16 PROCEEDINGS OF TWENTY-SIXTH FRUIT-GROWERS' CONVENTION. 



Prices. — Excepting late peaches, prices for the season on all fruits 

 averaged about twenty-five per cent higher than last year. This im- 

 proved result is the outcome of several favorable conditions: (a) Better 

 railway and refrigerator car service; (6) A lighter crop of Eastern fruits; 

 (c) More care in selection of fruits; {d) Better packing; (e) The reduc- 

 tion made by the Southern Pacific Company of from 26,000 to 24,000 

 pounds minimum to the car. This made better refrigeration possible 

 and aided the fruit to arrive at its destination in better condition. 



Late peaches did badly, because of too many being shipped at the 

 time when the Eastern crop was being marketed. In this connection I 

 beg to refer to my last year's report, in which I said: "This year's 

 experience has made plain that, so far as peaches are concerned, when- 

 ever the Eastern States have a full crop, it is unprofitable to send any 

 but the very finest peaches, of good keeping qualities. The balance 

 should be retained at home and canned or dried." 



Summary. — On the whole, this has been one of the most favorable 

 years in the history of the California fruit industry. The results can 

 not but have added very much to the value of California fruit lands, 

 and to have inspired the fruit-growers with renewed courage and hope 

 in the future. 



With the growing experience and higher judgment that is being ex- 

 ercised on the part of the grower in the planting, cultivating, harvesting, 

 packing, and marketing of his crop, the outlook was never brighter for 

 the future of the California green fruit industry. 



Table Showing Destination and Number of Cars Shipped to Each Place in 1895, 1896, 

 1897, 1898, 1899, 1900, and 1901. 



Destination. 



1895. 



1896. 



1897. 



1898. 



1899. 



1900. 



1901. 





1473 



1007 



1410 



1203 



1060 



1101 



1273 





862 



1055 



1456 



1429 



1694 



1527 



1482 





279 



471 



543 



536 



710 



649 



639 





82 



90 



202 



176 



339 



212 



257 





124 



147 



180 



167 



247 



302 



275 





37 



5 



16 



16 



67 



34 



23 





15 



2 



20 



15 



89 



35 



29 





91 



81 



86 



116 



165 



129 



85 





44 



81 



98 



96 



128 



126 



128 





75 



85 



81 



62 



126 



136 



118 





148 



136 



98 



229 



269 



233 



246 





78 



68 



59 



27 



115 



79 



64 





109 



91 



121 



67 



125 



131 



108 





176 



85 



165 



156 



194 



240 



205 





29 



10 



37 



25 



83 



63 



58 





26 



25 



40 



47 



137 



144 



167 





15 



7 



15 



5 



34 



10 



32 





42 



32 



52 



19 



60 



68 



62 







42 



58 



42 



117 



192 



93 











4 



7 



16 













2 















1 



1 





1 













52 



71 



55 



Minor Points— United States 



863 



532 



586 



572 



1051 



946 



1043 





4568 



4052 



5323 



5007 



6869 



6435 



6459 



















