294 RURAL CALIFORNIA 



the State and remained several days in session for the 

 purpose of deciding what growers can do to advance 

 the industry in which they are involved and taking 

 the initial steps to do it. These conventions with 

 their gatherings of fruit-growers for unprescribed 

 discussion and untrammeled action are not only carry- 

 ing progress forward from year to year but from gen- 

 eration to generation as described on page 171. 



On this foundation of continuous interest and con- 

 fidence and of unbaffled effort, California's notable 

 structures in special-purpose cooperation have arisen. 

 They are original in design and function and novel 

 in some of the particular purposes they aim to serve, 

 and in the methods developed for such service. The 

 architects who planned these structures, the master- 

 builders who translated the plans into visible forms 

 and the leaders in organized industry and trade who 

 have brought plans and forms into concrete operation 

 have been men of mature age whom the attractiveness 

 of California life and investment induced to bring 

 their training and experience in professional and com- 

 mercial life, and their accumulations of capital, from 

 other parts of the United States for undertakings in 

 agriculture. They already were wise in legal re- 

 quirements and possibilities and in financial and com - 

 mercial policies and operations. They won the con- 

 fidence of those who had hitherto had little experi- 

 ence or observation beyond the lines of crop produc- 

 tion; they spoke with authority to the managers of 

 transportation, of finance and of established trade. 

 All these masterful resources they enthusiastically 



