TWENTY-EIGHTH FRUIT-GROWERS' CONVENTION. 



11 



further planting of the orange. It pointed out the difficulties in har- 

 vesting at that time, at a profit, the crops then produced, and gave the 

 acreage of a large area then planted, not in bearing. At that same 

 meeting a resolution was passed discouraging further planting. 



It seems to me, therefore, that the orange-growers should organize so 

 as to have a bureau of information to ascertain the probable output, 

 the probable market at a fair profit to the grower, and the probable 

 increase in foreign places, and from the data thus obtained decide upon 

 the encouragement or discouragement of further planting. While Y\'e 

 can organize to prevent competition among ourselves, we can not control 

 importations that might prove our greatest competitors. 



It is not alone that the newcomer would make an unprofitable invest- 

 ment, but in producing an over-supply would depreciate the value of 

 all the orchards now planted. It is not the purpose of this paper to 

 depreciate values, but on the contrary to save the industry in all sections 

 of the State. It was demonstrated at the Convention held in San 

 Francisco, December last, that the deciduous fruit shipments from the 

 northern districts had caused serious losses to the growers and that 

 further planting of such fruits should be discouraged; and not only this, 

 but that if something could not be done to save from bankruptcy those 

 engaged in the growing of deciduous fruits the alarm should be sounded 

 so as to counteract the efforts made by railroad companies and land- 

 boomers to bring here Eastern people to go into the business of growing 

 deciduous fruits. A resolution to this effect was passed. It is to be 

 hoped, however, that better organization, better railroad facilities, will 

 remedy the disasters of the past season. Californians have the reputa- 

 tion of being hospitable and generous, which they are certainly entitled 

 to. We have given to the public the results of our efforts, withholding 

 nothing, so that newcomers and new planters could profit by our expe- 

 rience; and w r hile I do not wish my remarks to be considered pessimistic 

 as to the fruit situation, I believe in the adage that "self-preservation 

 is the first law of nature," and that w T e should not follow a course to 

 destroy ourselves. 



Labor. — The labor question, which has so much to do with fruit- 

 growing, was discussed at length at our last Convention. From nearly 

 every section statements were made that the crops could not be gathered 

 in a manner that would make fruit-growing profitable. Sufficient help 

 could not be had. In some cases as high as $2.50 per day was paid for 

 common labor. It w T as conceded by all that a large increase in the 

 labor population was necessary to save the fruit crops. The Chinese 

 Exclusion Act was very generally discussed pro and con, and a resolu- 

 tion, asking the United States Congress to repeal the Exclusion Act, 

 passed by a vote of over three fifths of the Convention, the sentiment 



