94 



TWENTY-NINTH FRUIT-GROWERS' CONVENTION. 



Cuba, in which the consumption of wine is very large, is and appar- 

 ently must remain practically a closed door to California wines, because 

 we can not compete in price with the wines which are shipped there 

 from Spain. Within the United States the consumption of California 

 wines has shown but little increase in the last four years, if we are to 

 take as competent evidence the only records at our command, namely, 

 the statistics of railroad and sea shipments. 



Whether this condition of affairs is due to the raise, made about 

 three yearl ago, in the price of wines, or whether the production from 

 the heavy acreage of Eastern vineyards planted in late years has filled 

 the increase in consumption which should naturally follow the known 

 increase in population in this country, it is difficult to determine, but 

 the fact remains and must be recognized that unless a change occurs it 

 will be extremely difficult within the next two or three years to profita- 

 bly take care, through wine channels, of the yield of the new sweet- 

 wine grape acreage which will come into bearing. Should a surplus of 

 grapes be produced every grower will have to face the problem of how 

 to find profitable uses for his product. 



This year's experience seems to point to the conclusion that although 

 the raisin-growers are banded together in a closer combination than 

 ever before, managed by competent men of their own choosing, it is 

 quite possible, even with the existing bearing acreage, to produce a 

 greater tonnage than the market will readily absorb at reasonably 

 remunerative prices. 



Growers of table grapes, however, have, I understand, experienced 

 another profitable year, and some of the increased acreage may here 

 find a remunerative field. 



The wine men discovered last year that vineyards now in bearing 

 can produce a very large quantity of wine, and nothing but the great 

 financial strength of their organization, with its consequent ability to 

 hold the product without being forced to sacrifice it, has prevented the 

 arising of conditions which, in their reflex action, could not fail to 

 seriously affect the grape-grower. 



The question, therefore, which may arise is: How shall we take care 

 of the product of the new acreage when it comes into bearing? 



Can wine be made at a price low enough to compete in foreign fields 

 or limit the consumption of the Eastern product? 



To what extent can grapes be dried so as not to overstock and depress 

 the raisin market? 



To what extent can grapes be shipped green to Eastern markets with- 

 out making the present profitable conditions for table grapes disastrously 

 the reverse? 



Does it not appear that all these contingencies must be considered 

 when the 70,000 new acres bring their additional yield 'of grapes into 

 the market? 



