PROCEEDINGS OF THIRTY-THIRD FRUIT-GROWERS ' CONVENTION. 215 



season, should all carry out these reforms in handling, as many of 

 them are preparing to do, here would be $1,000,000 added to the net 

 profits to be distributed to their patrons. The same advantage may be 

 secured to the patrons of independent packers. 



It is sometimes claimed that agriculture is the slowest of all occupa- 

 tions to avail itself of demonstrated advanced methods. This certainly 

 has not been entirely true of our California fruit-growers, and I think 

 it remarkable how quickly and vigorously the demonstrated value of 

 careful handling of our orange crops is being appreciated and utilized. 



Much of this fruit wjll be gathered this season and henceforth by 

 careful picking forces working immediately under trained supervisors. 

 It will be delivered to the packing-houses in the most careful manner, 

 and there handled by men and machinery best adapted to secure it 

 from any injury. Already many packing-houses have been and are 

 being entirely refitted to secure the object suggested by the investiga- 

 tion, even at the cost of laying aside expensive machinery and appli- 

 ances and putting in new. The fruit will be shipped as quickly as 

 possible after being picked, and, where possible, cooled before shipping. 

 Where this approved method of handling is not used, the grower will 

 continue to lose a possible margin of income equal to a fair profit in itself. 



I recognize fully the importance of our orange-growers applying 

 themselves most diligently to the solving of our marketing problem, to 

 the improving of our orchard methods, to the more general and intelli- 

 gent use of cover crops, and other means of bringing the soil into the 

 best condition, to the rigorously shutting out of new insect pests and 

 finding better means of freeing our orchards from those already prey- 

 ing upon them. I recognize, too, that there are other things than care- 

 ful handling that have to do with the keeping qualities of our fruit, but 

 I do not think there is any one thing to which we growers can address 

 ourselves with so large and immediately profitable results, just at this 

 time, as that of securing the careful handling of our fruit. 



THE CHAIRMAN. Does any one wish to discuss the paper just 

 read or ask any questions regarding it ? 



MRS. GAGE. Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask if there is any one 

 in this Convention who knows anything in regard to the experiment of 

 packing fruit in the paper package? I understand that the great 

 burden laid upon our fruit-packers by the high- price of material is 

 going to be circumvented by a paper package, and I understand it has 

 been tried in the Southland. 



MR. REED. Several different kinds of packages have been intro- 

 duced. I am of the opinion that there will be improved packages for 

 carrying our oranges. We have now being manufactured a board 

 box that promises well, but I can not say that any other packages but 

 the ordinary packages have been successful. 



