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PROCEEDINGS OP THIRTY-THIRD FRUIT-GROWERS 9 CONVENTION. 



REPORT OF THE CALIFORNIA FRUIT DISTRIBUTORS. 



By HON. ALDEN ANDERSON, of Sacramento. 



The shipment of deciduous fruits to Eastern markets for the season 

 of 1907 to date follows, together with shipments of 1906 for comparison: 





1906. 



1907. 



Cherries 



150 



98 



Apricots 



. . 16 



71 



Peaches... : 



584 



699 



Plums and Prunes 



1,220 



1,039 



Pears ... ... 



1,513 



1,039 



Apples 



748* 



l,067t 



Miscellaneous 



... : 22 



18 





2,052 



3,460 



Totals 



6,305 



7,491 



* Shipment to December 20th. 



t Shipment to November 29th. 





A study of the figures given, together with a study of the statistics 

 of the shipment of deciduous fruits for the last six or eight years, will 

 show that this year there was not an excess of shipments of any one 

 variety of fruit over any other previous year, with the exception of 

 grapes, and on some varieties the quantity is considerably below the 

 average. 



One of the reasons there were not greater shipments in some lines 

 was the fact that we had a very cold, rainy spring, which interfered 

 with the blossoming and "setting" of the fruit, hence short crops, par- 

 ticularly in some districts. Another reason was the fact that fruit of 

 the varieties also used for canning or drying was salable at good prices 

 at home and there was no necessity for Eastern shipment to secure 

 remunerative returns. 



The increase in the shipment of grapes is very significant, and as 

 there is considerable acreage that will still come into bearing in a year 

 or two it will be reasonable to expect, under normal conditions, an 

 increased shipment over this year, and as I have been requested to say 

 a few words on the subject of "Widening our Markets" I will particu- 

 larly use the grape shipments as my text, as under normal conditions 

 we will have a greater increase of shipments of this fruit than of any 

 other. 



There was a fair crop of grapes, but the increased acreage coming 

 into bearing was responsible for the increased shipments more than 

 anything else. In 1906 there were 2,052 cars (the heaviest shipment 

 to that time) shipped, and this year there were 3,460, or 1,408 cars more 

 than were ever shipped in any one season before. 



Sales of grapes this year have been very variable. Some varieties, 

 particularly in the early part of the season, sold for higher figures than 



