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FOREIGN SHIPMENTS

E are continually receiving advice from various markets concerning the inroads being made on California sales by foreign shipments of citrus fruits. Honduras is entering southern markets. Australia and Japan are making their production felt in Canadian and northwest markets. While the total shipments have not yet become alarming, yet the handwriting on the wall is plain enough. California must protect herself against foreign competition in her own markets. It is not just a question of Italy and her lemons, but a fight of California quality and service against that of every citrus producing country of the world. South America is improving her cultural conditions, South Africa is rapidly developing her citrus acreage and raising the standard of her package; Australia is establishing transportation service for her fruits and America is the goal for much of the surplus production of the future.

California has a problem to solve. The growers have their problem as well. In order to meet foreign competition we must be in a position to give buyers high type fruit, supreme quality and unexcelled service. The grower's reward will follow, if we establish the highest possible standards for our shipments. In times of competition, the grower who is shipping his fruit through an organization that gives personal attention to his fruit; that is not burdened by excessive or top-heavy conditions, and that has a well organized sales network, is the one that is going to realize on his investment. spirit of competition between foreign and domestic citrus production will liven our own activities, keep us busy improving our own conditions and naturally result in increased efficiency. American markets have felt the tickle of foreign competition, and the small shipments have had their effect upon California. Let us not minimize the danger of foreign inroads, but emphasize the possibilities of our own fruit and create an even better impression upon the trade than now exists.

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INTELLIGENT VOTING

HE ballot for the coming November election will require conscientious study on the part of every voter, if an intelligent vote is to be recorded. The average voter is usually not in a position to thoroughly analyze the numerous measures proposed. In this day of intensive politics when many of the measures presented to the general public are fraught with hidden meanings and backed by unseen powers, it is highly imperative that every voter do his utmost to find out just what each measure on the ballot represents. Some communities are adopting the plan of holding a general meeting at which qualified speakers explain in detail the proposed legislation. In some cities, the movement is being stimulated by individual groups, such as the Kiwanis Club or some similar organization. No matter how the project is fostered, it is a mighty good idea. The citrus grower is going to be vitally affected by much of the legislation to be acted upon in November. The industry is to be affected by the manner in which he votes. Now is the time to study and analyze the situation. If you do not have the time to dig out the facts personally, arrange for a meeting in your community so that all the voters may be intelligently informed on the subject. There are movements in the state of California that are detrimental to the American ideals we hold so dear. There is an undercurrent of feeling against the principles of the Constitution of the United States and of our State. The undesirable element will cast its vote. You, as a true American citizen, have a duty of great importance to fulfill-that of voting and voting intelligently in November.

Brucell Me Daniel

Temporary Decrease in Coco-Oil in Manila

A temporary suspension appears in the coconut-oil production of Manila. Only 5 of the 18 coconut-oil mills were operating at the first of the season, although better conditions were expected when the season is more fully opened.

Swiss Government Aids Local Merchants

The Government of Switzerland has decided to aid its grain dealers by placing all orders for wheat through these local merchants, instead of making its own purchases as has been done since 1914. The business will be equally distributed among the grain dealers. Last year, of the 144,649 metric tons of wheat imported into Switzerland, more than three-fourths of this amount came from the United States. Consequently the Swiss merchants handling the government's business for this year, are seeking the agency of American firms.

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Something to Talk About

OW that we understand each other, let us protect the industry against any tendency towards monopolistic or 100 percent control. A monopoly, like an octopus, is not hors de combat until its last tentacle is severed. Nothing will strangle the citrus industry more quickly than a monopoly.

California's great industry is not a one-mancontrol affair. It is a constructive business requiring keen competition. The citrus industry, like a nation, will survive only so long as the spirit of progress is kept alive. Progress depends, not on autocratic dictation, but democratic competition.

You know whether or not your grocer is charging you exorbitant prices, by comparing your bills with those of your neighbor who trades with some other grocer. You judge whether you are getting a just price for your produce, by knowing what others get for theirs. How could you know whether you were getting maximum returns for your oranges and lemons if there were no rival selling organizations? One hundred percent control will kill your opportunity of comparison. It is your right and privilege. Protect your groves by fostering fair and square competition.

And we remember the fate of the nations that thought they were self sufficient and all powerful. Rome is no longer the center of civilization.

Then way back in the minds of many growers, still lingers the unpleasont memory of the Citrus Union disaster, when a monopolistic control of the state's citrus industry caused a loss of many thousands of dollars to the grow

ers.

The grower who can keep in personal touch with the men who are selling his fruit is the one who reaps a worth-while profit. Can you imagine any grower being able to get this "personal touch" if all of California's citrus fruits were handled through one restricted avenue? Organizations of immense size depend on system, and system does not respect the individual.

There is still another thought that may make some of us sit up and do some thinking. The control of the citrus industry would mean a gigantic political force. Monopolistic political control has been tried out in the form of monarchies for centuries. The kings are going into the discard. Democratic governmental principles are recognized as the only true precepts. We want no crowned heads swaying the citrus industry. Keep competition alive, for kings and competition cannot exist on the same planet.

President Strait's Comment

In commenting upon the present status of the Mutual Orange Distributors, its President, Mr. J. H. Strait, stated: "Since 1906 the Mutual Orange Distributors has proceeded upon the theor that it can give the greatest service to the citrus growers of California by keeping its size within such limits as to enable it to give personal attention to every car of fruit shipped by it. We have guided our growth along this line. We have added steadily to our capacity and have been enabled to ship practically fifty per cent more cars this year than ever before. The coming year will undoubtedly be one of the most prosperous for the institution."

California Prunes in France

Reliable report predicts that France will probably make efforts to make heavy purchases in California prunes this season. The prune crop in the Agen district will be only about onequarter of that of normal years, and it is thought that some California varieties will be mixed with the French prunes and sold as prunes d'Agen.

Old Supply Base Improved by Elevators

The port at Dunkirk, which was used as a supply base for the Allied armies operating in northern France during the war, is to be improved on a large scale. Large grain elevators have been installed which greatly improve the unloading facilities of the port. The new elevators are capable of discharging grain from vessels into sacks at the rate of 2,000 tons per day with a great reduction in wastage from the former methods.

Duties on Cottonseed Oil

Early this year the Chilean Government increased the import duties on Peruvian cottonseed oil products. This increase amounted to 50 cent more than previous duties, and due to the fact that the local Chilean production is very small, the consumption of this oil is practically prohibitive. It is anticipated that the trade will now turn to the United States or to Europe, where the same oils may be obtained for half the price of the Peruvian product.

Lower Wheat Crop in Italy

Italy's wheat crop is estimated at 5 per cent lower than last year. France reports a like decrease in wheat production, which means that France alone will have to import not less than 1,000.000 tons of wheat to supply her own demands.

though it has never been given much publicity. The origin of this variety was unknown until recently when it was decided that it was introduced by the Spaniards. When they carried on their propaganda in South America, they took with them fruit trees, among them oranges, and it is supposed that during their occupation this orange found its way there, and was sent from there to Australia later. At the present time there are trees in South Australia 40 years old, and still bearing good crops. This same variety is grown in Palestine, and is known as Jaffa No. 1. La Compuda makes a large tree, quite thornless, and bears more fruit than any of the other varieties of Jaffa fruit. The fruit itself is medium sized, very thin skinned, golden yellow in color and has scarcely any seeds. It is considered that any district growing Washington Navels, would grow La Compuda very well. This variety has the peculiarity of bearing alternate heavy and light crops.

Poland's Sugar Crop

Sugar refiners in Poland produced nearly 150,000 metric tons of white sugar during the 1921-22 season. This is an increase of 21 per cent over pre-war figures.

French Prefer Haitian Coffee Despite of the greater proximity of American ports over European, in the importation of Haitian coffee, France and a few other European countries, consume the bulk of this product. When the product was introduced on the island. Haiti was still a French colony, and the French evinced a marked liking for its flavor and aroma. Coffee importing houses at Havre have well-established connections with buyers in the coffee ports of Haiti, and much of the product utilized in this trade goes di rectly to France on vessels of French and Dutch nationality.

Quality Not Quantity

It is predicted that the crop of filberts in southern Italy for the season of 1922, will be of high quality though small in quantity. The production will probably show a decrease of 50 per cent over that of last year which was unusually large.

Cherries in Brine

An important industry in Naples, Italy, is that of preserving cherries in brine. The quantity of this product for this season will show about a fifty per cent decrease from that of ordinary years, probably because the blossoming of the cherry trees has been very slow. The United States has been one of the principal markets for these cherries in brine, although special efforts made this year, to revive the trade with Great Britain have apparently been successful.