PROCEEDINGS OF THIRTY-THIRD FRUIT-GROWERS ' CONVENTION. 89 



ever before, while in midseason the same variety of grapes from one 

 district would bring very satisfactory prices,' while from another dis- 

 trict the sales would be at a considerably less figure and not nearly so 

 remunerative. The reports from agents and the general response to 

 inquiries as to the reason of low range of prices invariably brought 

 back the reply that those of lower sales were in poor or poorer condi- 

 tion. 



Therefore, in considering the possibilities of widening our deciduous 

 fruit markets I can give you, in a very few words, my opinion or judg- 

 ment of the best way in which to widen them at the present time or 

 to prepare for the necessities of the future, and that is, better trans- 

 portation service. I do not say this in a spirit of fault-finding or of 

 captious criticism, but simply make the declaration as a statement of 

 fact. I am quite willing to acknowledge that the fresh-fruit products 

 received probably better attention this year from the transportation 

 companies than any other commodity, but at the same time truth com- 

 pels the declaration that the service given, particularly as regards 

 length of time en route, was wholly inadequate to permit the obtaining 

 of the best results on shipments. 



In considering the distribution of California table grapes there is a 

 factor that must always be given certain consideration, and that is the 

 importation of Almeria grapes. This year to date there have been 

 imported from Almeria 858,962 barrels of grapes, as against the total 

 importation of 548,000 barrels for the season of 1906. This quantity is 

 equal to 2,226 cars of California grapes and when imported they are 

 packed in sawdust, suitable for storage or long-shipment purposes I 

 have frequently, by correspondence or personal inquiry, endeavored to 

 get the opinion of people engaged in the handling of fruit in the East as 

 to the competition of these grapes with those from California, and the 

 invariable response has been that the best varieties of California grapes, 

 in good condition, are generally given the preference by the trade and 

 the consumer. 



Let me quote you a few reports received by me recently from the East 

 as being typical ones. I would particularly have you bear in mind the 

 declaration in all of them that "if Californias are in good condition" has 

 been invariably italicized. 



From New York: "California grapes are invariably given the preference over 

 Almerias if in good condition, but the Alrnerias are packed in sawdust to keep a long 

 time and when California grapes are eighteen to twenty days in transit and berries are 

 dry and moldy and shake from the stems upon being taken from the baskets the 

 trade can not and will not pay the prices that they would if these grapes could be gotten 

 here in strictly first-class condition. If grapes arrive in strictly first-class condition, 

 which they do at times, the sale price, as you yourselves know, invariably shows that 

 they sell at higher prices than any other kind of grapes offered on this market." 



From Philadelphia: "About twelve thousand barrels of Almeria grapes have been 

 sold here this week, six thousand being sold on Tuesday, November 5th, and about the 



