Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-01-16

The Jesuit fathers had planted the olive
and the orange at the old missions in
southern California long before the advent
OF the American people to this coast. Con-
sidering, therefore, all these conditions,
our greatest wonder is that the develop
ment OF the citrus fruit industry in
the southern counties is not further
advanced than it is, and that
to-day their exports are not greater than
we find them. Northern California con-
tanned no mission, and no growing orange
tree on the advent of American i'm
migration. Il contained mines, rich
ana numerous, and to them and their de-
velopment all minds were directed. Even
when the best surface diggings began to he
worked out and portion of our popula-
ton turned their attention to agriculture
and horticulture, our more northern lati-
tude, in the absence of such observations
as were cali ulated to demonstrate the char
acter ana temperature OF that latitude
served as encouragement to any extended
experiments in the production of citrus
fruits. 1t was not until the few oranges
planted from the seed-more out of curl
osity than anything else-began to send up
strong shoots and develop into vigorous
trees, that we became interested in this sub
Ject snfhciently to begin to investigate it.
Kev. n K. Peck, of Ophir, tells me that in
1867 he carried fine orange home in his
pocket from Sacramento. On reaching his
family II was divided and eaten, and, lust
to see what il would do, he planted a seed
in little loose soil near the front door
step. Months afterwards, when he had
almost forgotten about it. he noticed one
day that the seed had put up a little tree
some four or five inches high. He was
surprised and pleased, and at once became
interested in the little waif, so to speak.
He cared for it, transplanted it, and
1t grew and prospered beyond his most
sangulne hopes. From that tree as nearly
as l can learn, were picked the first ripe
oranges ever raised in Placer county. 1t is
a mammoth beauty too day. Some of its
fruit, believe, is here on exhibition. For
seven or eight years its average yield has
been at least l 900 oranges per anuum
What was done by the Rev. Mr.. Peck was
done by others in Northern California.
When trees thus planted began to bear
fruit and fruit, too, Of the brightest golden
color and finest flavor, the reasoning mind
would naturally say: If one tree
will grow and do well. so will
one hundred and prompted by this
thought others have planted, until to-day
the orange can be seen growing and thriv-
ing in nearly all portions of northern Cali
fornia. In Solano, at Vacaville. Vallejo,
Winters and all through the foothill por-
tons of that county, we find the orange
and other citrus fruits. In Yolo, at Wash
ington and up and down the Sacramento
from that place. growing citrus fruits are not
rare. at Woodland, Knights Landing,
Davisville and in the Yolo foothills they
grow to perfection. In Colusa, at Orland,
St. Johns, Colusa, Princeton and all along
the Sacramento in that county, as well as
in the foothills of the Coast Range, are
to be found the orange and other citrus
fruits. In Tehama county they are grow
ing at Tehama, Vina and Red Bluff In all
parts of Butte they can be seen. Oroville,
in that county, it is estimated, has 5000
bearing trees. Yuba has citrus trees in
many localities. Marysville, the county
seat, has 1000 in bearing. All through the
foothills of Nevada, FL Dorado, Amador
and Calayeras the orange tree is growing,
and producing to perfection. Placer has
several thousand trees, and shipped
from the one station of Newcastle alone
up to January I'd, including car
load to Denver, us oranges. At all the
principal points in Sacramento county
citrus fruits can be seen growing and bear
ing. 1t is estimated that citrus fruits are
growing to-day in the open air in more
than l 900 different places in northern Cal
liOTllld. II can Sdlely De Saul tldt we nave
passed beyond the stage of experiments
| and that the phenomenal success that has
attended the planting Of citrus fruits in
northern California thus far will
insure great impetus to the
| business of their production in the future
! Our experience, if we mad nothing else tc
guide US. proves that we have climate
| adapted not only to citrus fruits, bat to the
| production of cotton, silk, tea, tobacco
olives and olive oil, figs, raisins, dates, ano
! every kind of wine, table and raisin grape
in the world, But we have more than on
| experience to demonstrate the eli
matte advantages of central and north
ern California for the production o.
| oranges, olives and other citrus fruits
We find the home of the orange, lemon
citron, shaddock, and other citrus fruit:
will be found in the vicinity of Rome
| Naples, Florence, Madrid, Marseilles, Al
giers, Jerusalem, Alexandria, etc The
| thermal condition necessary for the growth
J of the olive is a mean OF the coolest month
| of Az The same is substantially true o
the orange. BY comparing the tenn
perature of northern California with III,
temperature of the orange and olive cen
! ters of southern Europe, the condition.
here are found to be altogether favorable, a.
the following figures will show;