Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-02-12
PROFITABLE FRUIT CULTURE
An Intere sting Paper by n. j.
Rudistll.


Fl. j. Rudsill, of this city, read the
following very able paper on the
"Limits of Profitable Citrus Fruit Gull
ture."
Mr.. President, Ladies and Gentlemen
of the american Horticultural So.
ciety:
1t is with much diffidence that |
undertake tine discussion of the sub
ect allotted TO me by the officers OF
your society, both on account of the
great scope of the matter to be con-
sidered, and the limited time at my
,iisposal, from other duties, to devote
it.
The cultivation OF ciiiIc-s fruits is
unquestionably one Of the n1oSt at
tractve branches OF horticulture.
They do net fail, with their bright
evergreen foliage, fragrant blossoms
and golden fruit to stimulate even the
octogenarian in horticulture to a re-
newal of his interest in this occupa-
ton, and desire to plant and own a
grove.
Until within a comparatively recent
period the Latin and Mongolian races
have possessed monopoly of citrus
fruit culture. And now the Anglo
Saxon has entered the field in both
continents, and with his accustomed
system, and energy, is infustng new
life, and new ideas into this calling
and true to the instincts Of the race,
makes the pertinent inquiry "what
permanent profit is there in it,"
The family of citrus fruits is divid-
ed into rive prominent branches, to-
wit: the orange, lemon, lime, citron,
and the shaddock, or pample moss OF
pamalo, and in the profitableness oi
their cultivation stand in the order
named.
Therefore, in treating this subject ]
will consider only the orange, as the
representative of the family, the har.
diest of the race, the most generally
cultivated, and the most profitable.
Originating, as it is now supposed
to have done, in the warmer portions
of Asia, the foothills and table lands
of the Himalaya mountains, it was
but little known, and only occasionally
mentioned in Myth and story, lunti
about the 10 century of the Christian
Era, when it was first distinctly noted
by Avicenna, prominent Arabian
physician of that period.
From that time it was gradually in
troduced, acclimatized along the
shores Of the Mediterranean sea. The
sweet orange passing through Persia
and Syria to the Ionian isles, the
shores of Italy, Sicily and the soutf
of France, and according to Londer
reaching the south of England abou
the 10th century, where it was cult
waited only for short time success
fully as wall fruit. The bitter orangs
passed through Arabia, Egypt, anl
the nLrth of Afiica to Spain and Por
tugal.
Through the Spanish and Portuges,
explorations and conquests it wa
carried to the Azores and the Maderi.
islands, to the West Indies and t,
Florida, Mexico and South America
In situations favorable to it's growtl
it is now found in a zone spanning
the earth, extending from 40 degrees
south to As degrees north latitude
and from the level Of the sea to al
elevation Of 5000 feet above.
1t is now especially cultivated fol
profit in Syria, Turkey, Egypt, North
ern and Southern Africa, Greece
Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, the
Azores, West Indies, Brazil, Mexico
q portion of the Gulf coast of ths
United states, Florida, Southern Cal.
ifornia, and, to some extent, in Cen.
trail and Northern California, the
Sandwich islands, Japan, Australia
and portion of China and India. 1,
we were to Judge, therefore, from the
great area Of territory and remarkably
diverse conditions in which the citrus
fruits are found, we might readily
conclude that they could be profitably
grown at any point adapted to them
within the ATTITUDES named above.
This is not the case, however, fol
experience has taught, and is annu
ally teaching us, that that climate
soils, varieties and markets influence
and control the proftableness of citrus
fruit culture, to greater or less ex
tent than mems geographical limits
We will therefore consider these il
the order named.
CLIMATE.
That the Azores has been consid
cred by many authorities as the best
for citrus fruit culture.
Possessing q moderately humid at
mosphere, with q mean temperature
Of IS degrees in winter, 81 degrees il
spring, So degrees in summer, and 6;
degrees in autumn, and q minimum
temperature Of only 40 degrees and q
|maximum Of 80 degrees, and fret