Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1896-12-17
WHAT TO DO WITH THE FRUIT.
a Problem for California Growers Which
Becomes More Serious.

a Problem for California Growers Which
Becomes More Serious.
The marketing of the immense and
rapidly increasing fruit crops of Cali
fornia is a matter of vital Importance
to the growers. The manager of one of
the largest fruitproducing companies
of the Pacific slope, when asked about
this subject by a reporter the other.
day, said;
California is, capable Of supplying
the markets futhe world with most
kinds of fruit, Her yield is simply
enormous and is increasing so fast that
there is considerable apprehension as
TO how crops can be advantageously
disposed Of in the future. The variety
of California fruit is also wonderfully
great, as it includes oranges, lemons,
pears, peaches. .apricots and grapes. In
1885 the entire, output of California
fresh or green fruits wassless than 25,-
100000 pounds. The output this year
will probably be about 2oo,OOo,0oo
pounds. Besides the fresh-fruit out
put, there is the dried and canned
product, which will be not less than
35O,OOO,oOO and may reach 4O0,OOo,oOO
pounds.
"It is commonly supposed that the
canning aud drying of fruits is the best
way of disposing of the immense crops,
but, while it is an effective factor, it is
not everything. California canned
fruits are delicious, but the mass of the
people cannot afford to consume them
extensively. AS the product increases,
however, the cost may be reduced SO
as to bring the articles within the reach
of most consumers.
California fruits are distributed
throughout this country in refrigerator
cars, each of which carries from 10000
to $4,000 pounds. The fruits that come
to New York are usually about ten days
on the road. When the season is at its
height the weekly receipts in this city
amount to from 90 to 100 car loads.
Special trains are sometimes run to
carry fruit designed for export. These
trains are so timed that they will ar
rive here just before the sailing Of
transatlantic steamships. The steam
ship lines have incurred great expense
in providing refrigerating compart-
ments for the transportation of Califor-
MIA fruits, but up to the present time
the business has been Improbable to
the shippers. Determined men with
practically unlimited capital are be-
hind the export business, however, and
they appear to feel confident that ulti-
mately it will be made profitable,
despite the prolific transatlantic fruit
crops with which they have to compete.
"There are from 100000 to 100000
acres of land under fruit cultivation in
California. About two-thirds Of the
trees are in bearing. Other trees are
constantly being planted and, OF
course, the number of bearing trees is
steadily increasing. The product is
increasing faster than the population
of the country, but the consumption of
fruit is becoming more general, and
when 1t is cheap and times are good the
demand will probably more closely ap-
proximate the supply.
"The growers must rely upon wider
distribution CT their crops in home
markets. In order to make such dis
tribution, single car loads of fruit must
be sent to small cities and large towns
where the use of fruit from elsewhere
has been limited. In this way con.
sumption can be greatly stimulated"
N. Y. Tribune.