12 PROCEEDINGS OF THIRTY-THIRD FRUIT-GROWERS ' CONVENTION. ' 



issues. The abuses of the private ear lines have been catalogued and 

 condemned before these meetings oftener than: before all other unofficial 

 bodies combined ; freight rates upon orchard products have been analyzed 

 and reductions demanded by the members of these conventions; better 

 time and facilities in the transportation services of the State 's perishable 

 products have been discussed and declared imperative; the cooperative 

 marketing of fruit has been given the right of way in many warm dis- 

 cussions, and advancement made in many cultural lines and publicity 

 given to many practical and scientific discoveries of value to the fruit- 

 grower. Some progress has been made also in bringing to a better 

 basis the farm labor supply; the parcels post has been indorsed, good 

 roads advocated, and encouragement given to every good movement 

 throughout the State and with special preference to those pertaining 

 to the moral and material advancement of the farmers and fruit-grow- 

 ers of California. One need but refer to these annual reports to realize 

 the wholesome and helpful tone of these conventions, held for a gener- 

 ation under the direction of the gentleman who now retires with the 

 respect and love of the people of this great commonwealth, full of the 

 best wishes of his fellow citizens everywhere. Less than a full recog- 

 nition of Mr. Cooper's character and achievements would not do justice 

 to this remarkable occasion, which closes an association perhaps the 

 longest of its kind in the history of horticulture. In recognition of the 

 faithfulness and sincerity that have ever distinguished the attitude 

 of Ellwood Cooper toward the welfare of the fruit-growers, I wish 

 to express the hope that the new administration may be as sincere in 

 its purpose to do good. I wish to pledge you that any changes of 

 methods or policies made by your new Commissioner will be attempted 

 with reasons thought to be obvious and acceptable to the people of the 

 State. No one worthy of your confidence, and competent to hold this 

 great office, would promise to follow. the policies and plans of his pred- 

 ecessors; but I know that a safe example has been set for me in the 

 work of this conscientious man, and I shall try to keep faith with its 

 spirit to the end of my term. 



But we must turn from this inspiring subject to the duties and con- 

 ditions that now confront us. In the year just closing California has 

 experienced the most prosperous season of fruit-growing since the 

 days when the pioneers discovered that all the gold of the State was 

 not to be mined from the soil, that the pick was not greater than the 

 plow, and that sluicing was not more profitable than the use of water 

 upon the fruit farm. This prosperity has extended from the northern 

 limits of the State to the international line, and it has brought afflu- 

 ence to all the land. Judging from the achievements of the passing 

 year the outlook for the future of fruit-growing is most reassuring, 

 and justifies a very optimistic view of its security, and of the 



