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TWENTY-EIGHTH FRUIT-GROWERS' CONVENTION. 



PRESIDENT COOPER. Read it. 



MR. BERWICK. I would like to say that this is the Fruit-Growers' 

 Declaration of Independence, in my opinion. (Applause.) I will read 

 the resolution: 



Whereas, The public need of an efficient domestic and foreign parcels post is so 

 obvious as to require no argument ; and 



Whereas, This favored nation lags far behind Old "World nations, and even behind 

 the republic of Mexico, in regard to postal facilities; and 



Whereas, The Postmaster-General, by and with the consent of the President, has 

 power to conclude parcels post conventions with any foreign government ; be it 



Resolved, That we, the Fruit-Growers of California, in convention assembled at Los 

 Angeles, this 6th day of May, 1903, respectful^ urge on our President and Postmaster- 

 General to take the necessary steps for the conclusion of such parcels post conventions 

 with all nations willing to reciprocate in the matter. 



We also urge upon Congress the imperative need for such immediate action at its 

 next session, as shall enable our Postmaster-General to establish a system of parcels 

 post, at least equal to those systems it has been found possible to operate successfully 

 in Mexico, Switzerland, Germany, and elsewhere. 



Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be handed to President Roosevelt during 

 his visit to this city, and a copy be sent by our Secretary to the Postmaster-General, 

 and to every member of Congress. 



The resolutions were reported favorably by the Committee on Resolu- 

 tions and adopted by the Convention. 



PROFESSOR PAINE. Mr. Chairman, I have another resolution to 

 offer, and move its adoption: 



Whereas, The official position held for a period of twenty years by the President of 

 the State Board of Horticulture has been efficient and satisfactory ; therefore, 



Resolved, That the twenty-eighth State Fruit-Growers' Convention of California 

 hereby extends its thanks to Governor Pardee for his appointment, under the new law, 

 of the Honorable Ellwood Cooper as State Commissioner of Horticulture. 



Resolved, That the Secretary of this Convention is requested to communicate this 

 resolution to the Governor. 



PROFESSOR COOK. I would like to second that motion. 

 The motion was unanimously adopted by a rising vote. 



MR. KOETHEN. I believe discussions are in order on the papers 

 that have been read. I wish to say something in the nature of a chal- 

 lenge to one remark made by Mr. Bishop in his paper; and if I am 

 wrong I think we ought all to know it. He makes the statement that 

 fruit raised on heavy soils is not equal to fruit raised on light soils, 

 speaking of oranges. I have been taught, ever since I have been in 

 California, that the most marketable fruit has come from the heavy 

 soils such as you find in the red soils in Redlands and Riverside and 

 other places. If I am wrong in this, I wish to be corrected; but I 

 believe that the statement made in the essay is not in accordance with 

 the facts. 



PROFESSOR PAINE. The writer used the term "alluvial" as not 

 being the best soil on which to raise fruit. It seems to me to be recog- 



