Imperial Valley press., 1919-03-01
ASSEMBLY BENEFITS
VALLEY RANCHERS

With the rendition of two rousing
trail Union High School Orchestra, the
Fourth Annual Assembly of the I'M
country when the San Diego & Ari-
off with bang this morning.
President B. d. Irvine presided and
announced that, although he had spent
several months in the preparation of
his speech for the opening session,
he was compelled to forego that pleas
ure, due to the latness of the hour
in getting the meeting started.
Thomas Elliott, travelling represens
tative of the American Railway Ex
PRESS Company, was the first speai
er ON the program. Mr. Elliott's pal
per, covering the subject ''Vegetabl
Industry of Imperial Valley" was
keen analysis of both past and pres
ent physical conditions surrounding
this important industry.
1t was pointed out that, although
Imperial Valleys cantaloupe crop was
the thing that had placed her most
effectively on the commercial map
of the country, that the production of
fresh vegetables on large scale would
result in far greater financial returns
to the producer, from the fact that
vegetables can be successfully grown
from January until June, whereas the
melon season is much shorter.
This is eXemplified by the present
shipments of lettuce, asparagus, peas,
| spinach and Bermuda onions, he said.
Each product was taken up individu-
ally, the production and financial re-
turns for the past four years stated,
so that complete history of each veg
etable as produced in Imperial Valley
/ was very clearly stated.
! Mr.. Elliott decried the practice of
| shipping fertilizer out of the Valley.
He believes that the local farmer Is
| making a tremendous mistake to al
low a single ton to leave the Valley.
The practical use of fertilizer and it's
benefits to the soil were aptly demon
strated.
In summing up the vegetable situ-
alton as it is today, Mr.. Elliott stat
ed that, although the value of this
years crops would run well into the
| hundred thousands, that in his belief
the vegetable industry was still in it's
| infancy.
Roy NJ. Filcher, stockman from
the San Joaquin valley, was the next
| speaker and took up the subject of
| Marketing Hogs
The disadvantages of selling to the
professional buyers representing the
! large packers was briefly touched up
| on, and the. Farm Bureau Auction
Sale, as now in use in San Joaquin
| and other northern counties, was full
| ~ explained.
According to Mr.. Filcher, this plan
has worked very successfully in the
northern end of the state, and he 10
of the opinion that, with the coop.
GRAFTON of hog growers here, that
there is no reason why Imperial Val.
icy stockmen cannot greatly improve
present marketing conditions. The
plan provides for all sales to be han.
He'd through the County Farm Bu-
reau, to which organization | per
:ent commission is paid to cover sale
expenses
Sales are held at stated periods and
The animals are sold to the highest
bidder. Owners are assured of receiv-
ing at least the market price from
The fact that before any sale begins
=
anteed price from the packer for the
various grades of hogs on that par
.icular day.
Mr.. Fjlcher concluded his talk by
saying that since the organization
of their Farm Bureau auction sales
the quantity of hogs grown in the
San Joaquin valley had increased 200
per cent, with proportionate Increase
in financial returns.
During the noon hour the High
School faculty and the Junior Red
Cross served lunch in the High School
Annex.
The afternoon session promised to
he intensely interesting.
c, f. Grunsky was the first speak
er scheduled, and he had for his sub
ject "The Colorado River and Flood
Control"
About 500 ranchers were in at
tendance.