TWENTY-EIGHTH FRUIT-GROWERS' CONVENTION. 



119 



best products in proper condition, and packed as represented, the top- 

 layer method must be discontinued if you want to maintain a California 

 reputation. With every package all layers must be top layers. How 

 often do we hear it said by visitors in our exhibition hall: "Oh, yes; 

 this fruit looks like the outside layers of those boxes we get East; but 

 when you get down to the center, it is nothing but trash or unripe, 

 knotty fruit, not fit to eat. Your peaches are not fit to eat, tough -and 

 tasteless." This complaint is on the increase, and unless the grower 

 himself, or packer, uses commercial sense and changes the practice, 

 California will be the loser. 



The citrus fruit packer is getting "onto his job," and for attractive 

 and uniform pack is gaining a reputation that counts; except in the one 

 thing, that is, green fruit in the opening of the season. Better be late 

 to market than hurt your trade with unripe stuff. Why can't you ship 

 your deciduous fruit more nearly matured ? It would better not last 

 so long than to be unpalatable and tough. You all know the stomach 

 is the place to tickle, if you want to make favorable impressions. Let 

 us go into the tickling business and place the whole universe in a good 

 humor over ourselves and our products. 



Now for St. Louis. How many of you are preparing for the event of 

 next year ? To advertise California at St. Louis as she should be every 

 section must be up and doing, and every grower setting aside certain 

 patches of grain, certain trees, and certain vines from which to select 

 specimens worthy of being placed beside those of other States and 

 countries. We have been very slow in getting started, if we have started 

 at all. Glassware should be ready to receive the early fruit; competent 

 men employed to process it. Each section should be making its esti- 

 mate on what it will do, the amount of space it will require, and the 

 character of display it wishes to make. The State can not arrange to 

 handle the proposition until it knows to a reasonable certainty just 

 what to expect from its several divisions. How many are ready to give 

 this information ? 



California has gained a reputation in the exposition line that must be 

 maintained. If the grower does not do his share, we will not be able to 

 maintain this reputation at St. Louis. Every mercantile establishment 

 attempts to improve its advertising methods. We should do the same, 

 and keep everlastingly at it, if we want to keep California always to 

 the front. 



