industry, as it relates to the welfare of the large number of people interested 

 in it, as well as the deleteriousness of dried fruits cured with the use of sulphur, 

 will be carefully and broadly considered. It is felt that the conditions under 

 which * ' sulphur dioxid ' ' renders dried fruit deleterious, if it is rendered so at 

 all by the present method of drying and handling, will likewise be considered. 

 The hope is entertained that the findings of the Eeferee Board and its deter- 

 mination, will furnish the Agricultural Department, independent of the Bureau 

 of Chemistry, a basis on which to issue a new decision that will enable fruit 

 growers and fruit dealers to pursue the occupation of drying and distributing 

 fruit in a lawful and satisfactory way. 



It is hoped also that the Referee Board in its investigations will come to 

 California during the curing season. By having opportunity to observe 

 climatic conditions, and by following the fruit from the tree to the packing 

 house and until it is ready for distribution, the Board will be better able to 

 decide what is essential to the fruit industry in this State, than if its findings 

 and recommendation were based on purely technical examination. 



Following closely on the issuance of Decision 89, at the request of the fruit 

 growers of the State, I went to Washington to get, if possible, a modification 

 of that decision. The State Board of Trade had been active in efforts to 

 protect the fruit industry of the State, and on account of my familiarity with 

 it and the intimate connection had with the subject at issue, I consented to 

 undertake the task. 



Definite Postponement. As a result of the mission to Washington the 

 following official declaration was obtained : 



"Hon. J. C. Needham: In response to your personal inquiry made this date, when you 

 called upon me in company with Messrs. Arthur B. Briggs and W. H. Brailsford, now here 

 representing the fruit growers in the State of California, in regard to Food Inspection 

 Decision 89, I beg to advise you that, in my opinion, it will be impossible for the Eeferee 

 Board of consulting scientific experts to arrive at a determination of the question of the 

 wholesomeness or unwholesomeness of sulphur dioxid in fruits cured by the ordinary 

 sulphur process for a number of months, and perhaps for a longer time than that. In any 

 event, you and the fruit growers of California may rest assured that no decision adverse 

 to the use of sulphur will be promulgated so as to affect the curing or marketing of the 

 1908 crop. 



"The curing and marketing of the 1908 crop should be done under the terms of Food 

 Inspection Decision 89, and if the terms of that decision are complied with, there will be 

 no governmental interference with the curing or the marketing of said crop. 



"JAMES WILSON, Secretary of Agriculture." 



"Washington, D. C., March 11, 1908." 



This was the status of the matter until April 24th, when Congressman 

 Needham telegraphed to the State Board of Trade, as follows : 



"Washington, D. C., April 24, 1908. 



"Sulphur question will not be taken up till one year from next August. Dr. Taylor 

 has gone to Europe and this was agreed upon before he left. Growers will have two years 

 more before any finding is made." 



The Present Situation. Postponement of a consideration of this matter by 

 the Referee Board as told in Congressman Needham 's telegram, affords oppor- 

 tunity for a campaign of education in respect to the fruit interests that may 

 very properly be taken advantage of. Fruit drying in California is done under 

 conditions unlike those in other States. The fruit is generally larger and 

 juicier than that grown elsewhere. It ripens fast after coming to maturity 

 and must be handled quickly. The size of the fruit and its richness in juice 

 render it necessary, when it is placed on the trays to dry, that some means of 

 arresting oxidation be used. Sulphur, which arrests oxidation and prevents 



