The record-union., 1899-02-08
FRUIT GROWERS At FLORIh
DISCUSS THE QUESTION OF
MARKETING FRUIT.
will Send Agents into Field North
and Also Into the
East.


ing the fruit problem of the coming
season and the best way of meeting
them.
There were present the following
members: M. S. Ditson, w A. Gardner,
w. A. Mott, C. W. Clark, c. F. John
son, George Ogden. Frank Ames, L. J.
Romer, w. D. Whitman, E. F. French,
T. E. Davis, Abe Troutman, J. M. Da-
vies, L. M. marlborough, Robert Barn
eby, j. H. Cooley, L. S. Dart, ]. c.
Stewart, Alex Williams, Adam Trout
man, George Rich, c. l.. Buell., c. Towl,
M. A. Casey, C. r. Stubbs, D. H. Buell.,
J. P. Brown, S. w. Kennedy. E. F.
Straight, George Carlisle, J. A. Thomas,
John Reese, w. O. Davies, A. j. Macy,
w. J. Smith, E. Lewis. Peter Trout
man, Joe Jackson W. H. Kennedy, w.
II. Wason, Alex Dahn, J. L. Scholefield
G. Cox, = Nesche, James Tootell, Chas.
Fehl, J. L. Stubbs, Matt Williams, F. T.
Robinson, w. H. Nelms, Fred Gage, G.
L. Hunt of Elk Grove; e. Booth and
"A. D. Jackson of Costumes, C. E. Mack
of Union House, and p H. Murphy of
Perkins
c. H. Buell. called the meeting to ord
er and stated that it had been called for
the purpose of discussing the best meth
cd Of disposing of the fruit
L. c. Stewart said the understanding
had been that they were to meet as
growers and discuss the different places
of fruit shipping They wanted to
know what they were going to do with
the fruit, as the business has been
growing worse and worse for several
years. There was a time when F'lorin
oh nj in "a
State, but now it is low on the list.
Some say that it is because the grow
ers do not take pains in putting up
their fruit, but they used to get good
prices when they had not as much ex-
perience in packing as they have now.
Now it seems as if the more pains they
take. the poorer prices they get.
When he started to grow strawberries
he was toldenot to manure, but he did
and did well. Then he could get all
the manure he wanted for nothing now
he cannot get it for any price A few
years ago he grew the finest straw
berries around Florin, but when he
came to ship them, his neighbors, with
poorer berries than he. got just as
large price and he quit. Now he
was going to start on Strawberries
again, but he did not know what he
would do with them
John Reese said they had gathered to
learn something. All know that a few
years ago Florin berries were the best
IN the State, and they received good
prices. Now they do not. There is a
cause for this and they should find it
out and if they cannot to-day, they
should continue meeting till they find
out. If they do not, they would do
better to quit the business and not stay
In IT simply for their health The
transportation and refrigerator car
companies do not ship the fruit for their
health, neither should the growers. A
few years ago the fruit was good.
shipped we'll and arrived in good condi-
ton. One reason, he thought was
that 1t was shipped in ventilator cars
and had to be raised and shipped in
good condition. Now it is shipped in
refrigerator cars. He did not think
1t made much difference whether it
was Florin or Fresno fruit. 1t would
keep about SO long after being taken
out of the refrigerator cars. He thought
the Fresno fruit had the advantage in
looks to start with, whether it is bet
ter or not
E F. French thought the discussion
should not take too wide range, or
nothing will be gained. He did not
agree with Mr.. Reese that the fruit is
as good now as in the days when it
brought high prices. He knew his
was not. The growers are now SELL
ing in a few markets and through one
or two firms. Why hot sell in a large
number of markets. The question of
markets, he thought, was the one for
discussion.
F. Gage said the others might not
agree with him. He was not berry
grower and the marketing of fruit East
was what interested him. He thought
some one should be sent East long be-
fore the fruit was ready for shipment
and let him sell it, to be delivered later
There are many small towns around
New York and Chicago, where mark
ct for the fruit can be made. Let
some one go on and make arrangements
and sell as much fruit as is possible
outright and get it out Of the way.
In the afternoon it was decided to
confne the discussion to the marketing
of fruit
Mr.. French suggested that time
limit be set, in order that all might
speak. 1t was decided that fifteen min
ufeS be the hmit.
Robert Barnby thought that the fruit
should be marketed west of the Mis-
sissippi River. The towns in Iowa
have to get their fruit from Chicago,
and he thought there We're many good
towns In Iowa that would take car
load Of fruit each and be glad to get
it. 1t would be better than sending it
further East at an added expense
p. H. Murphy wanted to hear the old
shippers speak first and give the bene-
fit Of their experience to the meeting.
He wanted to hear from the directors
of the association.
J. Davies said that during the grape
season Boston, New York and Chicago
were the auction markets. Boston has
been the best, but after that was sup
piled the Kansas City car brought as
good prices as any. He thought it hest
to sell as far as possible. We cannot
always tell by looking at the grapes
when they start which will sen the
best. as some grapes will arrive musty
and in bad shape. To be sure Stephens
& Humphrey appoint their own agents,
but SO does the association, and Porter
Brothers. and they are always sure of
getting their money The morning
speakers had been giving Florin a black
eye that it did not deserve,
C. E. Mack asked concerning the out
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