PROCEEDINGS OF THIRTY-SIXTH FRUIT-GROWERS ' CONVENTION. 157 



Resolution Approving Work of State University. 



Resolved, That we appreciate the work of the State in expert and efficient experiments and 

 effort undertaken by the University of California, and the valuable demonstrations of knowledge 

 and results attained by their efforts. 



Resolution Relating to Good Roads. 



Resolved. That the fruit interests of the State are greatly affected by the condition of the 

 public highways; every jolt is a menace to its keeping qualities. Our fruit trees and vines are 

 unjustly taxed in addition to the taxes upon the land, a discrimination in favor of all other 

 agricultural pursuits, except the alfalfa growers. We, therefore, feel that it is our special right 

 to demand the best roads possible in all of the horticultural districts. 



Resolution as to Persons Selling Land. 



Whereas, Unscrupulous and sometimes dishonest persons are throughout the State buying 

 cheap and sometimes worthless lands, cutting the same into small tracts, often so small as to 

 be worthless for the purposes of maintaining a family or any part of one ; and 



Whereas, Said parties often advertise the same in a laudatory and often false manner, creat- 

 ing impressions that often mislead the unwary; and 



Whereas. The Government is engaged in making a soil survey throughout the State for the 

 purpose of defining the character of the soils so surveyed to guide the agriculturist in making 

 the best use of said lands ; therefore, be it 



Resolved, First: That the fruit growers of the State Convention assembled deprecate the 

 methods often used by the aforesaid parties, and condemn as false many statements made set- 

 ting forth the possibilities on such lands. 



Second: That we ask the Government to publish the soil surveys together with the analysis 

 in bulletin form, so that buyers may fuliy understand the soils of the intended purchase. 



Third: That the legislature be asked to pass such acts as will protect the buyer by com- 

 pelling the seller to publish the soil analysis and character of the same in accordance with the 

 Government survey. 



Fourth : That we here and now call the attention of intending settlers to the fact that our 

 soils and location should be very carefully scrutinized before buying or planting, especially as 

 there are plenty of locations available that are worthy. 



MR. CHASE. I want to say just one word on that. That is one of 

 the most important resolutions we have. In my recent investigations in 

 regard to raising oranges and other things and our experience in Fair 

 Oaks, we have planted our trees where they will do no good. Just now 

 there are about to be planted 2,000 acres of land and the owners are 

 going to advertise it as orange land. I have suggested whether some one 

 should not go and ascertain whether that land will grow oranges. The 

 question I wanted to ask was. can that be done at the expense of a county 

 or can the State order that done? 



PRESIDENT JEFFREY. No. sir. 



MR. CHASE. The State has appropriated $16,000 for the examina- 

 tion of diseases, and I did not know but that they might be allowed to 

 examine land that is going to produce diseases. 



PRESIDENT JEFFREY. The disease is in the mind of the Eastern 

 gullible buyer and we can't cure him until he comes out. 



MR. CHASE. We have suffered a good deal from planting trees on 

 soil that is not fit for them. 



MR. HARTRANFT. I am only sorry for that report in one respect, 

 the indefiniteness of the persons referred to. This condition has existed 

 in California ever since about 1870. Land has been bought and sub- 

 divided and the old settler has said it was worthless. Mr. Stephens con- 

 vinced me five years ago that the State was going to rack and ruin, and 

 I went down home and started a homeseeker's journal. I let some 

 fellows get hold of me and I have been subdividing. I have put out 

 seven large tracts of land. "We have our record behind us. I get not 

 less than three hundred letters a month asking if this concern is right, 

 and I have come near going to jail for libel. It would take almost a 

 supreme being to decide what colonies are thoroughly legitimate. I feel 

 that if this convention wants to have a committee pass on the coloniza- 

 tion plans of the State it would be one of the best things that could 

 happen, especially with regard to this planting eucalyptus. The Sacra- 

 mento Valley Development Company has had no reputable newspaper 



