The San Francisco call., 1901-12-04


~ resented at the California State
~ Fruit Growers Convention, which
L = convened yesterday at Pioneer
Hall under the auspices of the
State Board of Horticulture. Morning
and afternoon sessions will be held daily
until Friday afternoon, when the conven-
ton will adjourn. A special evening ses-
sion will be held on Thursday night.
Ranged around the large hall were
magnificent specimens of citrus and dried
fruits. These came from all parts of the
State and each one bore the name Of the
exhibitor They were carefully examined
and their various qualities freely COM
mented upon and discussed.
Elwood Cooper of Santa Barbara, chalr-
man of the State Fruit Growers Conven-
ton, called the meeting to order. Rev
J. c. Adams said a short prayer Profes-
sor e. j. Wickson of the State Unlver-
sity was elected vice chairman.
Mayor James D. Phelan was introduced
to deliver the address of welcome He
referred to the fact that while San Fran
cisco could not boast of her horticultural
development, still each year an immense
quantity of fruit is handled here. Con-
tinuing, the Mayor said
There ought to be a great market for Cali
fornia fruits in Europe short time ago
I had to pay franc and half for a peaeh
in a hotel in Paris. There ought to be gold
mine for California growers who ship their
fruits to Europe.
Competes in Markets of Spain.
Mavor Phelan read from consular re-
ports showing that California fruit was
competing in the markets of Valencia
Spain, with fruit grown in the immediate
vicinity of that city. He thought the
construction of the Nicaragua canal
would be of immense benefit to the State
| and would materially aid the fruit indus
try. The Mayor was given rising vote
of thanks when he concluded.
! President Ellwood Cooper read his an
| nual address. saying in part:
I Greater prosperity exists than has existed
for many years. Deciduous fruits and oranges
have sold well. Lemons were depressed through
iexcessive importation. Prunes and raisins have
! not been we'll marketed. The question of mar
ketlng fruit is the most important before the
| fruit growers
! The expense of removing pests is very great
| and is likely to be perpetual tax on the in
! dustry. If however, we combat noxious in
sects by their natural enemies we may find q
! good and cheap solution of this great problem
| The pure food laws ought to be strictly Ell
| forced These laws should be revised and
mode devised for sampling foods, detecting vio-
lation of the law and furnishing offenders.
| I recommend that we pass a resolution to bc
sent to Congress declaring that we oppose any
| reduction, by RECIPROCITY or OIneTWlSe, IN Int
tariff on fruits and fruit products and tina
we favor an interoceanic canal. We SHOULD
endeavcr to procure an appropriation of $1,000
for the investigation of parasites and frui
pests.
A. H. Naftzger. B. n. Rowley, E. j
Wickson, H. P. Stabler and w. ]. Hotch
kiss were appointed a committee to con
slider the recommendations of the presi
| dent.
William H. Mills, who was to deliver
an address on his impressions Of th'
Pan-American Exposition, was absent.
The report of the California Frui
Growers Association was read by Pro
fessor Wickson, owing to the inability o
H. E. Weinstock, the president, the at
tend. 1t dealt with matters of transpor
tation and the extent of the various crops
and concluded with the following surl
4 mary:
i On the whole. this has been one of the mos