The record-union., 1898-02-02
INDUSTRIES OF
CALIFORNIA.
Continued from Fourth Page.)

CONTINUED from Fourth Page)
lions of the foreign product is becom-
ing less each year
by references made hereto, we do not
intend to convey the idea that our fruit
industry is a failure, but only is SO lar
as our marketing methods are con-
cerned. If the grower delegates all ms
work and financial business TO agents,
permitting extraordinary charges anu
on-remunerative sales. he is simply not
capable, in a business sense. TO conduct
his affairs and the sooner he finds II out
the better it will be for him.
1t is possible that the two great rea-
sons why the grower received better re-
turns this season than in former years
We're first the agitation that existed
throughout the season against cons. gn
ements, thereby causing falling off IN
Shipments: and second. the f. O. b. pur-
chases made by shippers to supply de-
mands of regular customers and to keep
prices up to encourage consignments !;
which shows conclusively to our mind
what we have always maintained that
ii the growers could combine sufficient
to reduce consignments very materially
is too much money invested in business
plants. and too large trade established
throughout the East to have it other
Wise. and it rests wholly with the grow
ers to make their interest one of the first
III this great State. There are strong
Qualifications to overcome, but by or
ganiza,ion and concentration of power,
the enemy can be routed. Until some
thing of this kind is done, we would not
advise further extension of tree-planr-
ing in this State.
In November last there was held a
I'ruit-Growers' Convention in Sacra-
n.ento. 1t was a representative body of
intelligent men, and the subject OF
transportation and marketing of our
fruit crop was taken up and discussed
with force and vigor, showing a feeling
most expressive of the condition of the
average fruit-grower under methods
now in vogue. In discussion il was
shown how distribution and marketing
OF cur cured and citrus fruits had been
improved: that little or no Roadway had
been made in the profitable marketing OF
oui deciduous fruits; that cons. gnments
through commission shippers, with at
tendant expenses was the bane of the
grower: that the system is so fastened
upon the grower as to make it diff
cult to uproot without concert of &C
ton: and that it will be but short time
before d privation Will so,ve the problem
if the growers do not.
The convention passed resolutions re-
commencing organization by districts
In reports received from Los Angeles
County. it is shown that the fruit grow
ers therein combined to handle the pro-
duct of that county in 1898 through
their own exchange When this is done
in every large fruit shipping county in
the State fruit will be sold at the sta
tion f. o. b. without trouble.
CURED FRUITS.
AT the State Convention plan Of eX-
tending the sales of our cured fruits in
the European markets was inaugurated
and from present advices promises &c
be operative This convention resolved
to raise fund of $4,000 to maintain an
exhibit of California cured fruits in the
principal markets or trade centers in
Europe as the exhibit made by the
State in the Hamburg Exposition was
productive of great interest in our
fruits, and some very good sales have
recently been made by reason thereof
The most notable is that made very re-
Gently by the ]. K. Armsby Company OF
one hundred tons of high class prunes
grown on the Bancroft ranch in Contra
Costa County. a large consignment Of
dried pears preceded this shipment tC
same destination. With the opening oil
these great markets, we predict bright
future for our dried fruits
We also note that there is a brisk de
mand in Europe for American apples
and that shipments thereto have beer
made from California, Santa Cruz Coun
~ furnishing a very large consignment
recently
The canning industry of California il
the packing of fruit and vegetables i.
in itself a business of some magnitude
and furnishes an outlet for consider.
able portion of our orchard and garden
products. 1t is likewise a manufactur-
ing industry in which la Dor and materia
figure quite extensively. and should be-
encouraged in every way possible
1t is estimated that the total pacl
Of fruit and vegetables for the season
of 1897 was 2,351 .513 cases. containing
twenty-four cans to the case. or tota
of 56. 1876, 800 cans In estimating The
cash value of this output we have tax
en- an average of So per case-baset
upon the following figures which show
the trade prices that ruled: Extra,
sold at 81 %; extra standards at SO
and standards at 50 20 per case-woulC
give US SI.o54, 545 from this agricultur
al adjunct of trade for the season o
1897.
This industry, not unlike other line
OF trade, has keenly felt the stringenc,
Of The times that commenced with tin
year 1893, and its progress for that rea
son has not been what ii should /
was not until the year 1896 that an,
Improvement was shown: the yea
1897 shows quite a good-sized pacl
with a low margin of profit 10 tn
packer. but as the market continue
firm and stocks are about all out o
the Gamers hands. the prospects seen
bright for a prosperous season for tn
year 1893. The following table show
the pack by counties:
California canned fruit and vegetabl
pack testimated) for 1897:
Cases
Alameda County ..................... 800 90
Butte County ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 81 90
Fresno County ...e.................-.. U.Di
nS-