The record-union., 1896-02-03

1
Pounds. Pound. Value.
Fresh fruit, ,17e, 81, 800 cent $1,795 74S 90
Dried fruit. .102 SIC, 500 cents &, so 64s 90
Raisins,......... 95 s26,400 ~ cents 234566o 90
Canned fruit los, $500 y cent 526626 90
Boxes. Per Box.
4 Citrus fruit. l,792.3S4 81 90 1884, 90
Total 029, ,77O 90
The State Agricultural Society,"
through it's reports in 1882 and for
years before, kept encouraging the sys-
tematic planting of deciduous fruit
trees, with the idea of increasing the
productive capabilities of our State, and
with the further idea in mind that in
case our revenue derived from the ex-
port of grain-the then leading staple
should be materially lessened, by
drought or other cause, the State would
not be left barren of returns 1t is this
same spirit that now actuates us in the
development of additional resources.
AS results have since shown, it was
most fortunate occurrence that such
rapid progress was made in the growing
of fruit The year 1889 gave US the
largest wheat export ever made from
California, and at prices that have
never since been reached, but, on the
contrary, have steadily declined until
they were so per cent. less in 1894.
| Comparisons are made with this year
for the reason that it was in 1894 that
the lowest prices in the history Of
wheat growing prevailed) To meet
this heavy decline in returns from
wheat, was the phenomenally large in
crease from our fruit industry. At this
time we have about met the demand for
fruit, and we deem it inadvisable to fur
ther extend the planting of new or.
chards until an increased market is as
sured, as the trees now in full bearing,
and those that will come into bearing
within the next few years, will supply
all ordinary demand. We consider it
better to extend other agricultural pos
sibilities than to cripple those now ON a
paying basis. In this report we have
mentioned other products that will bear
extension, and thereby overcome a con-
dition that would tend to reduce farm
ing to a struggle for existence. A pre-
ventive is to direct our attention to such
products as will warrant stimulation
and consequent extension. The culti-
walton Of sugar beets and tobacco,
truck farming, the raising of poultry
and dairying offer better inducements
at this time than does the further ex-
tension of the fruit industry
THE CALIFORNIA FRESH FRUIT
BUSINESS FOR THE SEASON OF
1895.
The fresh fruit shipping business Of
1880 opened out very encoura gingly
The fruit-gr growers had every reason to
believe that the season of 1895 would
prove the most profitable in several
years. On the one hand the transpor-
tation companies had reduced the rates
on refrigerator cars from $50 to $50
car; the Southern Pacific Company had
reduced the local charges from non.
terminal points about 40 per cent, and
had arranged for a fve-day ventilated
car train to Chicago. On the other
hand, the leading growers and shippers
had organized the California Fruit
Shippers and Growers Association, for
the purpose of issuing daily bulletins SO
as to prevent the glutting Of markets,
and had arranged for the establishing
of a consolidated auction salesroom at
the various Eastern auction points fo1
the purpose of preventing the fruit, as
in the past, from needlessly being
brought into competition with itself
and for the further purpose of making
these consolidated auction salesrooms
free and open to all buyers, so that the
growers would get the benefit of the
fullest and freest competition among all
the buyers in the various markets.
The first disappointment that met
the growers was late frosts, which re-
duced the crop at least one-third. Some
consolation, however was found in the
fact that similar misfortunes had over
taken many Eastern fruit districts,
especially the grape districts; and the
feeling prevailed that, owing to the
short crops East and West, the dimin-
ished California supply would bring
unusually high prices, thus compensat-
ing for the loss of fruit by frosts.
The second disappointing feature was
brought about through a split among
the growers and shippers, resulting in
a disaffected element starting a rival
auction salesrooln in New York and
Boston, thereby defeating the purpose
of bringing all buyers under one roof
in order that the grower might realize
the full value of his fruit This split
among the shippers and growers per
petuated some Of the grave evils of the
past. and thereby materially lessened !
the results that growers otherwise
might have received.
The third disappointment of the sea-
son lay In the fact that the ventilated /
car train to Chicago did not prove
available. Experience developed the |
fact that the ventilated cars could be
used only to advantage for very hardy |
fruit going TO Chicago and markets
west thereof. It was found extra haz-
ardous to send the more perislhable va
rieties in ventilated cars to the At
lantic markets, and even to Chicago
and so the refrigerator charges, which /
the growers had hoped to save by the |
use Of ventilated cars. We're continued, |