.388 THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 



further assists in the cleansing process, so that by the time the fruit is 

 put into the boxes, it is in a most sanitary condition. 



Prunes are packed in packages varying from one pound to fifty-five 

 pounds. A large amount of help is given employment in the handling 

 of the fruit. The packing allowance made by the trade for fruit 

 packed in various sized boxes all goes back to the various industries 

 of this State, such as the box factories, paper companies and to labor. 

 Packing has been a source of a tremendous income to the State of Cali- 

 fornia. A number of years ago a large portion of our dried prunes 

 were shipped in bags to the larger wholesalers of the Eastern States. 

 They did their own packing, under the most crude methods, Avith the 

 result that many spoiled and unattractive prunes were put upon the 

 market, as well as prunes from various districts being mixed with our 

 Santa Clara prunes or packed and branded as Santa Clara Valley 

 prunes. In California to-day every packer is equipped with the most 

 modern machinery and the investment in a packing house amounts to 

 considerable. Men are in charge of the various departments of the 

 packing-houses who have had long experience in the handling of fruit, 

 -with the result that our fruit is being turned out to the trade well 

 packed, in good keeping condition and in attractive packages. 



The improvement in the producing, curing, and packing of the Cali- 

 fornia prune, as well as its original quality, has made it the most pop- 

 ular prune in the world to-day. Even though there are large prune 

 producing sections in Europe, nevertheless our California prune has 

 such a recognition throughout the European countries that to-day we 

 are exporting from 50 to 60 per cent of our entire output annually, 

 and we are importing from Europe nothing. 



The prune industry in tliis State to-day represents an annual average 

 production of 175,000,000 pounds of dried fruit, or an annual income 

 to the State of from seven and one half to ten million dollars. It 

 deserves the most careful attention ; first, on the part of the producer, 

 in seeing that he is producing an article of high grade; second, on the 

 part of the packer, in giving the closest attention to the packing of 

 the fruit delivered to him, that the fruit might be delivered to the trade 

 in the most sanitary and attractive manner possible ; third, on the 

 part of our State Horticultural Commissioner's office, in seeing that 

 the industry is given his most careful attention and protection. 



In conclusion, I will say that prune producing is one of the most 

 profitable of fruit productions when proper care has been given to the 

 selection of the soil, to the class of trees planted, to the care of these 

 trees and to the curing of your green fruit. 



Chairman Hunt. This very carefully prepared paper, very valu- 

 able paper, is noAv open for discussion. I hope we will have some 

 questions. 



Mr. Gallaway. I would like to ask a question. In regard to the 

 root for the prune tree, you mentioned the almond, peach and myro- 

 balan roots. What do you think of the apricot root for the prune tree? 



