New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-05-06
THE FLORIDA ORANGES RISE.
DRIVING THE FOREIGN FRUIT FROM THE
AMERICAN MARKET.


AMERICAN MARKET.
IMMENSE YIELDS OF THE EVERGLADES STATE
AND cALIFoRNIA-THE FLUCTUATIONS
OF THE TRADE
The growth of the American orange trade has been
phenomenal, and its history is full OF interest
Thirty years the oranges consumed In this coun-
try were obtained mainly from the Mediterranean
countries the tart Scilian orange. however. being
supplemented by the Sweet Havanas." which lat
ter have since been completely surpassed by the
even more luscious Floridas. the finest oranges In
the world that they now practically exist only in
memory Only three decades ago the entire orange
trade of this country was controlled by few ex-
tensve importers, the most prominent OF whom were
Chamberlain. Phelps & Co.. Lawrence Giles q Co.,
DevIn G. Rose and James Robinson & Co. Of this
city, s. s. Scattergood & Co. and Isaac Jeanes &c
Co.. Of Philadelphia Daniel Draper & Co. and
Conant & CO., OF Boston, and Dix & wilkins. OF
Baltimore. Business then done entirely on or
ders the importers sending their orders abroad
every fall at which season sailing vessels which
have since been entirely suppanted by steamships,
were chartered TO transport the fruit from Sician
and other Mediterranean ports to this country; IN
fact. September was the month in which business
arrangements annually made six months In
advance OF their fulnment
This method Of conducting business existed for
many years, but about the close OF the War OF the
Rebellion In 1865. the growers OF Sician oranges.
who had previously sold their crops entirely on
orders began to ship them to this country on con-
signment The old Importers then gradually aban-
doncd their original methods and began to receive
fruit as consignees instead Of importing It. New
firms entered the field and strong competition
sprang up In the business. which then profit
able. may be by the fact that n single New
York firm. In season. realized a clear profit OF
M ctrfita siO "a MI
AMERICANS SUPERSEDED BY ITALIANS
About fifteen years later the American fruit firms
were largely superseded by Italians. the fruit grow
OF Sicily and the native shippers Of Palermo and
other Mediterranean ports sending their sons and
relatives to this country TO establish firms. till now
only three or four dlstlnctively American firms OF
prominence remain in the business. During the last
ten years however. the importation Of oranges from
the Mediterranean has steadily decreased. and while
large quantities continue to come from Sicily, the
imports from Spain have dwindled into utter in
significance Tho decline Of importation brought
about by the rapid growth OF the domestic orange
industry. which has been most remarkably devel-
oped Foreign growers a. first riliculed the idea
that they could evc- be deprived OF the American
market. In which they had long been accustomed to
reap bountlful harvests annually. but their rldcue
was soon turned 70 regret. About that time. only
q single decade ago the Florida orange industry
sprang into prominence II by magic. and the
product Of the Florida groves has since swiftly and
steadily increased. till the annual crop is estl-
mated N fully 10000 boxes and II Is yearly
augmented
California has since come into great prominence
an orango-producng State and last year supplied
2Joooo boxes. which distributed mainly
through the West and Northwest. only n limited
quantity reaching the Atlantic seaboard account
~ the hieh rates Of freight costing ST. cents a
box - transport ORANGES from the Pacific Slope 10
NewYork by rail while those from Florida. coming
hy steamship are TRANSPORTED for 80 cents box.
giving tho Florida growers advantage OF 37i3
cents box.
BEGINNING or THE FLORIDA ORANGE INDUSTRY. I
About twenty years Florida oranges began
To arrive in this city. There few Of them and
they received mainly by firms which not
exclusively in the fruit trade Walter Carr & Co.
In this city. began to receive consignments OF
Florida oranges In 1873. and william II. Sneckner |
the managing partner Of the firm says that while |
the present price is only about s. n box. the firm
then sold them for s. a box and was unable to get
enough oranges 10 supply the demand. Ten years
ago there probably less than $50 firms re- |
ceiving tho delicious Florida directly from
tho fragrant groves. and in fact. It said that
a we-worded circular and brass stencil-plate
were the only prerequisites for procuring abundant
consignments from the conpdng growers. The
number ~ receivers In this city. however. has
rapidly decreased. and there are now not more
In the trade hero. When there such a large
number Of firms In the trade there many whose .
business methods were open 10 criticism and who /
lur"d m" orange growers and the public. but they /
hlv" happily been driven out Of the trade. which
Is now conducted by reputable firms and strictly .
business PRINCIPLES
Tnc rapid growth Or the Florida trade
has seriously lnierfcre-l with the importers ns IL
Tr'klnsy shown by he fact that. while there were
th"rr wcr" only 5000 boxes imported In 1912 .
Unfortunately however. there Il scarcely .asOn
IN which ihe Florida croD Is not IN some respect n
failure. H. the this and "A sO
Tho casc In 1929 when the imports increased 10
lol30D boxes almost double the quantity imported
during the previous year.
CAUSES OF FAILURE OF THE FLORIDA CROPS
The failure Of the Florida orange crop Is brought
about by various causes. Prolonged dr0uth I'm sum-
and plague OF rcd spiders cause the leaves t.
fan from the trees; heavy rains ruin the keeping"
qualities Of the fruit ana make n pershable that
on arriving hero IL Is sometimes I'm such an ad-
yance1 state Of decay that It cannot be sold for
more than enough to pay the freight AMI lastly
unreasonable frosts when the temperature falls 10
r l. degrees below the freezing point and entirely
spohs much Of the fruit on the trees and makes
juceess Despite the difficulties with which ths
growers have To contend almost every season tn.
crop continues steadily 10 increase Most OF the
trees In the groves OF Florida are now over
when. Il IS estimated. the crop will be- al least
lGw@o boxes. There were over 100000 boxes OF
year, while less than 5000 boxes were received from
california. whose last crop 2500000 boxes
The California crop is also rapidly Increasing
there having been 100000 boxes grown last wear
against 100000 the previous year Oranges are also
being successfully grown In Arizona and louisiana
The crops here are yet small. but increasing /
and California the day is far distant when Only
American oranges will be found In American mar