THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 497 



purpose of selling the greater part of the almonds produced in the 

 immediate vicinity of the location of the association. Their sphere was 

 limited. They had no selling agencies, depending on what seemed to be 

 competition among the commission houses and speculators. They were 

 not in a position to even obtain data on which to place a fair valuation 

 of their crops. They were surely and safely in the hands of the enemy. 



Previous to 1910 little had been done by California growers either to 

 develop or protect the market for almonds. Each individual, isolated 

 grower was a complete selling agency within himself. He was sup- 

 posed to be a walking encyclopedia of almond lore. He was eagerly 

 sought for by the agents of the commission houses and was legitimate 

 game for the speculator. Under these conditions ridiculously low prices 

 ruled for the grower, while the consumer was taxed to the limit. Actual 

 entries in the books of growers of this time show that Nonpareil almonds 

 were sold at prices ranging from 7 to 10 cents per pound. The buyer, 

 interested only in the goods he had acquired at a low figure, had no 

 thought for the future of the industry. He took all the profit the 

 traffic would bear. The markets were demoralized. The demand for 

 almonds was confined to the few. The speculator usually bought early 

 and on a safe margin. He imposed upon both producer and consumer 

 and made of the almond an article de luxe. 



Only during the last five years has the California almond situation 

 been studied from a commercial standpoint in the interests of the 

 growers. Beginning in 1910 with 11 local associations and 230 members, 

 a start was made by "The California Almond Growers' Exchange." 

 It was purely a pioneer effort based on a determination to secure to the 

 growers the profits of the business. Those who had reaped rich harvests 

 at the expense of the growers saw. in this movement, the killing of the 

 goose that was laying the golden egg. 



Organization has progressed until today there are 18 associations and 

 nearly 900 members. These are located in the almond growing sections 

 from Tehama, on the north, to San Bernardino on the south. The 

 Coming Association, representing about 50 tons, has recently been 

 organized and is affiliating with the Exchange. The Guinda Associa- 

 tion, in Yolo County, with 120 tons, a fireproof warehouse and complete 

 equipment, has for years been an independent association. A long and 

 careful investigation convinced the Guinda people that they were on 

 the wrong track ; that if they were to accomplish anything in building 

 up the almond industry they must train with those who are doing that 

 line of work. Tired of competition, they turned to co-operation and 

 joined the Exchange. 



During the month of June of the present year, 300 tons of almonds 

 were added to the output of the Exchange for the season of 1915. The 

 Exchange has never lost an association. The associations have lost but 

 few members. About 80 per cent of the California crop are now handled 

 by the Exchange. The remaining 20 per cent are sold independently, 

 and generally for less money than is realized by Exchange members for 

 the same class of almonds. These sales furnish ammunition for the 

 brokers, who are doing their utmost to discredit and discourage co-opera- 

 tion among- growers. The independent seller unwittingly pays a com- 

 mission for his own undoing. That the speculator makes a profit goes 

 without saying. That profit belonged to the grower, and had he been a 



