Los Angeles herald., 1890-05-29
THURSDAY, MAY 80, 1890.
CALIFORNIA; PRIME OPPORTUNITY.


The peach crop in all of the states east
of the mountains is almost total loss
this year. The fruit crop of all sorts is
very much below an average in either
quantity or quality. 1t is not an unusual
thing for the fruit crops OF that region to
suffer from the severity of the winters,
but it is only once in period Of several
years that the industry suffers total
eclipse such as is the case this year.
Still the peach trees are killed foot be-
low ground often enough to make that
industry one Of very uncertain profit.
An orchard does not average there five
years of life, of which not more than two
are years of profitable crops.
The consumption of fruit in this
country has come to be very large. The
people generally have come to realize the
necessity of liberal diet of fruit if they
are to enjoy good health. For children
during the period of development a
liberal supply of fruit has come to be re-
garded as essential. 1t will be difficult to
year. The dried fruits and the canned
fruits of the last crop will be wanting
and to supply their place will be hard.
The only place whence anything like an
adequate supply can be obtained is Cali
fornia. Large as our crop is, there will
be market for all we can put up, and
choice fruit, canned or dried will COM
mand good prices.
Here is an opportunity for the state
such as she may not meet again in five
years. There are two things to do in
this connection. The east ought to be
flooded with information as to the facili-
ties OF this state for fruit culture. The
farmers that lose their crops every other
year and their trees every five years
ought to be made to understand that
here is a great state as large in her sea
border as from New England to South
Carolina, as large in area as dozen Of
the states of that stretch of country,
where fruit crops hardly ever fail and
where an orchard will continue to bear
for generation. These eastern farmers
should be made to realize the
fact that the orchards of California bear
prodigious crops, not only of peaches,
but of apricots, nectarines, figs, and a
score of the best fruits known to COM
merce, which their region does not pro-
duce at all. They should be made to
understand that this fruit all reaches a
20 fro,
blemishes which is unknown to them
and that its flavor is equal to the very
best results theirs attain in their very
best orchards.
The other thing to do this year is tC
cure in some manner, and to the acme o
perfection, all the good fruit o.
this state. Immediate steps should
be taken to let dealers in all
the cities of the country know that
green fruits of marvellous growth and
perfect quality may be had from our
orchards. Preparations, too, should be
made to dry or can all the fruit that can
not be marketed in its natural state.
The whole east ought to be flooded with
our fine fruits in all states that fruit is
put on the markets. The opportunity
exists to make all the east acquaint ed
with the fruit products of this state.
The results of such programme well
performed would be both many and inn
portant. The first would be to
open the markets of the east to our
products and to secure ready sale at
good prices for all the fruit our people
raise. This would secure such markets,
not merely for the current season, but
for all time to come. Another result of
even more far-reaching effects will be to
draw the attention of fruit-growers to
the admirable advantages of this state
as an arena for prosecuting their enter
prises. Los Angeles is to be the source
to which the whole country will look
for its supplies of fruits. 1t may take
more or less time to bring this about
The length of the period will
depend largely on ourselves. Ii
we lie back on our oars and
let the eastern people find out
our advantages as best they may, then
the period will be a long one, and we
will not be benefited by our surround
ings, but these benefits will be reaped
by coming generation more wise than
we are. But if we take steps to inform
the east of the facts that exist here, the
people who contend with frosts and biz
yards to raise crop of fruit will not be
long in abandoning their vain endeavors,
and seeking land where the difficulties
are SO few, and SO easily overcome, and
where the profits of their pursuits are so
certain and so large.
THE Paris Matin can take the palm for