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always in the direction of urging consignments, when perhaps the best 

 thing the grower could do might be to dry his fruit or dispose of it in 

 some other way. An organization such as that proposed would not be 

 tempted to urge shipments unless the market justified. It may be a 

 broad statement, but I think it is true that more money would have 

 been realized during certain months of the past season for the producer 

 had one half of the fruit that was shipped been allowed to rot on the 

 trees, and the remaining half only sent forward. 



Fourthly, it will scarcely be denied that a vast improvement could be 

 made in the method of handling the fruit in the East. Take the auction 

 scheme, for instance ; in a great many small cities I think the plan 

 should be abandoned altogether. It is too easy for the buyers to com- 

 bine. In some markets at the present time where auctions are held, 

 the plan amounts to nothing more than exposing the fruit on the side- 

 walk and the receiver selling it off to any one of the dozen or so buyers 

 who will take it ; it would more properly be called a sheriff's sale than 

 a public auction. It is, of course, a very easy and simple way of dispos- 

 ing of fruit, but it is nearly always disastrous. In such large markets 

 as Chicago, New York, Boston, Philadelphia, New Orleans, and perhaps 

 one or two others, the auction plan might be made to work to the 

 satisfaction of the California grower, were he himself conducting or 

 directing the method of such auction, which no one will deny he has a 

 perfect right to do, and ought to do in his own defense. At present in 

 Chicago there are four auction houses selling California fruit. While it 

 may be necessary or advantageous to have half a dozen or more receivers 

 in Chicago, yet there can be no advantage whatever, but quite the reverse, 

 in having more than one auction-room ; even in that large market there 

 are not to exceed four hundred buyers, and when they are divided 

 amongst four houses the result must be apparent. If they can be brought 

 together the result will make itself felt very strongly in our favor. 

 Eastern dealers, excepting of course those directly concerned with the 

 trade, have little or no interest with the California producer, their only 

 object being to obtain the fruit for as near nothing as possible, hence 

 they have no compunction against buying peaches at 30 or 40 cents per 

 box which they could sell at a profit if they paid $1 per box or more. 

 The deal should be handled if possible in such a way as to get the $1 

 instead of the 30 cents. A competent representative of the association 

 should be stationed at each important market to watch after its interests, 

 and to keep it fully advised as to actual conditions and prospects. 



In conclusion, I think the time has come when the growers must 

 awaken to a realization of their condition, and must take immediate 

 and energetic steps for the preservation and improvement of the fruit 

 industry. I am free to say that after studying the question for twenty 

 years both as a fruit grower and shipper, I can see no plan, except that of a 

 complete organization, which can successfully grapple with the problem. 

 But it is for the fruit growers themselves to take up the subject and see 

 what they can do. 



The following paper on Pecan Culture, by Herbert Post, of Fort Worth, 

 Texas, was read: 



