THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 179 



]\rr. II. II. Bowman, ronnty Tlortieiiltnral Commissioner of Placer 

 County, who from ability, training and experience is exceptionally well 

 prepared to pass judgment, says he feels certain that pear thrips have 

 never been in that county. Dr. L. 0. Howard writes me tiiat the 

 Department has no knowledge that this pest is or ever has been in 

 Placer County. Mr. lOssig and ^Ir. Paul Jones give the same testimony. 



It seems more than probable that a false report has done Placer 

 County great wrong. Trees shipped from this county were condemned 

 by the county horticultural commissioner of one other county because 

 of this report. We see how easily injustice may be done by incautious 

 reports. 



STANDARDIZATION. 



Address, State Fruit Grower.s' Convention, San Jose, Cal., December 2-4, 1913. 

 By F. B. McKevitt, Sacramento, California. 



This term as applied to California shipping fruit, means the selection 

 of good fruit, in good condition, and proper packing. Its general appli- 

 cation to our shipments means the iii)biii]ding and prosperity of the 

 industry. 



The time has gone by when anything in the shape of fruit can be sold 

 at a good price. That condition existed in the past Miien production 

 was small and demand gi-eat. Now with tlie heavy planting of fruit 

 trees all over the country from [Michigan to Texas and from Connecticut 

 to Washington and Oregon, California finds abundance of competition, 

 much of it from fruit produced in orchards near to the markets and 

 offered in a better, and naturally ripened, condition ; this means in the 

 local fruit a perfection of flavor in respect to which nuich of our own 

 fruits are necessarily somewhat lacking. 



It is generally admitted in the Eastern markets that California fruit 

 excels in size and beauty, and its great popularity is the result of its 

 irresistible appeal to the eye. Here, where it is picked ripe from the 

 trees, its flavor is unexcelled, but when gathered in suitable condition 

 for a ten-days' shipment, flavor is the quality sacrificed. If we can 

 not excel Eastern fruit in every respect, we must practice the most 

 modern and up to date methods of packing and handling so that the 

 attractiveness of our oifering will be as near perfection as possible. 

 Care in the selection of fruit for packing, after same has been carefully 

 picked in suitable condition for a long distance shipment, followed by 

 selection for size, with as good fruit on the bottom, in the middle, as on 

 the top of the package, will keep California fruit in the high position 

 which previous years have given it. Standardization is the term 

 covering the above requirements. 



In Placer County we find that greatest progress has been made in 

 this direction. Certain rules and regulations have been made regarding 

 packing, through a mutual agreement of growers and shippers, and a 

 corps of disinterested, salaried inspectors is constantly in attendance 

 at the shipping houses during the season to in.spect and pass upon the 

 packed fruit brought in for consignment or sale. Should the quality 

 or packing be below the established standard the shipment is rejected 



