Los Angeles daily herald., 1890-03-15
THE FRUIT-GROWERS.
Grapes, Small Fruits and
Vines Discussed.
TWO MEMORIALS TO CONGRESS
Santa Cruz Selected for the Next
Meeting Place-The Closing
Session.

The State Fruit Growers Convention
met in the Los Angeles theater yester-
day morning at 9 80 o'clock, Mr.. L. w.
Buck in the chair. The following reso-
lutions were unanimously adopted:
WHEREAS, We are Californisns and
our fruits are recognized in all the lead
ing markets of the United States as
superior to the imported varieties,
especially in the matter of prunes.
Therefore be it
Resolved, That we, the State fruit
growers in convention assembled urgently
recommend that the fruit growers and
shippers, packers and all others inter-
ested in the prune to drop the name of
French prune or any other foreign name
and call them the California prune.
WHEREAS, The present high rate OF
freight to the East on California pro-
ducts, classed as commodities, is in a
large measure due to the fourth and fifth
sections of the Interstate Commerce law,
known as the long and short haul clause.
WHEREAS, The traffic managers OF the
various transcontinental roads signify
their willingness to grant relief by the
proper adjustment of east-bouud tariff
ON our commodities, namely, fruits
green, dried and cured, provided this OBJ
jectionable clause be repealed.
WHEREAS, A bill is now pending be-
fore Congress asking the repeal of the
long and short haul clause of the Inter
state Commerce law, therefore be it
Resolued, That this convention petit
ton Congress and earnestly request the
repeal of said long and short haul clause,
thereby placing our trsnscontlnental
roads in . position to grant the relief
prayed for, namely: lower freight rates
on California products in carload lots to
the East.
An essay on table grapes by R. B.
Blowers. of Woodland, was read by Mr..
Rice. The writer said: My subject,
"Tsble Grapes" is very large one, and
in order to trespass as little as possible
on your time, will treat the subject
from the standpoint of shipping grapes
for the Eastern market.
There are several things necessary to
consider if we desire success in this line
of horticulture. We must grow the par.
ticular varieties that have keeping quail
ties and have also an attractive appear
ance sufficient to make them successful
as a market fruit. Flavor is the next
consideration. After having arrived in
the Eastern markets in fine condition
and sold on their good looks, their eating
quality should be 80 excellent as to
create demand for more. In order to
producs all of these results a proper
selection of climate, soil and varieties of
grapes must be made and the grower
must keep in view all the conditions
to
sandy, clayey loan, we'll underdrained,
conditions. Pruning must be in accord
aue, with the habits of the vine. Over
bearing must be avoided, as color is ab
solutely required and is only obtained il
perfection when the proper balance is
kent between leaves and fruit. Color,
keeping quality and flavor all 60 to-
gether, and the treatment OF soil and
vine producing one, all things being
equal, produces the others. Irrigation IN
winter, when winter rains are light, and
June or early July irrigation, supplies
the proper conditions, because vigorous
growth of vine during the spring and
early summer exhausts the moisture
rapidly from the soil.
If the grower will carefully 60 over his
Tokays Il speak of them as they tre-
quently lack color, and are the most i'm
portant Variety, after the berries are set
and half as large as shelled pea, and
thin out by cutting away branches likely
to interfere with each other, and espe
ciallv cutting off the leaves one-third oi
very large punches, he will have nearly
~ many pounds of grapes suitable to
ship, and larger, better colored and
more profitable crop. Several early
kinds are used. of which the Chasselas,
Fontainbleu and Sweetwater take the
lead. Heavy shipments are not made
until Tokays and Muscats are ripe. The
Tokay is by far the most popular grape.
The Muscat is not much called for east
of Chicago. The Cornichon and Black
Morocco are in good demand and havs
good carrying qualities. The latter, like
the Emperor, must be pruned long, al
the first and second buds rarely
produce first crop punches. The EN-
peror, like the Tokay, is a favorit'
in market, but does not fruit over as ex
tensive range as the latter, being a sh,
bearer in many places, and never al
heavy q producer as the Tokay, but is ,
better keeper than all others except thu
Almeria The past season carloads wer'
shipped from Yolo county, alter havlnI
been exposed to five or six inches OF rain
to Chicago and New York, selling in tn
last named city at auction to averag
over Sc per double crate. The Almeri
is imported in very large quantities iron
Spain, and is favorite, on account of 1t
keeping qualities, in all of the Easter
markets. 1t is shy bearer in Yolo
where | have grown it for twenty -tiv
wears. It should be tried in all section
of California, and if the proper location
found, where it will produce equal t
Almeria, it will be very fortunate acqui
sition to that locality. The proper meth
ods of picking and packing are OF th
greatest importance. Grapes should b
picked after the dew is off the vines. Th
picker should cut the stem with shar
knife, holding it with the other hand, an
carefully place it in the picking box sten
upward, filling the box only about three
fourths full. The grapes should not b
exposed to the light or hest OF the sun
but should be hauled as soon and as care
fully as possible to the packing room
and there stacked up in such manne
as to give complete ventilation. The
should remain there twenty lou
hours. Then it will be foun
that the stems are wilted and tiexibl
and they can then be handled softly witt
out breaking the skin at iss intersectio
with the stem. The packing room
should be light; the clippers arranged Q
one side Of a long table or tables, tn
pocL ara ~, tho othar The c,lDD0r6 tax