The herald., 1893-06-04
EMOTIONAL HoRTIcuLTuRIsTs
a Word of Good Advice to FickIe
Ranchoros.

a Word of Good Advice to FIclrIe
Ranchoros.
The following from the Ontario OBJ
server is 80 thoroughly correct that it
deserves to reach all of the class at
whom it is aimed:
The planting of fruit and nut-bearing
trees in Southern California has pro-
ceeded on very erratic lines. In deter
mining the kind of trees he will plant
the horticulturist is largely influenced
by the markets. If on the season pre-
vious apricots have returned the pro-
ducers handsome profits he is quite sure
to plant apricot trees. II peaches or
prunes sold that season at more eatis-
factory prices his choice will be those
varieties. This Ia almost invariably the
case. So uniformly good does this rule
hold, nuraerymen are able to foresee q
year in advance what variety of trees
will be most in demand. Two years
ago there were many apricot trees in
Pomona and Ontario extracted because
they proved at that time less profitable
than other fruit trees. Last year april
cot trees bore heavily and their fruit
gold at highly remunerative prices.
This year nurserymen report their
sales OF apricot trees larger than those
of any previous season. This year the
apricot crop throughout the state is a
light one. Though prices in conse-
quence are certain to rule high, the par
tisl failure OF the crop will doubtless
lessen to marked degree the demand
for apricot trees next season. Instead
OF judging decade of the future by
decade OF the past, the Southern Califor-
ni@ horticulturiet allowa one seasons
observations to shape his opinions. His
companions are not properly made, nor
are conditions intelligently considered.
The man who cuts down hiH apricot
trees because his neighbors failed
one season to realize from such
trees a satisfactory profit Is not
wise. Unless scientifically nurtured
there is no fruit tree that will
bear prolifcally every year. When
properly fertilized and irrigated the april
cot tree is reasonably certain bearer.
OF all deciduous fruits it is the most
aristocratic. 1t inds a market when
other varieties must go begging. 1t can
only be grown upon limited extent of
the esrth's surface. This fact renders
overproduction impossible, but despite
these important facts an "of" season is
sure to limit the planting the season
subsequent. This applies to all other
varieties of fruit trees.
This winter the orange crop was not
marketed at good figures. The effect OF
the markets on the planting of orange
trees was instantaneous. Trees that
sold last year for 81 are now being sold
for 35 cents. Even at this low price the
seasons planting will fall below that of
last year. Lemon and deciduous trees
now have the call. The check which the
low price of oranges put on the planting
of orange trees is, however, only
temporary. When the growers learn,
as they soon shall, that they themselves
and not the consumers are responsible
for the present low prices of oranges, the
planting of trees will be reeumed ON a
larger ecsle than ever. The cooperative
union now being organized will place
the industry on more profitable basis
than ever to the producers. 1t, by
bringing the producer and consumer
nearer together, will not only insure the
| former better prices, but will insure the
latter cheaper fruit. Then the consumer
will not have to pay SO per box for or
anges which the grower sold ct $l.50 per
box. Not till the fruit growers of Cali
fornia shall have become systematically
organized and the prices OF fruits gov
erned not by middle men but the law of
supply and demand, will the markets
afford any reliable pointers to tree
/ planters.