10 



TWENTY-EIGHTH FRUIT-GROWEES' CONVENTION. 



be here, and I hope you will feel that you can call upon any of them, 

 or upon our good friend downstairs, Frank Wiggins, Secretary of the 

 Chamber of Commerce, or myself, for anything you want. I want you 

 to feel that you are welcome to our city, and when you go away I want 

 you to feel that you will be glad to return. Gentlemen, I thank you. 



A. P. Griffith, of Azusa, was chosen Vice-President. 



PRESIDENT COOPER'S ADDRESS. 



This will be the twenty-eighth Fruit-Growers' Convention, and the 

 first held under the auspices of the State Horticultural Commission. 



At the Convention held in December last a desire was expressed by 

 northern fruit-growers for a spring meeting, to be held in Los Angeles. 

 The great prosperity of this region attracts the intelligent fruit-grower 

 from localities less sought after by the incoming settlers. 



I remember well the condition of Los Angeles and its surroundings 

 in the spring of 1868, when I was a visitor in California. There was 

 no apparent enterprise; and the wonder was to the stranger, that with 

 such a delightful climate, such beautiful surroundings, which a bounti- 

 ful nature had bestowed upon this region, there was not more enterprise 

 and a greater number of people. Many things have led up to its present 

 prosperous condition: The great beauty of the San Gabriel Valley; the 

 salubrious climate; the summer heat modified by the gentle ocean 

 breezes; the proximity to the sea and the surrounding mountains, 

 offering protection from the winter cold; but more than ail — its orange 

 groves. 



Its great attraction for Eastern people has built up its industries and 

 made possible what it is to-day. May this prosperity continue and 

 nothing mar the progress of the great future that is before this region. 

 The one thing needful, however, is the saving or preserving of the flood 

 waters of the winter rains. 



One great danger is that orange-growing will be overdone. Large 

 enterprises are being fostered in Mexico to grow oranges. Our advent 

 into the West Indies makes possible extensive plantations of oranges in 

 those islands, where soil, climate, water, and cheap labor will offer 

 great competition ; and especially cheaper freight rates. In this alone 

 there will be a difference in favor of the West Indies to New York of 

 about 70 cents a box. I have already received inquiries from New York 

 for the work on the citrus by the late B. M. Lelong, published by the 

 State Board, showing that orange-growing is in contemplation. 



Five years ago this month a convention of the fruit-growers was held 

 in this district— two days in Los Angeles and two days in Riverside. 

 At the Riverside meeting an essay was read sounding an alarm as to the 



