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



of oil, and when we do, if it is of good quality and is kept pure, we have 

 the world for a market. According to Mr. Cooper's estimate, which I 

 think excessive, allowing 100 trees to the acre, we have 25,000 acres in 

 olives. I have shown you that in two districts of France there are 

 150,000 acres. In Tuscany alone there are 270,000 acres, and many 

 times this acreage in other parts of Italy, where the total output of oil 

 is stated to reach 90,000,000 gallons. When you consider the produc- 

 tion of Spain and other olive countries, and that less than a million 

 gallons find their way to the United States, it seems to me that with 

 reasonable hope of ultimate success we can continue to present the olive 

 industry as one of the many attractions of California. 



I can not close this report without expressing my grateful acknowl- 

 edgment to Mr. George A. Dennison, Acting Manager of the State 

 Board of Trade, without whose intelligence and assistance in gathering 

 the facts together I would not have been able to lay them before you. 

 Acknowledgments are also due to Mr. Victor J. La Motte, Assistant at 

 the State Board of Trade, for transcribing and otherwise rendering 

 efficient aid in the work. 



Upon motion of Mr. Sprague, the report was placed on file, and the 

 State Board of Trade requested to print the same. 



EVILS OF THE PEESENT METHODS OF SELLINa THE OLIVE. 



By C. a. WASHBURN, of Los Angeles. 



It is safe to assume that most of us here in the olive industry have 

 passed various vicissitudes and difficulties unnumbered, through the 

 long years necessary to bring a commercial commodity into bearing. 

 We have studied in the nursery varieties best adapted to our soil; we 

 have watched with eagerness the result as each succeeding season passes, 

 of drought or excessive moisture, too little or too much fertilizing, cross- 

 pollination, and irrigation or not, and always the scale, and methods 

 for its destruction. 



The subjects here outlined have been scientifically and ably discussed 

 before you, and practical results of theories advanced permit the asser- 

 tion that anxiety can largely give way to the application of good 

 judgment, to insure to us an article of commerce that the American palate 

 is demanding more each year, and with the most prolific production 

 California is unable to supply but a small proportion. 



The uncertainties of a crop having diminished to a minimum, and 

 the demand known to exist for a merchantable quality of it, bring us 

 to a point when discussion of the evils of present methods of preparing 

 and selling the fruit, and the remedies necessary, is the last and at 

 present of the utmost importance. 



