MM MO N I l\].\ Bl 1.1. 1 I I 129 



realize thai bleaching fruil is qo1 a standardized process? Some sulphur 

 so heavily and unnecessarily thai their product, instead of seeming a 

 gift of lieaven, smells more like a donal ion senl with malice aforel houghl 

 from tlif other departmenl of the hereafter. 



At presenl markets demand a Light-colored product. How light- 

 colored .' Where is the margin that separates sensible, wholesome prac- 

 tice from harmful excess .' I Cow many growers agree on the time, or the 

 amount of sulphur to be used for bleaching any given fruit of a given 

 degree of ripeness? 



Sow many growers le1 fruil lie around for hours after being cut, 

 oxidizing and browning a careless length of time, and then remedy their 

 neglect or ignorance by an overdose of sulphur? 



Is it possible that better ways may tie devised, so that our use of 

 sulphur may be materially reduced? We don't know, but we ought to 

 find 'nit. Some day we may be compelled to find out. Now the grower, 

 in the rush of harvest, has neither time nor training for the solution of 

 these problems. We must call upon trained experts, and ask for investi- 

 gations thai may take months or years of time. 



It would be a complacent mortal indeed who would claim that our 

 present methods are all they should be. The day is not far off when the 

 new orchards so generously and optimistically planted these last few- 

 years u ill be beckoning to us with fruit-laden branches. That fruit must 

 either rot on the ground, or else, starting now, we must pave the way for 

 better products, wiser methods of distribution, and broader markets. 

 We need all the help the state ean give us. 



And over in the domestic science classes at Davis, and perhaps at 

 many other schools, may we nol hope to see the girls learning as part of 

 their education how to make use of our distinctly California products, 

 including our humble dried fruits which some mistaken mortals, through 

 lack- of knowledge in themselves or their cooks, now snobbishly look down 

 upon as being hopelessly plebeian. 



Don't you think those girls could do some good missionary work? 



And now, my friends, leaders in the patient, diligent, t'arseeing work 

 of upbuilding tic greatest industry in the greatesl horticultural com- 

 munity of the world, I leave the matter in your hands for action. 





