The herald., 1895-08-11
LOCAL FIELD OF COMMERCE
Some Crops That May Be
ProfitabIy Cultivated
3il.
FRUIT FIELD PIONEERING
The Pomelo and the Possibility Of
Cash Returns
The Fig and Its Possibilities When Greater
Attention Is Given to Proper Meth.
ods Of Cultivation

W, M. Tisdale Of Redlands writes an
interesting letter to Garden and Forest in
which he expresses the opinion that the
chances for pioneering in California fruits
are not entirely in the past. What has
been true OF the lemon, olive and orange
is true today Of the pomelo, pineapple.
expensive fruits,all OF which can be read
lily marketed il they can be grown of
good quality.
The pomclo is still regarded in Caifor-
MIA as an uncertainty, dependent for its
popularity upon fad that may not last.
The sudden growth Of the fruit in favor
found California unpropared to take ad
vantage of the unexpected demand. The
shaddock. larger and coarser fruit. was
grown TO very limited extent and as
curiosity. Since it was discovered that
pomelos sell readily in eastern cities i'm
provcments have been made. The bud
of the shaddock has been grated upon
orange roots and the result is q tree
which produces the nearly spherical po-
melo. which is far superior to the huge.
coarse, pear-shaped shaddock. Some quite
extensive orchards of the improved varie-
ty have been planted in Southern Cali
fornia, and, with the rapid growth that
all such fruits make, the growers will
soon know whether they are TO reap large
rewards in advance of probable competi-
tion.
The pineapple has been successfully
grown in some sheltered hooks of San
Diego county. The fruit has been mar
keted at high prices and the growers are
confident Of success with it. They claim
that i: is of superior quality. 1t would
seem that so high priced fruit would re-
pay unusual care. even to the extent of
growing it under glass, it necessary. The
markets of the Pacific coast cities havo
never been overburdened with piueapples
and it is not probable that the limited
area adapted to them will produce
enough even for local consumption for
many years to come.g
As commercial factor the fig has been
OF little Importance among California
fruits. although it has been an incum-
ben. of almost every rancher's doory ard
since the padres taught their Indian Pc
ons horticulture. AS fresh fruit it IS
qualities. Eaten with sugar and cream
1T is rs grateful for dessert as the straw
berry and more wholesome. But as it is
good only when perfectly ripe, it will not
bear transportation under existing con-
ditions. and the fresh figs offered in east
ern markets are delusion and snare.
As dried fruit it has also been q failure
In the market. Quantities OF dried figs
are sold In California, although they are
usually small ana shriveled In appear
ance and lack the rich aromatic, nutty
favor of the imported zig. The latter
commands in California, as every where,
q high price. usually % cents a pound
The homo product sells for 10 cents 1t
has been the dream OF fig culturists for
years to SO improve the quality that the
California fruit may compete with the
imported. To this end soils, climates and
varieties have been patiently studied.
The Pacific Wine and Spirit Review
suggests that the manufacture of argols
(cream of tartar) may become an ind ustry
of some consequences. The Californ ia
tartar works at Healdsburg will reopen
try net tcommon in America. the only
other plant in the country being owned
by the same person. George de Ia Tour.
1t is located at San Jose. There are
three large buildings used in the man
ufacturc OF cream OF tartar. One in three
stories high and has ground dimen-
sion of 9Ox10O fest. The process of max
grapes used are mashed into pomace
and put into copper perforated baskets
into which the steam is introduced.
After it has boiled for scme time the
pomace is pressed and the liquor run into
tanks. While it cools the cream OF tartar
is deposited in crystals on the sides ana
bottom OF the tanks. The liquor is then
run Off. The crystals. on refining. be-
come the cream of tartar of commerce.
Not only are grapes used in the manu-
facture of this article, but winestones,
lees and low grades of wine.