The record-union., 1898-12-03
Fuur-Fifths Of This Years Crop Has
Already Been Sold.
Prices Realized Also Greaily In Excess Of
Those Of Last Season.
Benefits to the Industry Through
the Operation of the Growers
Combine Presented in a Paper
Read Before the Fruit Growers
State Convention at Fresno.

FRESNO, Dec. 2-At the Fruit
Growers State Convention to-day fur
ther time was allowed a committee for
conference between the Manufactur-
erE and University authorities for the
framing of legislation to regulate the
sale of commercial fertilizers.
w. N. Rawley submitted list OF
seventeen Of the principal commission
merchants and receivers Of fruits and
fruit products in San Francisco, who
have expressed their recognition of the
value of the State inspection and
quarantine law for fresh fruit, particu-
larly apples and pears.
NJ. Theo Kearney read paper on the
raisin industry, showing how, through
the operation of the combine, there has
already been sold this year 2,400 of
the raisin crop of 5000 carloads and
the market has taken up 1000 more
carried over from 1897. The Eastern
market has been steady at highest
prices, and no stocks at distributing
points. The trade has freely bought
held up. Sales with few exceptions
have been made for cash before ship
ment Shortly after delivery an ad-
made, an additional l cent is being paid
on certain grades, with more to come at
the final proration, so that the net re-
suit for the whole crop will equal about
3A cents per pound in the sweat box,
while last year an average net return
Of 1az cents per pound was not real
lied. Under makeshift plan and a
cestly deal with commercial packers,
r.<1I
to raisin growers this year than they
could have possibly have secured for
their crops without this organization.
The scheme of the pool and its ap-
plications to other fruit industries were
discussed and indorsed.
San Jose was chosen for the conven-
ton of 1899
AT the opening of the afternoon ses-
sion the report of the Committee on
resolutions was called for, but no men,
Der of the committee was present
B. E. Hutchinson of this county then
offered resolutions indorsing the work
of the Horticultural Commissioners of
the various counties, and recommending
that no change be made in the present
law in so far as it affects the Com
miSsioners.
Some opposition developed, John s.
Dore of this county declaring the law
to be an extravagant one, but the res
oluttons were adopted
G. p. Hall of San Diego gave an In
teresting talk on Methods in Citrus
Fruit Culture" He considered at length
the matter of trimming the trees, and
favored training the branches to grow
in horizontal instead of a perpendicu-
lar course. When limbs grow upward
they produce more wood than fruit
The matter of steaming lemons to
bring out the color and make the skin
elastic was also discussed by the
speaker. Oranges were subjected to the
same process. he was sorry to say for
it did not improve them.
The olive industry was next consid-
cred, President Cooper and Secretary
Lelong taking part in the discussion.
Reference was made to the failure of
the crop this year, but no definite cause
could be assigned therefor.
A technical discussion on the pol
lination Of fruits followed, after which
resolutions thanking the citizens of
Fresno and the Southern Pacific for
courtesies extended were adopted
The convention then adjourned sine
die.