The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-05-28
In THE LAND OF FRUITS.
Ex-Msyor Kieinsci,lnidt Talks Of His visit
To CaIifOruIs.

Ex-MAy0r kt01nschInidt Talks OF HIS Visit
10 Caiiforais.
Hon. +. II. Kleinschmidt, assistant cash.
Isr Of the First National bank. has returned
form trip Of nearly thr &c months In South
srn California. On the way there he stopped
At Tacoma and Ssn Francisco. and spent
much Of the time In California at Ssn Fran
cisco. Los Angeles, San Diego and other
cities. During his trip hs looked into the
state OF affairs on the coaat and came TO
the conclusion that some OF the places In
California had been overboomed. Particu-
laFly was this the case with San Diego. On
the other hand Los Angeles IL lively. There
ate a st least 1900 tourists stopping There.
San Francisco 10 dull. There are lots OF busi-
nsss houses vacant, and many OF she big
stores have signs out that their windows
ara for rent The San Francisco people at
tributs their dnll times to tho Southern Pa
cific railroad. which they say IL squeezing
tho life out Of things. Much Of It. how
the fact that Tacoma, Seattle, San Diego
and San Louis Obisi are cutting into San
Frsncisco Gn tho ocean trade. Where
San Francisco formerly sold these places
are now serving direct.
During his stay In California, MI Klein
schmidt looked into the fruit growing busi-
ness, and Ia convinced thaS the growing of
lemons bids fair to be ono Of the greatest
industries in America. Tho possibility OF
growing lemons that will keep for long
time and compete with the Sieilian product
fs no longer an experiment.. Il il success.
The people had been in the habit OF allow
ing the lemons to ripen on the trees. II
was found that they would not keep any
time. Someone was sent TO Italy to find
out what curing process was used there.
This process is now being utilized in Cali
forniK with tho result that the American
lemons will keep as long and stand a. much
shipment a. their Italian competitors. Az
soon as the lemons reach the required size
and while they arc still green, they are
taken from the trees and placed in dark
room to sweat out. The sweating process
ripens the lemons and brings them to a rich
yellow color, ready for shipment. In this
condition they will keep for year. What
makes the lemon industry go profitable is
that the fruit can be picked from the trees
three months ago 10 on the way to market.
that picked . month or two months
later Ia ripeninQ ready for shipment, and
the other buds on the trees are developing
This prevents an entire seasons output be-
ing thrown on the market at one time, a. Is
the case with oranges, peaches and other
fruits that are allowed to ripen on the stem
before being plucked. The orange tree is
much longer lived than the lemon tree.
Lemon growers are therefore grating
lemon cuttings ON to orange tree roots
The ex-mayor made some investments in
lemon producing property.
There is orc thing in California which
Mr.. Kleinschmidt thinks would be good
| thing for Montana. The general govern
ment and the state of California together
maintain experimental stations at various
points. At these stations experiments are
mnde in raising the various fruits on the
different kinds OF soils thereabouts. In
this way planter. before he starts in to
grow fruit, can. by inquirinR at the expert
mental station, find out just what kind OF
fruit will flourish on his ground and what
will not flourish. He therefore avoids sew
eral years of costly experiments.