The record-union., 1891-11-28
FRUIT CONSUMPTION.
The Difficulty of Getting Good
Article Here at Home.
David Lubin Expresses His Views on
the Subject-Horticu1tu In
Session Yesterday.

Some very interesting subjects were
discussed at yesterdays meeting of the
State Horticultural Society in San Fran
cisco, at which Professor Hi1gard pre-
sided. A letter was read from Assistant
Secretary Willets of the Department of
Agriculture, giving a number of sugges-
tions relative to the encouragement of
pomology. He urged that the depart
ment be kept informed of the doings of
State societies and requested that each
society appoint standing committee to
respond to circulars which may be sent
out by the division of pomology of the
department. In return the department
will send a limited supply of seeds,
scions, etc., to the society, and do all it
can to make the proposed cooperation of
mutual benefit.
PRUNE TREE PESTS.
A letter received by Professor Hilgard
from Fred Boder of Fresno was read, Civ
ing details of a new remedy for prune
tree borers. He made glue pills of bi-
sulphate of carbon, the pills ranging
about two inches in length and i've
eighths of an inch in thickness. These
were planted from six to ten inches deep
about the base Of each tree, and the result
was that when this remedy was tried no
trees were lost, while the year before the
borers destroyed about five acres of prune
trees.
Professor Hilgard, commenting on this
remedy, remarked that similar system
has been practiced in the East, where bri-
quettes of bi-sulphide of carbon have been
successfully tried.
WHAT TO PLANT.
1t was agreeable to hold the December
meeting on the 18th, a week earlier than
usual. How and What Trees to Plant"
and Pruning and the Disposition of
Prunings'' will be discussed at that time.
THE LUBIN PLAN.
Secretary Wickson read a paper pre-
sented to the recent Fruit-Growers Con-
vention at Marysyille by David Lubin Of
Sacramento, relative to a new scheme for
fruit handling and marketing. In brief,
1t IS Tor the producers to organize, employ
manager from the East and let him en-
ploy a number of vendors who should
sell California fruit direct to Eastern con-
SumerS.
The Marysville Convention approved
Of Mr.. Lubin's scheme, and suggested
that the experiment be tried in San Fran
cisco before trying it in the East. In this
way the matter came before the State
Society.
MIR. LUBIN EXPLAINS.
Being called on relative to the points
made in the paper, Mr.. Lubin spoke
briefly. In the past, San Francisco con-
sumers have had to pay full figures for
all fruit, yet the producers know too we'll
how small part has come back to them
If our market, right at the gates of or
chards, has been so unskilIfully man
aged, how may we hope to get things in
shape in the East? Atpresent our fruit
producers know very little of the why's
and Wherefores of the fluctuations of the
local market. They may learn by letters
from commission man that the market
is depressed or glutted. or something of
that sort, but he cannot learn details of
value so that he may regulate his price.
The fruit is ready, the people are here
and want to eat our fruit.
AS an experiment, suppose small
store be opened by a local union and
several men be sent out to vend the fruits
and seek the city consumers. The mana
ger of such a store would be small-sal-
aried man. He would not have the fixing
of the price and could not become die
tator on fruit prices. There could be
daily communication with the producer
and the speaker was satisfied that the ex-
pertinent would work satisfactorily in
| San Francisco.
B. n. Rowley questioned whether fruit
producers are prepared to become fruit
retailers? The scheme in the East would
involve great outlay. Twenty-Five ven
ders at So day would require large in
come, and there would have to be livery
stable if horses We're employed. He ques-
toned if people could be induced to buy
fruit of venders.
Mr.. Lubin said likely he had paid ten
cents pound for apricots for which the
retailer had paid four cents. On no other
commodity in this market is there such
a margin of profit. The plan should be
begun in a small way and grow only
when its success is assured.
THE SUBJECT DISCUSSED.
Leonard Coates of Napa argued that the
general ideas of Mr. Lubin's paper were
sound merchandising principles. He had
sold peaches to commission men here for
52 cents box, and had rebought the same