The record-union., 1895-01-19

ings.
First, there can be no doubt that the
hosC natural as well as the most econom-
lcal method for all growers to pursue is
10 dispose of their fruits in their fresh or
green state. This cannot always be ac-
compllshed and leave a profit to the
grower. There are very many important
features connected with the growing.
harvesting and shipping of fresh fruits.
particularly so in California. Owing to
the point of production being so
REMOTE FROM THE LARGER CONSUMING G
CENTERS,
Fruits in their fresh state have to be
shipped from California to the large East
ern cities, q distance OF 1000 TO 5000
miles. Those engaged in the shipping
business in California know full well the
complications as we'll as the extreme risk
they are obliged to run in order to market
fresh fruits from California in the larger
Eastern cities. Very much depends upon
the service rendered by transportation
companies. The quality of fruit, style of
package and packing also cut an i'm
portant figure. For the purpose of con-
veying some idea as to the increase of
production, we will use the following
statistics Of shipments OF fresh deciduous
fruits from California, feeling that they
will serve to illustrate tie rapid increase
OF the fruit industry in this state.
THE INCREASED OUTPUT.
In the year 1885 the shipments of green
deciduous fruits from California to East
ern points amounted to y, 800, 900 pounds.
Skipping a period Of five years, during
which time the increase was gradual,
we find that in 1890 the shipments
amounted TO 4,700,000 pounds; i'll 1891,
9S,6S0,0O0 pounds; in 1892, Ill, 900
pounds; in 1893, l59,9O0,0O0 pounds; in
1894, estimated at over l6O, 600, 100 pounds.
The production of citrus fruits, oranges
and lemons, shows fully as great an in
crease. In 1890 the shipment of citrus
fruits from California amounted to 6S,-
420, 900 pounds; in 1893 we find The ship
ments to be 16l, $50, 900 pounds.
With raisins the increase has been
quite remarkable. Commencing with
the year 1873 we find the crop OF raisins
grown in California estimated at about
0,0OO boxes Of 20 pounds each. This is
the first record Of which we have any
knowledge. The increase was gradual
until it reached 80, ,0O0 boxes in 1881. In
1889 we find the production to be ! ,250. 600
boxes; in 1898, four years later, it reached
the enormous quantity OF 4,200,00O. At
the present time il is estimated that the
crop of 1894 will about edual that of 1898,
or say $4,000, 900 pounds.
In the matter of dried fruits our sta
tistics show the output of the State Of
NdilIO1 liza iOA IIlO cal lCCO W nav u DOeu
about 6,640,U00 pounds. The increase
from that time was gradual until 1898
was reached, when we find the output to
be about 81, 10000 pounds in round fig
ures.
IN REFERENCE TO CANNED FRUITS,
We find that the canning industry in
the State of California eXerts quite an in
duenCe and stimulates the production of
fruits Tor canning purposes in the various
localities where canneries have been
established. There are some forty cam
neries both great and small located in
this State.
1t will not be out of place at this time
to show the increase in this business by
few statistics. In 1876 our statistics
show pack OF canned fruits amounting
to 10000 cases OF two dozen two and one
half pound cans of fruit.s From this time
the increase was very gradual up to and
including 1887, when the amount of fruit
canned was 172, 800 cases. From this
time forward the increase was quite rapid
until the year 1892 was reached. when the
mum Der of cases of fruit packed in the
State exceeded 100000. In order to con-
Yey some idea OF the relative value of the
canning industry in connection with
commercial fruit-growing in California
we have estimated the amount of green
fruits of all kinds used by our Gamers IN
making their large pack in the year 1892,
ana md that the very considerable guam
tlty of fresh fruit required was about
50, 000, 900 pounds. The estimated output
of dried fruits in the State for the season
of 1893 was 93,000,000 pounds. To pro-
duce this quantity of cured fruit some
400, 100000 pounds of fresh fruits of all
kinds were required. This, added to the
quantity used by our Gamers, gives US
grand total of 4S0,G0 600 pounds Of fresh
fruits disposed of by these two industries.
FREIGHT RATES ARE REASONABLE.
The prime factor in the successful mar
keting of California's fruit crop lies in
the matter of transportation. The rate of
freight has been gradually reduced from
s., 200 per car in 1876 to $3.50 per car to
Chicago and $500 per car to New York,
the fruit being shipped in ventilated cars
and given freight train service. These
rates are quite reasonable, taking into
consideration the service rendered and
the distance the fruit has to be hauled.
What California fruit-grOwers and
shippers most need is quicker time-say
five days from Sacramento to Chicago;
and about seven days to New York.
VERSATILITY OF OUR SOIL.
We will not occupy your time by
enumerating the great range of varieties
but will mention the olive, the fig, the
raisin, the apricot, the almond and Eng
lish walnut as constituting quite list
for which we have few If any competitors
in the States to the east of us.
Florida comes into competition with US
in the production of oranges and lemons,
and one or two of the Pacific Coast States
TO the north of US compete in small way
with our prunes. With our better class
OF dried fruits we meet with a very light
competition from the producers east of
the Rocky Mountains. Hence, with quick
transit and reasonable charges, California
as a fruit-produclng State is certainly in
a position to hold her own with the fruit
producers of the world.
OTHER MATTERS.
Secretary LeIong of the State Horticult-
ural Society extended an invitation to
the members to visit its rooms in San
Francisco. ii also stated that the State
Board OF Trade extended like invita-
ton.
The Chairman of Committee on Awards
stated that through oversight the Orange
vale Colony's exhibits, which deserved
special mention, had been neg lected, and
the committee desired that it be added to
the list.
A series of resolutions relating to agri-
cultural pursuit were adopted.
a paper entitled New Fruits in the
Mississippi Valley" by c. S. Watrous of
Iowa, was read by that gentleman.
At l2:l5 o'clock the convention ad-
journed, to reasonable at , p. NJ.
Afternoon Session.
At the afternoon session the proceed
ings were opened with a paper on "The
Special Problems of Entomology in Its
Bearings on Pomology," by Professor c.
V. Riley of Washington, d. c., who was
formerly Government Entomologist, and
is widely known for his useful work in
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