The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-11-28
CALIFORNIA FRUIT.
A New Scheme for Putting 1t in
the Eastern Market.
The State Horticultural Society Discusses the
Subject at Length-A Monument to
Mathew Cook.

The State Horticultural Society met yes
terday afternoon at 900 Suffer street, and
transacted considerable business, though
the attendance was not as large as CUSTOM
airy. President Hilgard presided.
Secretary WicksOn read a communication
from Assistant Secretary Willets of the De-
partment of Agriculture. which contained a
great number of suggestions concerning the
encouragement of p0mologY. The writer
strongly recommended that the agricultural
department be kept Informed as TO the
doings of State societies, and asked that
each society appoint standing committee
for the purpose Of responding to circulars
which may from time to time be forwarded
from the division of pomology OF this de-
partment. If such course is pursued the
department promises to forward also lin
tied supply OF seeds, sciOns, etc, to the
society. and TO do everything possible to
make the proposed cooperation a success.
a long discussion was had ON the subject
of prune-tree borers, and in this connection
Professor HiIgard real a letter from Fred
Boder Of Fresno, giving his experience with
a new remedy for this pest. He made glue
pills OF bisulphate of carbon, the pills rang
ing about TWO Inches in length and five
elghths Of an inch in thickness. These were
planted from six TO ten inches deep about
I lie 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 a similar system has
been practiced in the East, where briQuettes
OF bisulph.de OF carbon have been success
fully tried
HANDLING AND SELLING FRUIT.
Secretary Wickson read a paper by David
Lubln of Sacramento, which was discussed
at the recent Fruit growers Convention
In MarySvllle. 1t contains valuable Sugges-
tons relative TO the handling and marketing
OF fruit and proposes that the frutmen or
ganlZe and employ manager from the East,
who in turn shall employ agents for the pur-
pose of selling California fruit to Eastern
consumers. The Marysvlile convention ap-
proved this scheme, and recommended that
test be made OF its efficacy IN San Fran
cisco. After this manner the proposition
came before the horticultural Society yes
tcrday.
MI Lubin was called upon to explain
several points outlined in his paper, ana
said that in the past San Francisco consum-
ers have had TO pay full figures for all fruit;
yet the producers know too well how small
part has come back To them. II our mar
ket ght at the gates of orchards, has been
SO unSklllfully managed how may we hope
to have rnings in shape in the East? At
present our frult-pTOducers know very little
OF the why's and wherefOTes Of the tiuctua-
lions OF the local market. They may learn
by letters from q commission man that tho
market Is depressed or Glutt2d, or something
OF that sort, but cannot learn details of
value SO that they may regulate the price.
THE FRUIT Is READY.
The fruit Is ready, the people are here and
want TO eat our fruit Is an experiment.
suppose small store be opened by a local
union aud several men be sent out TO vend
the fruits and seek the city consumers.
The manager of such a store would be a
small-salared man. He would not have the
liking OF the price, and could not become a
dictator on fruit prices. There could be
daily communication with the producer,
and the speaker was satisfied that the eX-
pertinent would work satisfactorily in this
city.
b. \. Rowley questioned whether fruit
producers would make successful retailers
This scheme, said he, can only be carried
out a great expense. The cost of vendors
alone would require a large income, and ne
doubted whether people would buy as
readily as under the present system.
Leonard Coates of Napa argued that the
general ideas of Mr.. LuDin's paper are
sound merchandising principles He had
seid peaches 10 commission men here for
81 cents box and had rebought the same
for three pounds for % cents. Commission
men are supposed to receive only per
cent. but It IS q question if that ia all they
receive. He commended that commission
men buy in al the time. By this means
4dAtAA Gpp4co lHdL IcluEutu % CeuIS q DON
to the grower sold to the consumer for 81
box.
L. VI. Buck Of the Fruit Union said that
if it can be shown that this buying-in
method IS practiced by any reputable COM
mission man, such a merchant should be
denounced by all growers. II all fruit
business in San Francisco could be done by
SIX men there would surely be better prices
for the growers He favored the plan sug-
gested and said that fruit-vending by the
nod haa,
successfully at points East.
Is IT PRACTICABLE?
James Shnu related the rise and fall of
the old Fruit-growers' Association, whose
aims were similar TO those now talked over.
The elder Llewelling of Napa and Messrs.
Earl OF Sacramento and Smith of Petaluma
were in that association. The growers did
what they could then, but the middlemen
are here yet. He questioned whether all
commission men are dishonest aud favored
the Idea talked OF If it could be proved prac-
ticable.
The monument which the society proposes
to erect 10 the memory of Mathew Cook, a
leading horticultural, was the next subject
for discussion, and a committee, consisting
OF Messrs. Coates, Smith and OyeraCker, was
appointed to raise the amount necessary TO
commence the work, which is about $3.50.
About $500 has already been subscribed.
1t was agreed to hold the December meet
ing on the 18th. week earlier than usual.
How and What Trees to Plant" and
Pruning and the Disposition OF Prunings"
will be discussed at that time.