CALIFORNIA AVOCADO ASSOCIATION 



37 



records of production in a number of different orchards to see if this plan might 

 not prove a short cut toward securing information regarding individual trees w^hich 

 could be used as sources of budwood. A few weeks' work along this line soon 

 convinced us that, while some progress could be made, the only way whereby we 

 would feel absolutely safe in stating that we were in a position to furnish selected 

 budwood would be by securing actual individual tree records, as had been done 

 with citrus fruits, for a series of years, and then only taking budwood from the 

 individual trees which, after a series of years had shown themselves to be the best 

 producers. Accordingly on July 31 the reorganized plan of work for our asso- 

 ciation was presented and approved by our directors. This, in brief, was that the 

 entire time of the investigational staff of the association would be devoted to the 

 securing of individual tree records for a period of three years and that no bud- 

 wood would be furnished to the members of the association until three years* 

 records had been secured, which would mean that budwood, which could be 

 called 'selected' or 'performance record bud wood,' would not be handled by 

 the association until 1922." 



In view of such a situation, the directors decided that it would be better 

 for the present that the Association should not sell budwood except to those 

 requesting it; that the secretary should push the effort to secure the keeping of 

 individual tree records; and also, if possible, keep records of where the nursery- 

 men secure buds and the number from each source. 



Marl^eting. No subject has received more careful study by the directors 

 and members thcui the problems of marketing. From the first meeting of the 

 Association, when addresses upon it were delivered, down to this present 

 meeting the discussions have been continuous tho not always illuminating. Opin- 

 ions range between the growers who deem it to be the duty of the Association to 

 take their fruit off their hands and sell it for them and those who think that the 

 problem is a personal one for each grower to face and settle for himself. Your 

 directors have considered every suggestion which they could conceive and which 

 has been submitted to them and are still in doubt as to the next best step. A 

 suggestion was made that the California Fruit Growers' Exchange might handle 

 the fruit. A committee consisting of Mr. Yaggy and Mr. Adams called upon 

 Mr. Powell, the manager of the Exchange, and discussed the matter fully with 

 him. The committee reported that Mr. Powell was interested but did not offer 

 much encouragement, as to the chance of shipping thru the Exchange. He doubted 

 if the Exchange would be legally allowed to handle more than they are already 

 doing. If such an arrangement could be made, members would have to sell 

 entirely thru the Exchange and the Avocado Association would have to join as 

 a body. There was no hope of selling thru the Exchange at the present time 

 when our shipments are unceretain, scattered and comparatively small but the 

 question could be reopened when we are ready to sell in carlots. 



The idea of renting a place in Los Angeles for selling and demonstration 

 headquarters, with a competent person in charge, was considered but the expense 

 of establishing and maintaining such a clearing-house appeared to be prohibitive. 

 Reports indicated that the growers would not all agree to market thru the Asso- 

 ciation but would sell to the highest bidder, and unless the Association could 

 handle sufficient of the fruits to control the market to a certain extent, this plan 

 could not be made self-supporting. It probably could be made a success if an 

 able man with unusual business ability could be secured to direct it but the 

 funds with which to secure such a manager are not forthcoming. 



