150 THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 



and contributions of our growers. I would say that we have been very 

 successful. We have found but three growers so far who absolutely 

 refuse to cooperate. We have found all others interested and anxious, 

 either to sign up or to get further information before taking the step. 

 We have appealed to all growers the last day or two to sign up in 

 order that we might be able to report progress here today to our 

 company from all over the state and help to stimulate the interest of 

 growers from other communities in this work. I am happy to report 

 that we have many growers who were willing to make a hurry-up job 

 of it in order that we might shine before this company. 



Mr. Merrill has informed you that there is at present a movement 

 on foot to organize the prune and apricot industries of California. He 

 has outlined in general, and more or less in particular, just what is 

 proposed, namely, that the growers form a corporation, subscribe to 

 stock and organize in such wise as to develop and control for their 

 own best interests the market conditions attending the distribution of 

 our dried prunes and apricots. 



The question first arises, why should this be necessary! I will tell 

 you the one great reason why this is absolutely necessary. All the 

 undesirable features in our market are the result of the existence of 

 an undesirable element, the speculative element that attends evei'y 

 transaction. The gambling feature breeds the other undesirables. It 

 throttles consumption because the dealers suppress the trade in a com- 

 modity when they risk great losses and push a product in the handling 

 of which they are assured reasonable profits. 



No one can afford to advertise a product of which he can only deliver 

 a small portion, and that without any assurance of profit. Lacking- 

 standardization, inferior stuff is sometimes delivered to the consumer 

 when he had reason to expect excellence. In view of the price the 

 consumer now pays for cured prunes and apricots, the producer should 

 receive greater returns than have prevailed of late. 



Eventually the producer and consumer must pay for all the losses 

 and all the profits accruing to those who. of necessity or otherwise, 

 speculate on the distribution. A consumer is gambling today Avhen 

 he acquires a taste for our fruit. The demand thus created may 

 cause such an increase in price as to spoil his taste. 



It is not only the high price the producer has received that is account- 

 able for the failing consumption of our products, it is the dreadful 

 waste due to the fact that every transaction connected with the distri- 

 bution is speculative, and the consumer lias had to pay the greater 

 portion of the bill lately. 



Considering these features of our present market, what are we going 

 to do with the increased production from forty thousand acres of young 

 orchard now planted in this state.' What generally happens when the 

 demand decreases and the supply increases? What will we get for a 

 250,000,000-pound crop, even when your foreign markets are again 

 available ? 



A cooperative organization of growers could advertise our products 

 and develop a greater demand. An advertising campaign to educate 

 the consumer and bring to his attention the excellence and desirability 

 of our fruits in many forms, would undoubtedly get wonderful results. 

 A growers' organization could bring about a standardization of our 



