107 



A few varieties of excellent table grapes are grown, but our foreign varie- 

 ties are unknown, except as we send them. 



To my mind, eastern competition in fruit grown there is not a serious 

 factor in our problem, and so long as the enlightened policy of government 

 protection to home products is pursued, we have nothing to fear from foreign 

 countries. 



The long list of fruits peculiar to this State will not grow shorter, but 

 will be increased. We will raise dates, and possibly bananas. We will 

 cease importing currants from Greece, and supply them in California. 



In this discussion, I have not dealt with grapes for wine, and yet all 

 intelligent observers predict great results for that industry. We are mak- 

 ing large quantities of wines of great excellence, and choice grape brandy. 

 Probably one hundred and fifty thousand acres are already in wine grapes. 



The wine imports of the country are valued at port of shipment at 

 $7,056,085. Import values give the minimum value, and often are fraud- 

 ulently valued. 



The true value of most foreign importations is much greater than the 

 invoice value at port of shipment. 



I have thus presented the case submitted to me. I am conscious of the 

 imperfect manner in which I have dealt with our wheat and fruit industries. 



If I had been allowed, without wandering from the question, I would have 

 shown the wheat grower how much better it would be if he devoted some 

 of his land to alfalfa and other grasses or forage plants, if he don't like 

 fruit. He will smile when I tell him that the hay crop of the United 

 States in 1886 was valued at nearly $40,000,000 more than the wheat crop; 

 that even in California our hay crop was valued in 1886 at nearly half the 

 value of our wheat. With the exception of corn, hay is the most valuable 

 agricultural crop grown in the United States, and the average value per 

 acre is greater than that of wheat. Corn is king, and hay is heir apparent 

 to the throne in the United States, unless our fruits overtake and pass them 

 both. 



To the fruit grower I would like to have given some sound fatherly ad- 

 vice, born of experience, but no doubt this will be supplied before we adjourn, 

 and by more competent persons. I leave the question in your hands. 



On motion of Professor Husmann, the thanks of the convention were 

 tendered to General Chipman for his able essay. 



The convention then adjourned until the following morning at nine 

 o'clock. 



