The herald., 1895-01-31
PROFITABLE MARKETS OPEN
Growth Of the Orange Crop in South
ern California.
gnterestinR Papers Read on ssmi-Trop-
icaI FruIts-siIvor Medal Awarded
to the Local Chamber Of Coma
meroe- Notes.


society at the close of its session is
carried out, California products will find
O profitable market In New York and
other eastern states,
Many complimentary criticisms have
BEEN passed regarding the unlimitrd and
varied resources of Southern California,
but no words have ever been uttesed that
lnay produce such beneficial effects as
those spoken by DR.. f. M. Hexamer,
editor of the American Agrioulturist Of
New York, and by President P. J.
Berckmans.
They pointed 10 q way by which the
fruits of California soil will fad profit
able and unlimited market, and by
which the wines of the state will bs
duly appreciated and sold on their own
merits and with their own labels, instead
OF being offered to the consume as
French wines, while the poorest quali-
ties are sold az native products.
For the first time since the organiza-
ton OF the American Pathological soci.
city in 1S4s at Boston. the association
met as far west as California. Gradu-
ally and steadily the society has grown
until now it embraces every section OF
the United States and the British Prov
inces. 1t has now a mem bership of 500
and 10 increasing its list continually.
Meetings are held bisnnially In different
parts OF the United States, and papers
are read ON subjects covered by the 60
oiety.
CALIFORNIA; FRUIT INDUSTRY.
The convention yesterday was called
to order at the assembly room of the
chamber of commerce by L. M. Holt,
president of the Southern California
Pathological society. He introduced w.
@. Patterson, the president of the
chamber, who in q brief address wells
coined the visitors to the sunny CLINE
of Southern California.
President Holt then delivered an adj
dress OF welcome, of which the follow
ing is synopsis:
This year you have come to q state which
while young in the fruit business is making
rapid strides in that direction, and our success
SO far has not only surprised the people of the
country at large, but also our own people, who
have never been charged with lack of local
patriotism.
1t might be further noted in this connection
also that while the founders of the American
Pathological society were at work laying the
foundation for future usefulness in 164S, Cali
fornia, the country that was destined to be-
come eventually the nations orchard, was be.
ing transferred from the Mexican government
to position beneath the Stars and Stripes
that it might be developed and made ready for
your inspection nearly half a century later
Viewing the subject from these points of
view we feel that no apology is necessary for
the action of the Southern California Pomo-
logica society in inviting you to visit this end
adjourned meeting of the society, and for
making the further suggestion that the mem
bers while here make tour of the fruit-grow-
ing sections under the guidance of a joint
COMMITTEES of arrangements appointed by the
Southern California Pathological society, the
Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, the Farm
ers institute and the Southern California
Horticultural society. This proposed trip is
suggested in order that your study of the fruit
son standpoint, with view to giving you new
and profitable, as well as inter sting ideas for
your future consideration.
Before entering upon this work. pardon me
for laying before you few facts which may
be OF value to you in ths prosecution of your
observations
The people OF this country are becoming a
fruit consuming people. As an illustration OF
this statement. let me call your attention TO
1884 imported fruits of varieties not grown
in this country to the extent of So 500 600
and in the year 1893 these importations had
increased to So, 500, 000-an increase in one
decade of over $50 per cent-while the popu-
lation of the country had increased only
about "a per cent in that same length of time.
fruits OF those varieties grown in California
had only decreased from T17 10000 in 1884
to SIS, 900, 900 in 1S93-only $1,000 600, and
this decrease was in the price rather than in
the amounts of the importatons. But even at
this rate OF decrease, 1t would require rs years
for the fruits produced in the United states to
supply our own people and entirely cut off all
imports from foreign countries.
The increase in the production of oranges in
the United States during the past 10 years has
been one o. the wonders of the fruit industry,
and yet the importation of oranges, which ii
1884 was S2,9O0,000 had only decreased in
1898 to 81, 700 600 Had the iudicious system
Of marketing the orange crop adopted in this
state last season been adopted 10 years ago.
the probabilities are that not only would our
orchard1sts have received better prices for
their fruit, but the importations from foreign
countries would have shown an increase in
stead OF decrease, for by the present system
ornges are being sold to millions of customers
who ate no oranges before.
: The older Spanish civilization of Southern
California dates back more than q century,
while the newer and more vigorous American
civilization dates back but little more than
quarter OF century.
ing industry was stock raising-cattle, sheep
and horses. However, few orchards and
vineyards had been planted ana beginning
OF fruit culture had been made. I
PROGRESS OF ORANGE CULTURE
1t had been demonstrated that the grape
would grow here to perfection; at least SO far
RS one variety, the Mission grape was con.
cerned 1t had been demonstrated that the or.
ange would grow and flourish. Some other
fruits had been tried on a small scale for home
consumption; but as we had only local mar
ket the production necessarily had to DO very
limited.
Twenty years ago the orange crop was small
1t partially supplied the Pacific coast markets.
the remaining supply coming from Mexico and
the islands. The crop was estimated and sold
by the thousand. 1t was so small that it
seemed best TO count the oranges.
A few years later the more vigorous Ameri-
can methods of doing business, stimulated by
the building OF railroads, caused moro orchards
to planted and new varieties, including the
now justly celcbrat cd nyel, to be introduced.
The annual crop increased and the fruit was
then estimated and sold by the box. 1t was
sufficient then to count the Joxcs.
A few years later still, after Riverside and
the footh;ll country from Pasadena eastward
to Pcdlands had begun 10 send their oranges
/. to market, tho crop wss es ipiated and sold by
\the carloSd. 1t Wes easier and more compre-
hensive than counting the boxes.
in 20 years time the orange cropo Southern
liiornia he's increased from almost nothing
about 1900 carlonds-Or =, $4,000 boxes
mated to be worth this season, free on
,ri the cars. 49, 500 900.
.orIG3 had few years the start Of us in the
nee business. 1t was nearer TO market and
hce had that one advantage which VIC did
enjoy. But on the other hand. we had
rior summer climate and possessed some
ptages not enjoyed by Florida, while both
(rIes had, like ali other countries, some