork dust from Eastern
| firms for about three cents per pound. A
| pound of cork dust goes long ways.
Mr.. Rutter said he wished to say word
! for the Mission grape, which now seems to
be in bad repute. He had made more from
his Mission grapes than any other variety
Some growers were digging up their Mis-
sions. They would live to see the day
when they would be sorry for If
81. Weinstock, who, while in the East.
saw fruit sent on from California, was asked
for his views. Some of the boxes, he said,
which should have weighed twenty-four
pounds weighed only twenty pounds. This
creates feeling of distrust and want of
| confidence among dealers, and they are shy
about buying. He had also seen evil re-
suits from over-crowding, the upper layer
of grapes being bruised. Certain regula-
tons must be established regarding weight,
and then they must be rigidly enforced.
R. B. Blowers, of Yolo, said that he never
had grapes picked for shipment until after
the dew is off, He then has them taken to
large. airy house, men are employed to
cut of the imperfect and torn grapes, and
the stems from which the grapes have fallen
are also cut off. Thus the fruit is perfectly
dry when packed, and reaches the East in
good shape. Mr.. Blowers said his grapes
cost him from $40 to $12 per ton from the
time when he began picking them. Mus
cats cost more, as they require more care.
FRUIT-DRYING.
Mr. Williams, Fresno fruit grower, said
he peeled all his peeches before drying
them. The cost of peeling was trifing, and
they brought much higher figure in the
market than unpeeled fruit. He had
method of peeling which, apparently, is his
own, as it seemed to strike the other grow
ers as rather novel process. He dipped
the fruit in a weak solution of boiling I've
for moment, then threw them into cold
water bath. The skin was thus cooked,
and man could slip their coats off as fast
as he could handle them, two men in this
way peeling two, three or more tons of
fruit per day. without bruising or discolor-
ing them in the least. They were then pit
ted and sun-dried for five days, when they
were ready for market He sold his this
years crop at 224 cents per pound. The
I've is made by boiling ashes, and is not
strong enough to injure the hands. He
said he was not sure but that boiling water
without the addition of ashes would
answer the purpose.
The drying of prunes was discussed at
length by number of growers. Some
recommended dipping the prunes in hot
water, ard Others in syrup, and others still
claimed that both were injurious.
Mr. Williams said that early in the sea
son he picked half of the green fruit from
his peach trees. As a result he had to prop
up his trees 10 keep them from breaking
down, and while he did not have as many
peaches on a tree he had more pounds of
fruit, which brought better prices
Judge Blackwood advised all persons
sun-drying fruit to place their frames, on
which the fruit is placed, on the ground,
and not foot or so from the ground. The
dew point is above the ground, and will
not reach the fruit if placed close thereto.
In drying prunes he would place them on
the naked ground.
r. B. Blowers recommended the dipping
of such dried fruits as plums and prunes,
in preparation of water and glycerine.
Frank Buck said that he had probably
the largest peach crop this year in the
State-200 tons of marketable peaches.
The refuse of the crop he made profitable
by the use of a dryer of r. B. Blowers
patent. He proposed to double the ca
pacity of the dryer next season, so as to be
able to handle from twelve to fourteen tons
of green fruit every twenty -four hours.
Recess till . o'clock.
Afternoon Session.
H. Weinstock said the discussion on the
question, How the fruit-growers are to
dispose of their fruits without coming in
competition with each other as to prices
for the same quality and kinds of fruits"
is of more importance than all others. The
past season has not been profitable one.
The returns have not been satisfactory
Some claimed it was owing to over produc-
ton. Others that the fruit was not good.
Others held to the opinion that it was
owing to the fact that the California Fruit
Union and the buyers were cutting one
another. In order to satisfy himself as to
the real truth of the matter, he took his
grip-sack, went East and spent several
weeks among the people who consume
California fruit, to satisfy himself regarding
the market, and ascertain, if possible, what
could be done in the interest of the Cali
fornia grower. He had solved the mys-
terry, and thought he could now offer a
remedy that would overcome all diff
culties.
He offered the following preamble and
resolutions:
WHEREAS, This seasons experience has de-
monstrated that the following serious evils exist
in our methods of marketing green fruits in the
East First, the provision exacted by transpor-
tatiOn companies that fifteen carloads of fruit
must be shipped at a time to obtain $500 rate
from California to Chicago; second, the exces-
| SlN6 ItLS iiOui OttlNdSO " SuNu LaotciH
points as New York, Philadelphia or Boston;
third, the precarious and uncertain time on
which fruit trains are run between here and
the East, frequently causing delays of from
twelve to thirty-six hours, and thus seriously
depreciating the value of the fruit before arry
ing at its destination; fourth, the lack of suf-
| ficient number of cars adapted to the fruit
| carrying trade; fifth, the lack of regulated dis
| tribution, the want of which has. during the
| past season, caused as many as twenty or more
carloads of perishable fruit to reach the city OF
| Chicago within twenty -four hours many of
| these carloads becoming roted and worthless
| before they could be sold. while on the ether
| hand cities like Brooklyn, Baltimore and Wash
i, ington have received only from fifty to seventy
| five crates from the middle of August to the
| end of Septe nber and cities like Boston and
\ Philadelphia have received only from a quarter
/ to half carload each per week. and the city of
New York. with its population of nearly 100000,
| has, during the same period, received not overa
carload week; sixth. the need of proper in
specton at this end of the line, vast quantities
| of inferior and imperfectly packed fruit having
/ been permitted TO go East thus not alone caus-
ing its owners serious losses but also greatly de-
pressing the price of such good California fruits
| as happen at such times TO be in the same maT-
\ ket: seventh, the need of a speedier method
for the disposal OF our fruits on arrival at their
| points OF destination, the present method being
such that perishable fruits often remain in the
/ hands of Eastern agents entire week before
being closed out; and, lastly, the need of a sys-
| TEN whereby our fruits will be thoroughly dis
| tributed. and placed in he hands of the largest
| possible number of Eastern retail dealers, so
| that the competition among retailer may re-
| duce the fancy prices they now demand in