PREFACE xiii 



The general propaganda for better quality and choicer packing in fruits is 

 beginning to have its effect, aided by the gradual increase of wealth and -the 

 elevation of taste on the part of consumers. All this is evidenced in the 

 increasing use of small packages and the growing difference in price between 

 fruits of low and of high quality. Even in the large apple-growing regions of 

 the middle West, where we have thought of the Ben Davis as the representa- 

 tive product, this tendency to put up special grades of dessert fruit is 

 becoming marked. 



This growing demand for better individual quality is also well exhibited in 

 the flower and plant trade. The increasing importance of the best grades of 

 flowers in the flower stores is evidence of this. The cut-flower trade is now 

 seeing a remarkable development, also, of the wholesaling business. Probably 

 three-fourths of all the cut-flowers reach the retailer, at least in the East, 

 through the commission houses. 



The recent progress of orange -growing in California is illustrative of sev- 

 eral phases of development in American fruit-growing. The following account 

 of the recent developments in the orange industry in that state is written for 

 this preface by Professor E. J. Wickson, of the University of California: 



"In this progress may be mentioned, first, increase in investment and pro- 

 duction. The shipments of oranges beyond state lines during the year ending 

 November 1, 1904, was nearly 30,000 car-loads — an increase of about twenty 

 per cent within five years. The increase in investment was iwrhaps not quite 

 so great because the growth of product is, in part, a realization from eager 

 planting of the preceding decade, but still planting is continued, and the area 

 devoted to orange -growing has largely increased, and it has been distributed 

 through districts widely separated geographically though similar in conditions 

 of soil and climate. In this respect orange -planting in California is an epitome 

 of American fruit-planting generally. 



"Second. — Imjirovement in the commercial aspects of the industry has been 

 very marked in the progress of the orange in California. Organization of 

 growers into cooperative associations for packing the fruit and for placing it 

 on sale in distant markets has accomplished great things and has, in fact, 

 saved the industry from demoralization. While it is true that these organiza- 

 tions have had some sad experiences and have in some cases been deceived in 

 those chosen as organizers and promoters, the scores of cooperative packing 

 houses, the accommodation of growers with needed advances without extortion, 

 the regulation of transportation by appeals of growers' organizations to the 

 Inter- State Commerce Commission, the cooperation of growers' organizations 



