18 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



he desires to send more or not. He knows that on the " account sales " he 

 will find no such notation as " Lost in repacking," but every box will be 

 accounted for. From the fact that the fruit is sold by sample he is con- 

 fident that he will be well repaid for any extra labor he may expend, or 

 any unusual care he may use in selecting nothing but the finest fruit. 

 While instead of waiting from three weeks to three months for his money r 

 without an exception he receives it, when sold under the plan above 

 referred to, in fifteen days from the time his fruit leaves the station. 

 These facts will always cause this manner of selling fruit to be popular 

 with the growers, and will in time cause its adoption in all eastern 

 markets. 



As to freight rates, we are inclined to the opinion that as the traffic 

 increases the rates will be so adjusted as will be acceptable to all, and 

 that in the adjustment the overland railroad companies will give such fig- 

 ures as will encourage the planting of trees, and use the same energy they 

 did to induce immigration to the coast, realizing that the prosperity of 

 these people, as well as their own, depends upon the facilities for transpor- 

 tation to the millions left behind, the products of our ever fruitful soil. 



It is but fitting that the California Fruit Union with its seven hundred 

 members, comprising the leading growers and shippers north of Tehachapi 

 Pass, should take this work in hand and make it their particular study. 



As anticipated in the report of 1886, the growers and shippers have 

 this season worked together, and the result has been highly satisfactory. 

 From the revenue derived the Trustees of the Fruit Union can pay a six 

 per cent dividend on stock, and then find themselves much in the pre- 

 dicament that our National Government seems now to be — a surplus on 

 hand, and the question is, what to do with it? 



The probable solution will be that the moneys on hand will be used in 

 developing new territory and paving the way for the successful handling 

 of the output of the thousands of acres of orchard and vineyard property 

 yet to come into bearing. 



The completion of the California and Oregon line of railroad has opened 

 to us the markets of the great northwest. The demand from these in- 

 creased transportation facilities will tax our acreage of cultivated lands 

 to their utmost. Consequently the improvement of land must be kept 

 abreast with the improvements of market facilities, and the cry of "over- 

 production" that comes from those who began operations at such times 

 when the facilities for marketing our products were in their infancy, must 

 not at this progressive period be heeded. 



THE WHEAT CROP. 



The season of 1887 opened with a promise of good results. In April the 

 crops were far advanced, much more so than in 1886 at the same time; no 

 disaster of general effect had overtaken the grain or fruit crops, and every- 

 thing pointed to a most successful year. 



The acreage in grain was less than the preceding year, but from appear- 

 ances on all sides, it was believed at this time, the yield would exceed that 

 of 1886. As the month of April passed on, it was thought that the unusual 

 advancement in growth of our wheat would place it near enough maturity 

 at the time we are usually visited by the greatest enemy this industry has 

 in this State, namely, the hot, dry, north wind that usually visits us about 

 the first of June, when our large and promising grain yield is generally 

 changed in twenty-four hours, so as to cause from twenty-five to fifty per 

 cent loss. 



