126 



TWENTY-EIGHTH FRUIT-GROWERS' CONVENTION. 



were about to be set out, than ever before. This, however, is simply 

 impression al. 



If that impression be accurate — and the very great part of these trees 

 are being set out in territory which is nearer to the great markets of the 

 country ihan is any point in California — is not one justified in coming 

 to the conclusion that the advertising of California fruits and fruit 

 products must be resorted to in order that the already large consump- 

 tive demand be further increased? A superficial glance at the question 

 would certainly seem to warrant such a conclusion, and the writer has 

 no hesitancy in saying that the consumption of California fruits can be 

 largely increased by judicious advertising. 



Starting, then, with the assumption that the use of California fruits 

 can be extended, let us inquire how this desired end can be accom- 

 plished. There were shipped from this State during the year 1902, in 

 carloads of ten tons each, 



Carloads. 



Green deciduous fruits 10,039 



Citrus fruits 22,566 



Dried fruits 15,194 



Raisins .. 4,757 



Total . 52,556 



There are in this country incorporated cities of 5,000 inhabitants and 

 over to the number of about 870; in addition to which there is an 

 unknown number of unincorporated cities of 5,000 inhabitants and 

 over, the New England States alone having sixty-two of them. It cer- 

 tainly is not outside the bounds of possibility, or even probability, if 

 the right forces are set at work, to increase the consumption of Cali- 

 fornia fruit products in all of these places. 



We are aware that many of these towns are supplied by the jobbers 

 doing business in the larger cities and shipping points, and should the 

 attempt be made to serve the small places direct from a California 

 central agency, the jobbers would take just that much less fruit. We 

 believe it to be in the interest of the industry to protect the jobbers, but 

 some plan should be devised by which they as a class should reach out 

 further than has yet been perhaps attempted in the effort to cover as 

 many towns of 5,000 population, or smaller, as well as the larger towns, 

 as is possible. 



California interests will make a mistake should they "cater to the 

 people at both ends against the middle." The jobber is the real distribu- 

 ter, and he is the man who should be protected as far as possible. The 

 man who only needs ten packages or less should buy from the jobber, 

 who is the man who buys hundreds and thousands of packages and 

 then sends out telegrams, letters, and postal cards everywhere in the 

 effort to get rid of the fruit. He does more for the California grower, 

 packer, and shipper than all the small buyers put together. The com- 



