Los Angeles daily herald., 1890-03-12

destruction of trees in the nortber,
counties of this State would seem t,
answer this question in the affirmative
From the East we have recent reports
of excessive cold and consequent destruc
tion of the fruit buds, and certain loss O
the ensuing crops. While to us sucf
Ireperts are always distressing, yet as 8
matter cf fact, the fruit growers dis
tributed all over the Union, outside o.
California. are subject to such periodical
visitations, and have learned the lesson
by sad experience, If they succeed in
raising one crop out of three they are
very fortunate indeed.
1t may not be out of place should ask
these many producers to calmly weigh
and consider their surroundings, and de.
termine if in their struggle for life, they
are acting wisely to continue on in the
struggle where the chances are at least
against them. Would it not be wiser to
come to California, where all the con.
ditions are favorable and failures are
almost unknown? In the East forbidding
! nature in rigorous seasons and deathly
commotion in the air are warning people
away. The continent offers only one
sure refuge from the extremes of heat
and cold, the destruction wrought by
fstorms and the uncertainty Of tickle sea-
sons, and that refuge is here.
This may be considered as an adver-
tising address, and perforce it may ad-
NIT of this criticism, but il, in what l
may say, induce the producers to bene-
fit themselves by coming to California
to aid in it's greater development, can
not see much room for an apology.
To my friends in the southern portion
of this State, and to- those whose lines
are not cast in as pleasant places, Tsound
note of warning. Lt must not be sup.
posed because we live south of the Tehach-
api mountains that therefore we can plant
with impunity the orange tree every.
where and rest secure in the hope that
we may some day expect from it return
on our labor and investment. While
climate is an absolute prerequisite for the
success of the citrus industry, yet it is by
no means the only condition that needs
our careful consideration in establishing
an orchard. Possibly in no other por-
tions of the cultivable world, where good
soils go generally exist, can you also
find 80 great diversity in the eimechani-
cal or physical construction of soils.
Within the small area of one hundred
acres, and even in much smaller subdivi-
sions may be found the obdurate argilla-
ceous, the adobe, the clayey, sandy or
gravellv loans; the cold, damp or warm
soils with sub-soils to correspond.
All of these conditions should be care
fully considered by the fruit grower, be-
cause they are to him of prime import
ance. They would seem to emphasize
the truth of the old saying "put not all
your eggs in one basket" and that diver
sity of planting is, after all, the safest
policy.
Nature in her wise providence has as
wisely adjusted everything in the vege.
table world, and has cansed one variety
of tree to flourish on certain soils, and
united them to these conditions, as she
has adjusted the covering of the polar
bear for the ice and SHOWS of the Arctic
ocean.
While the genius of man is almost
| lillimitable, while great natural condi-
tions may be made in some measure to
yield to his will and undergo certain
notifications, yet with all this power he
can't make the banana fruit grown in the
Arctic regions, or the snow plant spring
under the Equator any more than he can
change the laws of our solar system,
bring the earth nearer the sun, or cause
it to receive at different angle the SUMS
rays and heat
1 would earnestly advise careful study
into all conditions of soil and subsoil be-
fore planting any kind of trees, and if
the party proposing to plant ia not
familiar himself with the proper condi-
tions let him take the advice of some one
who does know.
The great advantage of occasions of
this kind is the opportunity afforded for
study and comparison. The practical
results of soils, cultivation and irrigation
on fruits can be seen here in striking
contrast-a study difficult to make else
where.
/ may be pardoned in this connection
if l suggest matter of importance to the
judges appointed to pass judgment on the
fruit offert in competition here and to
award the prizes. Assured that no Sec
tional prejudice will influence their judg-
ments, would earnestly advise that they
consider only the quality and character
of the fruits exhibited on q purely COM
mercial basis, what position they must
take in the markets of the world. What
producers want to know is this: What
kind of fruit is of the highest commercial
value, that which will bring the highest
price and quickest sales, and what they
must do to produce it. Upon this, and
only this, depends the fruition of their
hopes, the success of the industry and
the wealth of this section. While unique
or artistic designs in the form of displays
may possibly merit commendation of
the judges, while they may praise the
zeal, industry and artistic tastes of the
exhibitor, they should never lose sight of
the main question: What is best in q
commercial sense? This is the practical
part of this fair, the lessons to be learned,
and upon the judges rests the grave re-
sponsibility of the teachers.
! am continuously assailed by the aues-
ton, coming oftentimes from very intel
ligent gentlemen: "Don't you think this
orange business will be ovsrdone? Don't
you think, when all the new trees lately
planted come into bearing, that the mar
kets will be overstocke6; that the prices
will fall below the cost of profitable pro-
duction?" have but one answer: t.No." ("
The universal law of supply and de-
mand is the basis of this judgment.
There are many important factors that
deserve consideration in forming this
opinion.
Beyond all other fruits, the taste or
craving of children for the orange is pre-
II IL "A