The record-union., 1891-10-02
MISUNDERSTANDING CALIFORNIA.

MISUNDERSTANDING CALIFORNIA.
In the August Forum Boston) ex-Gov-
ernor L. T. Sheldon, formerly of New
Mexico, and later of Southern California,
had an extended article, in which he
asserted that citrus fruits are not success
fully grown III Central and Northern
California. He added that the Tehachapi
range really constitutes the northern
boundary of the citrus belt.
The article is written without apparent
bias; the Ex-Governor must impress
the Eastern reader with the idea that
he is not only fair and sincere, but gener-
Gus. We must conclude that the essayist
did not really intend to misrepresent, and
that his wofully erroneous statements
are to be attributed to lack of correct in
formation. In short, Governor Sheldon's
case is another of a writer treating Of that
upon which he is i'll posted. Here is an
extract from the essay, which will show
how sadly Governor Sheldon needs to in
lOl III 1ilA1lSSlis uO llesllIo Jul
Fruit culture began in the middle rart cf
the State, that part first attracting immi gra-
ton. II had San Francisco for shipping
point and the Sacramento River for t anSpCr-
tation. 1t has numerous rich valleys and eX-
tenSive plains; 1t was first connected by rail-
way with the East, and it has been more
densely peopled tuan any other section
Naturally, development and divcrsification of
products took place earlier there than
elsewhere and therefore in all kinGs of fruits
TO which 1t is adapted it takes the lead. The
citrus fruits are not successfully grown there
and cannot be, except in few limited and
favored spots, Uut il is claimed nat the CHI
mate and soil of that part of the State give it
advantages over any other section in the pro-
duction of the deciduouS fruits. berries and
grapes.
For the saving clause, sit is claimed,"
all Central and Northern California
should down upon their marrow bones
and graciously thank Mr.. Sheldon. 1t
is incredible how any man residing III
California and presuming to write upon
its productive capacity, could bring him
self to confess that he does not know in
what section deciduous fruits are culti-
waited to best advantage. It is amazing
that any man OF ordinary intelligence
himself to the declaration that the Teha-
chapi range is the north limit of the cit
rus belt.
Such articles as this Of Governor Shell
don, published in foremost review ofthe
country, are calculated, however inno-
Gently intended, to do incalculable harm.
The Forum should learn that it will
greatly lessen respect for it to have it
known that papers so seriously erroneous
as that of Governor Sheldon can find
place in its pages. That magazine should
adopt some means of testing the capacity
of its essayists to treat specific questions
of fact, before sending their effusions to
the public. The Forum ought to know
the fact that it could have ascertained in
any OF the Eastern fruit markets that
quite all deciduous fruits of the State are
grown in Northern and Central Califor-
mia, and very few in the south. That
citrus fruits are grown in the north and
are marketed by the carload in the East
ern marts from four to six weeks earlier
than are the crops Of the southern groves.
1t is true that citrus fruits have not as
yet been so much grown in the north as
in the south, because Central and North
ern California have been the cereal pro-
ducers of the State.
1t will enlighten both Governor Shell
don and the Forum TO examine the cold
and passionless official reports of the
Boards of Horticulture and Viticulture,
by which they will ascertain facts wholly
opposed TO the statements made by the
Governor, and that establish the truth be-
yond possibility of denial, that the great
est number of vineyards and the greatest
acreage of grape growing are in Central
and Northern California. That nineteen
twentieths of the marketable deciduous
fruits and berries of California are not
only "claimed' to be grown in the same
section, but are actually produced there,
and that of the shipments to the East of
such California products seyen-tenths of
the tonnage is shipped from the Capital
City. And, finally, that citrus fruit-grow-
ing is largely engaged in north of the
Tehachapi range, is rapidly expanding
and is now one of the prominent in
dustries of the center and north 1t is
| just possible that iteration of these facts
may in time filtrate into the understand
ing of our friends of the Atlantic sea-
| hoard