The morning call., 1890-11-19
A HIGH TRIBUTE.
Praise for the Products Of
California.
The Agricultural Department Crop Bull
letin for November.
Abundant Yield Of Nearly Every Variety
Of Fruit Marriage Of Surgeon Wood
and Hiss COndit-Smith.
Special to THE MORNING CALL.

WASHINGTON, Nov is. The Agricul-
tural Department crop bulletin for Novem-
ber reviews the fruit season as follows
The season has been the worst for fruit this
department has ever reported, the eXtraor-
dinary mildness of the winter causing win
tel blooming, and the great tenderness of
tue bud growth rendered the frostS Of March
almost universally destructive. Peaches
have been almost unknown in the great
peach-growing sections, and apples are a
rarity in the great apple-producng sections.
Tile Missouri River bluffs and contiguous
areas furnish the principal supplies which
go to all parts of the country. The Ben
Davis variety, which some people regard as
better than nothing, is the mainstay of many
markets. Pears have been almost equally
scarce and necessarily high in price.
This deaIth Of fruit has brought into uni
versal prominence the product of Califor-
mia, which must always be considered sep.
arase and apart from the remainder of the
country. Millions have gone into the cof-
fers Of the producers of California for
peaches, plumS, grapes and citrus fruits
The raisin industry is driving Spanish
raisins out OF the country, and the olives
OF the Pacific Coast are competing with
those Of Spain.
The Florida orange crop is reported to be
about two-thirds of the full yield. Pine
apples, bananas, guavas and other sub
tropical fruits are increasing their areas.
1t should be admitted that grapes are fairly
abundant and prices reasonable.
Speaking of the California season in gen.
eral the report says: Hops have been fair
to medium crop, of excellent quality, and
growers expect about So cents per pound
for them. which will make them very re-
muneratiye. Beans are gaining in impor-
tance every year as staple crop and the
product has beena full average. The crop
Of peaches, apricots, cherries, plums and
prunes has been about 70 per cent of the
general yield, the deficiency being
caused by the unusually wet win
ter. This deficiency, however, has been
fully made up by the higher prices
obtained for fruit Figs are becoming
more and more prominent, and promise to
be one of the leading fruits of the State.
Almonds and walnuts have produced a
good crop, and are very remunerative to the
producer. Oranges and lemons promise a
full crop, and as the crop of this State comes
In just when that of Florida goes out. it
bids fair to be very paying industry.
while the introduction of the Australian
ladybug has placed the industry Oh safe
footing.
The grape crop has turned out better than
wt.s expected, and the product has been
very fine. The vintage may be put down at
$4,000, 600 gallons, while large quantities of
wine grapes have been dried, and the raiSn
crop will exceed that of last year. Better
prices have been paid for wine and table
graies, causing the latter to be shipped
East, and the increase in this respect may
be put at one-third over last year. Young
wines are exceptionally fine, and the vint-
age of 1890 may be put at one of the best
ever produced in the State. While the pro-
ductiun will not be above the average taking
into account the ravages of phylloxera
and the southern grape disease, defects in
cultivation, etc. the quality will range
higher than in any of the previous years.