Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-07-02
The New Impulses to Fruit Culture.

The New Impulses to Fruit Culture.
Fer the past few years in this State there
had been growing feeling of uncertainty
and doubt as to the future of fruit culture.
The great impulse and promise which the
early successes in the cultivation of fruit OF
all kinds and in almost all sections had given
to this industry were being counteracted and
destroyed, first, by the want Of any system
of preserving and utilizing the surplus over
and above what could be marketed IN
green state and second, by the appear
ance in the orchards of various we'll
known insects destructive of the fruit and
fruit trees. For years thousands OF dollars
worth of fruit of various kinds, perfect In
growth and form and of superior quality,
had been going to waste in the orchards OF
every section of the State, because there was
10 adequate demand for them for immediate
consumption, and no establishments for dry
ing or canning them to change their perish
able character and convert them into COM
mercial commodities. At the end of a
succession of seasons of discouragements
of the above character, and to add to the
blighting influence on the industry. the codling
moth, the woolly aphis, the scale bugs, the
tent caterpillar, the red spider, the currant
borer, the phylloxera, the mildew on the
peach and grape made their appearance and
seemed to bring with them obstacles too great
to be successfully contended with and too
great for human skill and ingenuity to over
come. Contemporaneous with these discour-
agements, however, were introduced various
patented plans and appliances for preserving
by desiccation our fruits in such manner
that they could be kept for future use at
home and in other markets. Then came the
canning establishments competitors OF the
drivers, and opened up a cheaper and more
complete system of preserving fruits in their
natural and perfect state. Cheaper railroad
freights ecross the country and improved
plans of packing and shipping green fruits
followed, and all these influences began to
open the eyes Of growers to the real import
ance of the industry in which they
were engaged, but about which they
were becoming so much discouraged.
The growing Importance and promise OF the
industry also induced those interested to ask
themselves the question whether or not the
insec. enemies that were threatening 1t could
be successfully combatted Upon this ques-
ton the very existence of a great industry
depended. The more this question was dis,
cussed and examined the palmer it appeared
that Individual exertions for the destruction
of the insects in localities or particular or
chards would be of but little avail, for being
routed and destroyed in one locality recruits
would be supplied from other places. In
general and united action was seen TO be the
only hope of destroying the fruit pests, and
pr serving what now was seen to be an in
dustry worth preserving. The plan adopted
and recommended by the fruit-growers has
the virtue of being comprehensive-embr
ing every section Of the State 1t was
adopted so late in the seasOn-or rather the
law Tor the protection of horticultural
Interests was enacted so late in the
season-that but little more can be done
this year than to get good working organ
ization for the beginning of the next year.
However, great work has already been ac-
complished. The organization has been con-
Quoted in such manner that it is drawing
to itself the complete confidence Of fruit
growers and fruit-dealers throughout every
section OF the State. Those already in the
business have been inspired with renewed
confidence and they are not only taking
better care of their orchards, but are plant.
ing out new ones, and many who had looked
upon fruit culture in the past as failure are
now investing their money in lands to plant
out orchards. The fruit crop of the State
this year Will DElnS thAhi"io VI ucii'ie AAOi
than il did last, not because there is so much
more Of il. but mainly because there is more
confidence in the present and future OF the
business, and better care is being taken of it
Another year will develop more fully the
plan of operation against the insect pests
and the results will be not only more but
better fruit, and more money from it. East
ern people-dealers in California fruits-art
astonished at the advancement we arr
already making in the dissemination o.
general knowledge in practical fruit culture