THE MONTllLV BULLETIN. 19 



Perhaps it would he well to organize in distriets as the olive .^rowers 

 are doing. The acreage of apricots in the State is scattered abont as 

 follows, and each section might be considered as a district : Bay region, 

 17,289 acres; southern California, 16,615 acres; Sacramento Valley, 

 5.856 acres ; San Joaquin Valley, 2,820 acres. 



I believe the southern California district alr(>ady has plans for organi- 

 zation. Who will undertake the work in the other districts? 



WHAT CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED. 



One of the most important things to be accomplished is to increase the 

 consumption of dried apricots, especially in the United States. The 

 best method of doing this is to xnick the fruit in small one and two 

 pound, attractive pasteboard cartons, which would take the fruit direct 

 to the consumer in a clean, sanitary manner and take the Association 

 hrand with it. This method of packing, together with consistent adver- 

 tising, would greatly increase the consumption of dried apricots in this 

 country'. Raisins and figs have been put up this way for many years. 

 This year even the California Walnut Growers' Association has adopted 

 a one pound package for its walnuts, mainly as an advertising scheme, 

 and the results are very satisfactory. Such a method of packing is far 

 more necessary for dried apricots than for walnuts, for, besides the 

 advertising feature, it would bring the product in a clean attractive 

 form and a guaranteed quality to the consumer, whereas, under the 

 present method of packing in large wooden boxes the dried fruit remains 

 open in the retail store for weeks, sometimes, and becomes dusty, dried 

 up and perhaps wormy before it reaches the consumer. 



It has been proven by experiments of William B. Parker, published in 

 bulletin No. 235, United States Department of Agriculture, that dried 

 apricots may be sterilized and put in moth-proof paper lined cartons and 

 kept for years Avithout becoming wormy. This method has been used 

 for cereals for some time. To guarantee their fruit free from worms 

 would be a great feature for the new association, for nothing can hurt 

 the sale of fruit more than to have it wormy. 



They could save the growers much in the purchase of tray and box 

 materials, also sulphur. 



They could encourage the growing of better fruit in many ways, 

 especially by inspection and improvement of drying ground methods. 



They could handle their own pits at a good profit. 



In fact, a state-wide dried apricot as.sociation is a necessity. I think 

 we all realize this. Who will put his hand to the wheel and' help get it 

 started? There is no time like the present. 



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