PROCEEDINGS OF THIRTY-SIXTH FRUIT-GROWERS ' CONVENTION. 



97 



REPORT OF THE CALIFORNIA FRUIT DISTRIBUTORS. 



By F. B. McKevitt, Sacramento. 



The fruit season of 1909 is distinguished from all others by the fact 

 that never before in the history of the industry has the movement of 

 fresh fruit to outside markets been of such great volume, 15.265 car 

 loads having been shipped, nearly 2.400 more than in 1908. 



It might be inferred from this heavy shipment that the deciduous 

 fruit crop of the State was unusually large, but this would not be true, 

 the crop of some varieties and of some localities having been quite short. 



Last year the crop was very heavy, and owing to the season being 

 comparatively dry, there having been practically no spring rains, the 

 fruit did not attain full size, and trees especially showed the effect by 

 a lessened growth and poor bud development. This was true more par- 

 ticularly in the localities where irrigation is not practiced, but to some 

 extent was the case almost everywhere in the Sacramento Valley. In 

 the spring the setting of fruit showed an almost total failure of apri- 

 cots, light crop of cherries, and a half crop of peaches, pears, and plums. 

 Owing to the abundant rainfall, fairly satisfactory cultivation, and the 

 fact that the crop was short, it was estimated that we would be safe in 

 providing for an output of these varieties which should be about 

 seventy-rive per cent of last year 's. shipments. We have, however, done 

 better than that. In the San Joaquin Valley all tree fruits excepting 

 apricots were full crops, as were also grapes. 



CHERRIES. 



The first car load of cherries for the season was shipped May 8th, 

 and was forwarded by freight. The first car for 1908 was shipped May 

 25th. wmieh was unusually late, the records showing first car lot ship- 

 ment in previous years as follows : 1902, May 13th ■ 1903, May 9th ; 

 1904. May 13th; 1905, April. 22d; 1906, May 2d; 1907, May 5th. All 

 these first shipments went forward from Vacaville. 



A total of 249% cars of cherries were shipped, this being 41^ cars 

 more than in the preceding year. As has been stated before, this did 

 not result from a larger crop than in 1908, but the canners and other 

 factors, which are usually purchasers of this fruit, were not much in 

 evidence, the Eastern market was good, and the result was the increased 

 shipment. Prices were very satisfactory. Practically all these ship- 

 ments were forwarded by the regular freight service, which proved per- 

 fectly satisfactory, and was infinitely cheaper than express. 



APRICOTS. 



Apricots were almost a total failure in the early sections, but were 

 better in Santa Clara, and a fine crop south of Tehachapi. There were, 

 however, nearly as many cars shipped as in 1908, when the crop was the 

 heaviest known for several years, the shipments for that year being 

 2313 4 cars, while that of 1909 was 208% cars. Prices were very satis- 

 factory. 



PLUMS. 



The plum crop, while very good, was not heavy. Trees of this variety 

 showed wonderful qualities of endurance and productiveness, some 

 trees which were so loaded with fruit the preceding year that the 



7 — fgc 



