those who have carefully investigated the causes feel satisfied in their 

 own minds that these low prices were caused not so much by over-pro- 

 duction as by conditions that are either not likely to be repeated or that 

 lie within the power of the fruit growers to remedy. 



The men of foresight, who, in 1886, when there were but 4,000 car- 

 loads sent out of the State, prophesied that the fruit industry was still 

 in its infancy, were met with more or less ridicule. Had it been in the 

 power of any one at that time to foretell that in 1894, in the face of the 

 most distressing industrial and commercial depression that the country 

 had ever known, in the face of a most disastrous railway strike, para- 

 lyzing, at the height of the shipping season, the traffic for weeks — had 

 it been foretold that in the face of such conditions there would be 

 shipped from the State 20,000 carloads of fruit, the person making such 

 statement would have been regarded as a visionary of a most profound 

 type. And yet, if to-day many of us were told that in years to come 

 there will be shipped from California 50,000 carloads of fruit, and 

 shipped at a profit to the grower, we would look upon such a statement as 

 reckless and unworthy of serious consideration. Yet many of us here 

 assembled, though advanced in years, will live to see that day. The 

 fruit grower is destined to be the chief foundation stone of the prosperity 

 of this great commonwealth. [Applause.] His intelligent, enterprising 

 industry is to prove a blessing, not only to himself but to all the people 

 of this great State. The wealth which by skill and industry he will 

 bring forth from our fruitful soil is to make ours the richest, the most 

 prosperous, as well as the most cultured and enlightened 'among the 

 people of this great western continent. 



In welcoming you to our midst, we cannot therefore but feel that we 

 are welcoming truly royal guests, royal in all that goes to add to the 

 wealth and prosperity of the nation, royal in all that tends to develop the 

 moral and mental culture of our people, and to strengthen the foundation 

 stones upon which the State and nation rest. In welcoming you to our 

 midst, we feel that we are welcoming guests with whom we have much 

 in common, guests whose interests and welfare we should ever have at 

 heart, guests who, to us, represent that yeomanry which goes to make 

 the highest and most important element in American citizenship. We 

 feel honored by your presence, and in behalf of the people of Sacramento 

 it affords me pleasure to tender you a most hearty welcome, and to 

 bespeak for you a treatment on the part of our citizens which I trust 

 will prompt you in the future to make our city your meeting place more 

 often than you have in the past. Let me express the hope that your 

 discussions and deliberations may be guided by that wisdom and calm 

 judgment which, in the coming years, will bring to your labors the 

 highest and fullest measure of success. [Applause.] 



ADDRESS OF HON. L. W. BUCK, 



A T ice-President Presiding. 



Ladies and Gentlemen: In the absence of our esteemed President, 

 Hon. Ellwood Cooper, it becomes my duty and pleasure to preside at 

 this convention of horticulturists, by virtue of my position of Vice- 

 President. This is the eighteenth State Fruit Growers' Convention, and 



