PROCEEDINGS OF THIRTY-SIXTH FRUIT-GROWERS ' CONVENTION. 155 



MR. ASHLEY. I second that motion. I think that quite a number 

 of us would be much better off if this convention had taken up this 

 matter a year or two years ago and put out some information that people 

 could rely upon as to the standing of the Tokay grape, and also as to 

 what the prospects are for fruit that will pay. 



MR. STEPHENS. I am in hopes that the suggestion offered by Mr. 

 Hartranft will not be accepted, and I really hope that the gentleman 

 will withdraw the suggestion, because I can see that there will be no 

 other business transacted by this convention this afternoon and per- 

 haps not to-morrow. It is a question of great magnitude and we could 

 not possibly get through with it. Therefore, I think we had better get 

 along just as peaceably as possible until we come to the rock upon 

 which we will probably divide. I think we had better take one ques- 

 tion up at a time and consider it. The reason I objected to that is, 

 I don't want to suggest to any man w T hat to do. For many years I 

 have been solicited to make suggestions. ' My answer has been that I 

 have got no advice to give for the reason that I do not know myself 

 what varieties to put out. I have uprooted trees and had to fill in 

 the vacancies : I didn't know what to do. and in a manner I was groping 

 around in the dark. I would one year put out one variety, switch the 

 next year and put out another, and for five or six years kept on chang- 

 ing every year. 



MR. DARGITZ. I am very glad indeed to see the discussion and 

 the interest taken. If we pass a resolution without any discussion the 

 possibility is we will proceed to go home and forget all about it. The 

 idea of tin 1 resolution is not to say that any man shall or shall not 

 plant any variety. The question comes to me very forcibly, because 

 some years ago I was looking over the State with a view of selecting 

 a location for fruit growing. It is not so much a question of what 

 we are going to do, but other people are coming to the State with a 

 view of going into fruit growing, and I understand that all these 

 papers that have been read here and these resolutions will be printed 

 and will be placed in the hands of homeseekers w T ho are contemplating 

 going into the fruit business or planting ventures. If we who are here 

 and have experience know that certain varieties of fruits have been 

 planted to such an extent that there is absolutely no profit in them 

 to-day, will we be doing ourselves justice, will we be doing those who 

 contemplate coming in justice, if we keep our mouths shut and let 

 them plant things that are unprofitable even now? It is not a ques- 

 tion of changing market, it is not a question of shifting from one fruit to 

 another, as. for instance, peaches and plums. If the market w r as low 

 on peaches to-day and high on plums we would not suggest that you 

 grub out your peaches and plant plums, for the reason that to-morrow 

 it may be the other way. But knowing that somebody is going to plant 

 anyway — if they did not the nurseries would get in trouble — knowing 

 that there is a very great and increasing demand for the Smyrna fig and 

 at such prices that it is profitable and that it is liable to continue to 

 be profitable for a good many years to come — I will grant that there 

 may be such a thing as overproduction of the Smyrna fig at some time, 

 because there are large areas in the State that are liable to grow it in 

 paying quantities, but for the present the outlook is very good along 

 that line. On the other hand, the question of almond planting. Is it 



