16 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



attention of the consumers. We must in so doing prepare our exhibits as 

 to command attention from both press and public. Nor must this be all. 

 The quality of our products sent this far from home must be such that they 

 speak for themselves. Care and attention in packing must be such as to 

 leave no room for doubt that we fully understand our undertaking. It 

 must be fully shown that we come not for a day, but for all time. To 

 send our fruit, poorly canned or dried, means failure. To be sure the 

 methods of the Old World in preserving fruits are ahead of ours, as a rule. 

 To profit by their experience in this industry we must have the opportu- 

 nity to observe and examine into their methods. Would it not be advisa- 

 ble to have the individual counties that contemplate sending an exhibit 

 on, to each send a Commissioner, selected with a view of gaining knowl- 

 edge on this subject that would benefit us in future in the packing and 

 preserving of our fruits ? As it now is, the producer markets his products 

 in the eastern cities in a green state. Could he not do the same in Europe 

 in their canned and dried state? Say that our goods are properly put up, 

 and the auction plan introduced, how much longer would it take the pro- 

 ducer to get returns than it now does on his green fruit? The situation is 

 in his hands; let him not ignore it. Let us profit by the experience of 

 other countries, and let that experience be gained by actual observation. 



Take as an example our own exhibition. The farmer attends, observes . 

 the different breeds of live stock, he is mindful of the fact that when 

 numerous breeds are together congregated he can best make selection. 

 The particular fancy of a character he admires meets his eye, he purchases 

 with a view of improving his own stock, he is aware that the expense of 

 breeding and raising good stock is no greater than to raise inferior ones, 

 and he profits by his purchase. The seller is encouraged, as he himself 

 began this way, and the result is the taxable property of the State is 

 enhanced, and the $10, $20, or $50 in premiums awarded has been returned 

 many fold. So it will be in the enterprise suggested in making foreign 

 exhibits, and our returns are sure to more than offset the outlay. 



FRUIT GROWING AND SHIPPING. 



The advancement in this industry during the year past has been most 

 prodigious. The yield from increased acreage, that is now beginning to 

 bear, shows to what extent tree-planting has been in the past few years. 



The demand has kept up for our green fruits, and there is a very per- 

 ceptible increase of canneries and driers. 



The plan adopted by the organization of the California Fruit Union in 

 the handling of fruit is, to our mind, a most acceptable one. It is a cor- 

 poration composed of growers, for the shipping and sale of their products 

 in the East. They have a total stock issue of twelve thousand six hun- 

 dred and fifty-eight shares, held by four hundred and ninety-nine individ- 

 uals, scattered through twenty-seven counties. Many, in fact the greater 

 portion, have taken stock for only one quarter their acreage, so as each 

 share represents one acre of land, they handle in reality the products of 

 fifty thousand acres of land set to fruit in this State. So there is little 

 wonder that much competition exists in the Eastern States for the agency 

 of the Union. This fact enables the Union to be very careful in selection 

 and exacting in requirements of those desiring to represent the organiza- 

 tion. 



In financial affairs the Union has been quite prosperous. They have 

 received during the year from agents some $20,000 commissions, and have 

 paid out in expenses about $9,000, leaving a balance on hand of about 



