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



As to the actual value of this careful handling to the grower, it is 

 difficult to definitely determine. It has been estimated by those who 

 are in position to judge best in the matter, that the aggregate saving to 

 orange-growers during last season, because of the more careful handling 

 induced by these investigations, exceeded $1,000,000. A more definite 

 notion may be had from actual individual experience. 



Mr. L. V. W. Brown is one of our large Riverside growers who packs 

 his own fruit. He was deeply impressed with the value of careful 

 handling as suggested by the result of Mr. Powell's investigations, and 

 during last season rigidly insisted on his fruit being handled with the 

 greatest care. Mr. Brown tells me that he estimates his net increased 

 receipts from his product of last season, because of this special care, at 

 from 50 cents to $1.50 per box. 



The National Orange Company also of Riverside (The Chases) were 

 among the first to give careful attention to Mr. Powell's investigations. 

 They quickly recognized the practical value of their results, and at once 

 had both packing-house and orchard handling regulated accordingly, 

 at a considerably increased expense over that of old methods. But in 

 spite of this increased expense, they estimate the net gain from it as 

 much as that claimed by Mr. Brown. They found that their carefully 

 handled fruit, even after warm weather commenced, was carrying fully 

 as well without icing as the ordinarily handled fruit with icing, and 

 icing their fruit was not commenced till six weeks after that of most 

 shippers. The margin of saving on two or three cars per day on this 

 alone was very considerable. 



Many other cases where equally large gains were made could be cited. 

 These cases, of course, simply indicate the possibilities of adding to the 

 orange-grower's profit through the results of careful handling. 



Of course, the advantage in utilizing the new methods is considerable 

 with the large grower packing his own fruit, or firms having entire control 

 over all the fruit they pack from the time of picking. But after follow- 

 ing these investigations from the first, as well as the application of 

 their results in a practical way, by many houses giving them careful 

 test, I am satisfied that at least 50 cents per packed box may be saved 

 to the small grower by this careful handling, where so cooperatively 

 associated as to have it rigidly carried out; that is, a net gain of $500 

 to the grower of every one thousand packed boxes. I firmly believe 

 that this increase of net profit, 50 cents per box, to California orange- 

 growers is entirely practicable; but to be quite safe in our estimates, 

 place the gain at 25 cents per box, one fourth the amount that has actu- 

 ally been secured over old methods, and we see how tremendous^ im- 

 portant these investigations may be made to our California industry. 



Supposing the associations making up the California Citrus Fruit 

 Exchange, which will probably pack four million boxes or more this 



