The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-08-11

In no branch OF industry have the
United States made more progress
during late years than in the culture
of fruits. Though the peach ia an old
fruit, 1t is still within the recollection
OF many OF the citizens OF New Castle
county when they became merchan.
table article and sent to the large
cities for sale. But in the raising oil
no variety of fruit has greater pro.
gress been made than in semi-tropical
ts.Fity years ago, the United States
made no pretense scarcely whatever,
rs grower OF fruits. Oranges were
grown in Louisiana, but that was
about the extent to which these fruits
were grown. All our lemons, olives,
nucoanuts, bananas, plns-apples, al.
monds, raisins and nearly all our or
Rnges came either from the West In.
dles or Southern Europe. To-day all
this Is changed. Almost three mil
lion boxes Of the finest oranges known
IRE annually grown in Florida. Dur.
Ing the present season some seventeen
thousand car loads OF this delicious
iruit will be shipped from the State
Of California, and equal IN quality to
any that comes from abroad. But
that is not all. Tho same State has
1t the present time half a million al.
mond trees In bearing, the product OF
which is equal in quality to any that
comes to US from abroad.
The Golden State also has quarter
Of million of olive trees in bearing,
producing fruit equal to the choicest
Mediterranean varieties, aud,producinr
oil that matches the best We get from
Italy. California has also become Q
great competitor with Europe in ralsiL
production, her output bcing not only
merry large but OF excellent quality.
The has several hundred thousand
lemon trees 80 productive that the
nrice of this fruit has declined greatly
n recent years. Florida, too, is show
ing ste can grow other fruits beside.
oranges. Vust banana plantations
have been set out and her annual pro
anct already is more than half mil
lion punches. OF pine apples she il
said to have over twenty milliol
plnnts growing and hundreds 0
thousands of eoeo2uut trees. Will,
more of each OF the above kinds are
being set out yearly.
IT has been demonstrated that Their,
IL hardly limit to the extent to which
all OF tho foreg olng named fruits and
nuts can be grown IN this country
They are increasing even in a create
ratio than our population, and there
fore remain not only cheap but groI
still more so. In fact the consutnp
ton of some Of these products las In
eransed many hundrodfold during tn
past few decades through their abun
dance and cheapness.
Oranges are to-day quite as cheap ii
this market as apples. which alont
must tend to render this fruit stil
more acceptable and popular Som
Of tho others We have named wer
yoRrs ago regarded almost in tire ligh
Of Injuries, to day we lind them ara
Giles of general consumption tho who'll
country over Their growth has nu
only given Us command of mos
wholesome fruits ut reasonable prices
but has opened up new sources OF EN-
Payment and wealth to our own pee
pln. The time may come when "
shall not only produce all these fruit
needed for home consumption, bu
when we shall have an abundance 70
export to countries less fayorabiy Cir
3umstanced than our own.