Los Angeles herald., 1891-07-12

elUe ana fOm0na is l.z0 per CcHts Inc
St. Michaels of Marysville, January 22d,
shows the next highest maximum with
LAO per cent, but in the latter samples
of April and May we find in the River
side sample (No. 14) minimum of "a
per cent. with an average OF 1.07 for the
four later samples examined. In con-
trast to the Malta blood, therefore, the
St. Michaels counts among the varieties
of low acid, combined, however, with
rather low sugar percentage, as stated
above.
The Valencia rates in the same respect
nearly with the St. Michaels, while the
Tangerine shows the low figure of .S7
per cent OF acid with, at the same time,
a very high sugar percentage. A former
analysis showed for its close relative,
the Mandarin, lower minimum OF acid
(.36 per cent? and the highest sugar per-
centage on record, of 1884 per cent.
The Navel justifes the statement
made in former report of the low acid
percentage, even in samples gathered as
early as January mos. and A., and
still more in those of later date from
Riverside and Pomona (Nos. 5 and g..
The minimum of all (.77 per cent? is
shown by the Pomona fruit (No. g., with,
at the same time, the highest sugar per-
centage {11.20) of the series. In the
aggregate, the average acid percentage of
the Navel is the lowest of all, with the
highest average of sugar, 1892 per cent?
outside OF the Malta Blood. These data
together with its firm flesh, thin and
smooth rind, and excellent keeping
qualities, explain sufficiently the great
preference given it in our markets.
Comparing these results obtained in
1891, with those in previous publications
OF this department, 1879-1887, we note,
first, an apparent increase in the aver
age weight of the several varieties. We
also find that while the percentages OF
rind show very nearly the same average
as in 1891, there is marked discrepancy
in respect to juiciness, the pressed pulp
averaging about 25 per cent less in
earlier specimens. How far these differ
ences may be due to influences of season
or accident in sampling, is difficult to
decide with the data before us; the
more as the acid and sugar percentages
show very nearly the same absolute as
we'll as relative figures. Increased age
of the bearing trees may possibly ac-
count for some OF these differences.
Nos. 9 and 10 are of special
interest, since they show the
changes produced in an orange
by two months storage. There is con-
siderable loss Of weight, which is found
in the diminished weights of rind and
flesh. Both the sugar and acid contents
have increased, the former so appre-
ciably as to warrant the conclusion that
the fruit was sweetened by keeping,
apart from evaporation. 1t was noted on
receipt of No. 8 that the sample was not
thoroughly ripe, and the taste of the
same fruit two months later was decided
ly better.
Nutritive value-Nitrogen contents
The fesh-forming ingredients (albumin-
oids) OF any article of food being of great
Importance as regards its proper use, it
is OF special interest to compare in this
respect the orange to other fruits, and
the different varieties of oranges amongst
themselves. According to the latest
European data, oranges stand first in
amount of albuminolds 1.73 per cent?,
prunes second (.7S per cent?, peaches
(and probably apricots) third, bananas
and grapes fourth, while apples and
pears stand nearly the lowest on the list
(.375 per cent?. Our determinations of
the same substances in California or
anges as whole Grind included) show
materially smaller fgures, averaging
1.2O per cent and as it is known that
the rind is very poor in these substances,
we are forced TO conclude that the Cali
fornia fruit is less nourishing than that
of the Sicilian production. Much lower
percentages, however, are quoted for
oranges from other sources. Here,
again, the differences observed may be
largely due to the age of the trees bear
ing the fruit, which in California is usu:
ally the minimum.
Of the entire series the Riverside ma
wells mos. and 81 show the highest
contents OF albuminoids Q.54 per cent?,
while the average of the Pomona sample
is l. Is per cent. only. Next highest to
the Riverside navels come the st. Mich.
aels from Marysville, Riverside and Po-
mona, with an average 40 per cent.
nearly the same is shown by the River
side Malta Blood. The average of the
Mediterranean Sweets falls below 10
per cent, that from Pomona falling to
81 per cent. The Malta Blood and
Niles Seeding shows the minima of SO
per cent. and rs per cent. The Valen-
cia and Tangerine, with the Eureka
lcihOu, sCCiu W idhSC duOut IsO POI oCho'
Ash composition and nitrogen con-
tents-As will be seen by reference to
bulletin No. SO, of the department, the
orange stands second GRAPES being first)
among orchard fruits in the quantity of
mineral matter withdrawn from the
soil. Heretofore, we have been obliged
to base all conclusions bearing upon the
ash and nitrogen of these fruits on
European data; we are now enabled to
present for oranges and lemons the out
come Of California growth. The follow
ing summary Chased on averages from
the large table) shows in tabular form
the amounts, in pounds, of the soil in
gradients extracted by an orange or
lemon crop, that will have to be replaced
by fertilization.
Total Pot lPhos.i Nit
ORANGES eSh. ash. acid rOp' n