Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-01-10
OUR CITRUS FAIRS.
George W. Hancock Recites The History
of Their Evolution.

GeOrSe w. hancock heclteS Inc history
of Their Evolution.
ORovILLE, Butte Co., Cal, JAM 9Th.
EDS RECORD UNION: When the first
citrus fair at Sacramento was proposed it
was thought that it was the best way to in
form Eastern people visiting California
that citrus fruit could be grown in Central
California. Whether it was much of a
success in that line or not is still an open
question. The greatest surprise was to our
own people. Others, to be sure, saw it and
took in the wondrous fact; but as they
read the accounts of the fair as published
by people of feeling adverse to the section
from whence the exhibits were drawn,
many people doubted whether citrus fruits
could be grown as a profitable business
north of the Tehachapi range. But to our
own people it was convincing proof. We
knew that the fruit put on exhibition from
the various points had been produced as
represented. To us it was no humbug.
Our people went home from that first
citrus fair believing that we had citrus
producing climate and soil.
The people of Oroville Immediately
bonded large body of land. and, naming
it "Thermalito," commenced advertising
their own county. But the Eastern people,
as q rule, who visited their place became
doubtful. If a man proposes to invest
his money he has right to be careful, and
having had it blown into his ears that it
was only an ornamental business in this
section, he was slow to invest. A few of
the business men of Oroville, having faith
in their section, and seeing that strangers
wanted more proof, formed company and
planted forty acres of the navel variety.
Those trees had been planted one season,
when California had its cold wave in 1887.
They were wholly unprotected from the
cold, and went through the winter without
material injury. If trees raised in the
South could resist the ssverest cold that
had ever come to the knowledge of the
oldest citizen, there was no doubt on the
score OF climate. Others were encouraged,
and new companies and colonies were
started, and from that beginning there have
been planted in the vicinity of Oroyille,
since the first citrus fair at Sacramento,
100000 citrus trees, covering an area of
1000 acres, and over 100, 900 will be planted
this season. This looks like business.
In the four years that have passed Sscra-
mento has had one more citrus fair, Placer
county has held two in San Francisco and
one in Los Angeles, and Oroville has had
two at home. The fair now in progress
here is the eighth citrus fair held by Cen
trail California. 1t is needless to say that
the present fair far surpasses any that
have before been held. Yuba county
has brought here for exhibition Al 600
oranges and lemons Butte county has in
oranges representation of the State Capitol,
twenty-four feet front and twenty six feet
high, showing the main entrance and
the whole front, from base to dome, in
perfect picture and harmony; the repre-
sensations of the County Courthouse, the
school house and one of the churches-em-
blematicsl of Government, Law, Order,
Justice Education and Christianity-be-
sides minor representations OF Industry,
Plenty and Harmony.
Suffer county has fine representation of
car train of oranges and dried fruits.
Placer county has an elegant display of
budded and Seeding oranges and dried
fruits. Sacramento county-well it has a
display also, of one dozen Seeding oranges,
fine specimens, grown in the section near
Folsom.
l presume the general Sacramentan is
willing to let the counties to the north and
east of her raise the oranges for a while,
in order that they may make no mistake
when they begin. have seen the first
grove planted here since the first citrus fair
at duQ ~ lOOhS I'M u SCcuc III
Southern California; and when we know
that they can sell groves at three years of
age for 81, 200 per acre. we must admit that
| there is some profit TO the man who plants
an orange grove. The trees bore some fine
fruit this year, and promise to make good
return next season.
Olives, too, have received some attention
here, and from the growth they have made,
and the healthy look they have, one can
easily believe that this is their native home.
The fair, as an exhibition, is grand sue
cess. The artistic designs and adornmental
arrangements are full of beauty, and pre-
dict for it profitable patronage. The peo-
pie here in coming forward with subscrip.
tons, have shown marvellous energy and
enthusiasm, as well as generosity-all
backed up by strong faith in their uiti-
mate success in the enterprise. Withal,
they as hospitaole as they are full of
good feeling, which to appreciate one must
come and enjoy. G. w. HANCOCK.