The morning call., 1894-04-02
THE PROSPECTS OF FRUIT.

It appears that the cold snap ushered in
by Easter Sunday extended over the whole
country east of the Rocky Mountains.
Frosts spread from the valley OF the Ohio
through the fruit belt of Jersey, Mary
land and Delaware down to the shore of
the Gulf OF Mexico. The res ult threatens
to be disastrous to the Eastern fruit crop.
The trees were in blossom and bud. and
the latter have been nipped. Even the
straw berry fields have suffered, and there
will be no early crop. 1t is hoped that the
roots of the plants have escaped and that
there may be later crop, but 1t is very
doubtful whether there will be an average
yield Of either small berries or large fruits.
This means an increased Eastern demand
for California fruit. The Eastern cities
have be en- gradually increasing their fruit
consumption for some years. Fruit has
become a standing part of the diet OF
jewellers in towns; 1t is recommended by
physicians, and its value has been proved
by experience. California has now the
advantage OF priority in the markets. Our
fruits reach Chicago two or three weeks
before the fruit OF Ohio, Jersey or Della
ware. But the latter States are not far
behind us, and when their crops come
into market convenience to market and
price turn the scales A couple of years
ago the Southern Pacific endeavored to in
duce the Eastern roads to make rates on
fruit which would place Sacramento on
the same footing as Philadelphia In the
Chicago market; but the Eastern railroad
men insisted that miseage must govern,
and that their duty required them 10 look
out for their own fruit-growers. This de-
cision compelled Californians to rest their
claim to favor on quality alone. Happily
the flavor of our peaches and pears justi-
fed the claim.
This year, as it appears, competition
will be checked by the failure of the East
ern crop. But this may not happen again
for a long time. 1t Is never safe 10 build
on the misfortunes OF others. II our fruit
growers desire to create and maintain re.
liable market for their crop in the East
they must establish q reputation for their
product which cannot be gainsaid. They
must resolve not to ship any fruit East
which will not rank as first class. Sec
ond-class fruit must be kept at home and
dried or canned, or, still better, be fed to
hogs. The East wants the best fruit and
will so select our shipments that no one
will want Eastern fruit when California
fruit Is in the market.
Much has been done of late years by the
fruit unions to systematic fruit shipments.
and rates of freight have been made by
the roads which were declared to be out
Of the question a few years ago. But
something yet remains to be accomplished
Fruit inspection at the point of shipment
is not as thorough as it might be. The
fruit grower who sends East carload of
unripe or oYerripe fruit. or fruit which
will not keep from faults in packing. not
only courts loss for himself but infficts
an injury on the whole body of shippers
by bringing California fruit into disrepute.
The unions cannot be too strict in this
matter.
The condition of the raisin market is an
object lesson. Better and cheaper raisins
can be grown and dried at Fresno than at
Valencia. Raisins are almost an article of
prime necessity, and there is no reason
why they should not command remuner-
alive price. Yet Fresno raisins are now
selling iD this market at "a cents pound,
considerably below the cost of production.
Nc dDOludtf 10 Qu6 W tu6 idCt tudt tlO
ralsin-growers are without efficient organ
ization and operate without concert of ac-
ton, while the raisin- buyers are compact
body, operating under intelligent leader
ship, with a full and accurate knowledge
of The position and necessities of the pro-
Queer. The Chicago grocers name price
which they will give for California raisins,
and our growers, not having means to hold
their stock, have no choice but to accept
the terms offered them. A few months
ago they held a meeting and declared that
they would take nothing less than Az
cents; now, as we said, they are looking
for buyers al half the money.
1t does not answer, even for the most
fortunately situated communities, to trust
to luck for their living. Men must put
their own shoulders to the wheel. We can
grow in this State all the fruit required by
the people of the central valleys. but we
will not supply it on terms that will be
satisfactory until the trade is organized on