226 Appendix. 



they do. We have all heard a great deal about "Santa Clara." I tell 

 you we hauled off the 1898 crop as nice a lot of Petites as California 

 produced. The stones were a little larger, but the prunes were far 

 better in flavor. Now as to the question of which of these two varieties 

 you want to grow, or which is most profitable, that rests with you only. 

 This suggestion does not cut out the Petites entirely; they are the staple 

 of all prunes. New varieties do not take in the market. 



fi' GRADING. 



This is simple and easy; every one knows how, but very few do it 

 •as it should be done, judging from the complaints that are continually 

 arising. Can anything be said on this point that will help? Knowing 

 how to do a thing, and doing it, are widely different propositions. I 

 have known growers to start in grading a lot, say, fifty tons of prunes. 

 The first bins they would test, leaving the whole lot on a basis of these 

 -lew tests. Graders are not always perfect. A slight increase in speed 

 'or "a slight difference in the outside moisture of the fruit will change 

 "things so that when the fruit gets into the hands of a particular dealer 

 3ie finds that his grades are all off. You can not afford to leave open 

 any point for the buyer to complain. Therefore, test every sack if 

 necessary, and put them in the grade they belong. What position does 

 the buyer take in this matter? If A sells B fifty tons of prunes graded 

 40 to 50, what will he expect to average? Looking at it from your 

 standpoint, and you want matters to work smoothly, and are not looking 

 for trouble, you had better give him an average of forty-five if he is a 

 good fellow and the market is in his favor. If they run forty-six or 

 forty-seven he may not kick. Personally, I have done a great deal of 

 business on the plan of stating exact sizes, say forty-seven or larger, 

 and sometimes forty-eight, and then selling on the same base. We have 

 not had much trouble with our Eastern buyers; most of them have been 

 liberal with us, not always holding as to the exact average, but as said 

 before, no risk can be taken. Every grower should provide himself 

 with a pair of accurate scales for this purpose. When you offer your 

 stock give the size you have. 



PACKING. 



This is a question that has been discussed pretty thoroughly, and 

 some severe criticism has been made, but mostly by people who know 

 nothing about the requirements. I favor boxing, for the reason that 

 the goods carry much better. On the other hand, there is a large de- 

 mand for sack goods which must be supplied. The demand for sacks is 

 strong for two reasons; they are cheaper, and again it gives the Eastern 

 merchant an opportunity for doing his own boxing. Prunes packed in 

 boxes do not show up bright and nice after being packed very long. 

 Boxing is quite expensive on this coast, and it is to the interest of the 

 grower to market his product as cheaply as possible. California packers 

 charge a quarter of a cent only above sacked prunes in fifty-pound 



