The morning call., 1891-09-26
TOO MUCH FRUIT.
A Discussion of the Subject by
HorticuIturists.

The State Horticultural Society met yes
terday at its rooms at 900 Suffer street.
Vice-President Stabler presided in the ah-
sence of President Hilgard. There was
full attendance.
Officers for the society for the ensuing
year were nominated, to be elerted at the
next monthly meeting. The nominations
were as follows: For President, Leonard
Coates, Professor Hilgard and Rev. y. L.
Perkins; for Vice President Messrs. Ban
croft, Maslin ami Stabler; fer Secretary and
Treasurer. Wickson and Perkins were re-
nominated.
An all day meeting or reunion of the
pioneer horticulturists OF the State is pro
posed for the near future. Messrs. Coates.
Smith and Wickson. the committee having
the matter il charge, will report at the De-
cember meeting details for the proposed
reunion. Its object will be to clear up and
compile the early history of horticultural
societies of the State. The work OF the
meeting will be of great historical value,
and John Bidwell will probably be asked to
preside.
MI Coates had fine display of Eastern
table-grapes at the meeting. 1t led TO
discussion that showed brisk demand for
these grapes in the local market.
II. j. Pryal exhibited two seeding pears
that were named the Pryal No. l and the
Prval No. Q.
c. NJ. Plumb of oakland and Mr.. Ban
croft briefly addressed the meeting on the
value Of bookkeeping TO farmers and said
that it could be learned in one hour.
Emory E. Smith read paper on the
wild Strawb berries of California, and said
with cultivation they could be made
source of great profit. The wild fruit IS OF
very choice and sweet flavor. Discussion
developed that the wild berries are always
Ifnst tad
they are not more largely cultivated.
Mr.. BlackwoOd made an interesting adj
dress on the subject of Surplus of Fruit"
He argued that the greatest mistake that
people here or elsewhere make Is that they
believe they have the world for market
On that theory everybody is rushing into
the frut-growing business. He could not
believe that land is worth 800 and $500 an
acre Tor fruit any more than it Is worth
that much for wheat. Land is worth just
its rental value. He yentured the prophecy
that the time is not far distant
when orchards in this State would be dug
up. He cited instances where thousands
and thousands of bushels Of pears and other
fruits are rottng on the ground this year.
He closed with the sarcastic eXhOrtatioD
But 20 ahead and plant fruit; you've got
the world for "A market"
Leonard Coates of Napa, in reply. thought
that reproduction IS chestnut, and that
the subject itself is chestnut Every body
in the business Is making money. There
are no more prosperous communities in the
State than those where fTuit-raiSing is the
principal industry. Disappointment are
chiefly among those who Invested $4,000 or
$4,000 and expected to realize profit of
5000 year. Even with the present glutted
state of the market, many plum orchards
are realizing 500 an acre, and lie thought
that should satisfy any one. In the matter
Of big pears and peaches, which many
growers are striving after, he was glad that
these monstrOsltles are seen only at the
State Board OF Trade rooms in glass jars.
Several other members OF the society en-
gagged in pro and con discussion on the
matter. and 1t was asserted among ether
things that England could consume all the
pears this country could send them for many
years The fruit must be shipped green and
ripen in transit. 1t was held, too, that q
man could become rich raising French
prunes and selling them dried at cents .
pound.
Potatoes also crept into the discussion to
some extent, when james Shinn of Niles
asserted that Congress should not gobble up
the railroads, but rather appoint a board to
control the traffic rate.
Professor Allan of San Jose, in reply to
Mr.. Blackwood, said thai if there Is danger of
Over-productiJn, then the consumption must
be increased. Prunes at cents pound are
universally more nutritious and cheaper
than beef at 1215 cents pound. He cited
an instance III Lake County where at so
low price as So a ton for dried apples an
orchard was made TO pay $50 an acre.
Times tor high prices had gone, he thought.
aud the producers must accommodate them
selves to lower prices.
DR.. Kimball said that the high prices OF
land initiate against the really successful
cultivation of fruits IN this State, as against
lands in Georgia aud other equally favor
able fruit-growing localities. Were he Il
young man, he would not stay in California
another day.
James Sninn Of Niles exhibited the fruit
of the akebia quiuata. a very rare speci-
men. The fruit looks like big egg, split
open and nesting inside an elonga ed sub
stance, of notified greenish color. not IN
like caterpillar in appearance. The fruit
rarely forms. though the vine is common
porch-climber. The heart OF the fruit,
which contains the seed. is edible, but the