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



be offered him to cause a change when once he has formed a habit of 

 buying certain grades and qualities. 



One of the causes that is preventing the increase in the distribution 

 of California canned fruits is the fact that a considerable percentage of 

 inferior grades is turned out bearing attractive labels with the word 

 " California" on them. Consumers purchase these goods as California 

 canned fruits, and finding them of poor quality, and not knowing that 

 the goods they used were below the average quality of California canned 

 fruits, they stop using them, thus injuring the industry very materially. 

 The remedy for this is to have fewer grades, and have the cans of sec- 

 onds and inferior grades plainly stamped with the quality contained. It 

 seems ridiculous and inconsistent for California canners to jealously 

 guard the name " California," and to protect its use by enjoining East- 

 ern packers from putting goods on the market bearing the name " Cali- 

 fornia," while, at the same time, they are turning out goods, grading 

 them as seconds and water, on which attractive labels are placed with 

 the word "California" prominently displayed, but with no indication 

 on the label of any inferiority of the goods contained therein. The 

 strange thing about this is that on these inferior grades there is no 

 margin of profit for the canner. These methods have already interfered 

 with the natural increase in trade in these goods, and unless some 

 steps are taken to remedy the evils resultant from these methods, no 

 considerable future increase in the distribution need be anticipated. 



The tariff is a subject that is allied very closely to the distribution of 

 California canned and dried fruits, and in this regard there is a great 

 variety of opinion — also a diversity of opinion. The distribution of 

 California canned fruits in foreign countries would be materially 

 increased if the tariff into those countries could be reasonably reduced. 

 In Germany, France, and nearly all European countries, excepting 

 England, the tariff is very high — in Germany, amounting to nearly 30 

 cents per can, which is more than the selling price of the goods — being 

 almost prohibitory. The reduction in the tariff on dried fruits into 

 Germany resulted in an enormous increase in the trade in California 

 dried fruits. What was done with dried fruits could be done with. 

 canned fruits. 



Even though we do not favor reciprocity treaties, why should we be 

 so blind to our own interests as not to make united efforts to obtain 

 some concessions in our favor, if it is to be the policy of the administra- 

 tion to adopt these treaties. We do not know that in these reciprocity 

 treaties the interests of great corporations are sufficiently strong to 

 obtain favorable results. California is, in these negotiations, considered 

 only as a very small part of the country. 



A committee of the Home Market Club of Boston recently reported 

 as follows: "Among the most gratifying conditions of the times, which 



