198 



THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



and the facts now demonstrate that it has accom- 

 plished what its promulgators and champions had 

 hoped for. When we allow for the strong opposition 

 to the movement, the distrust and apprehension of its 

 being able to carry on the business of shipping and 

 marketing the fruit a distrust be it said, not con- 

 fined to dealers and shippers but also including many 

 growers themselves this success is all the more 

 gratifying and pronounced. The Exchange entered 

 upon a demoralized and degraded market, when all 

 producers of citrus fruits were discouraged and dis- 

 heartened. The trade at the other end of the line 

 was also in a condition of chaos and fought shy of the 

 new movement. In addition to this, misfortune by 

 the elements was added to those of a depressed 

 market, a per cent of the crop was more or less 

 injured by the frost. To these obstacles must be 

 added the hostility of the brokers and merchants 



not all, but a large number to overthrow the organi- 

 zation and again secure control of the business. In 

 the face of these contingencies and reverses the 

 success of the Orange Growers Exchange in 

 Southern California stands without a parallel in the 

 history of co-operative fruit marketing on the coast 

 or in the United States." 



This paper is confined entirely to a review of the 

 method of placing Southern California oranges on 

 the market. An attempt has been made to organize the 

 deciduous fruit growers of Southern California along 

 these same lines, but it has thus far been unsuccessful. 

 The deciduous fruit business of Southern California 

 is in its infancy as yet and is small in proportion to 

 the citrus industry. When it assumes larger pro- 

 portions those engaged in it will undoubtedly see the 

 necessity of intelligent organization for self pro- 

 tection. 



AN IRRIGATION DITCH IN WASHINGTON ON THE LINE OP THE GREAT NORTHERN RAILWAY. 



