The herald., 1895-06-25
LOCAL FIELD OF COMMERCE
The Fruit Product of the East
and west
THE LEMON CROP OF SICILY
The California Output Only a Drop in
the Bucket
HE LEMON CROP OF SICILY
Consu Germain Recommends the Shipment
Of a Portion of California's Honey
Product to Switzerland

Z. l.. Goodsell, one of the best authori-
ties on fruit in this country, in recent
talk with New York Tribune reporter,
gave the TO flowing interesting facts in re-
gard to the decline OF fruit growing in
the eastern states and the enormous IN
crease OF the in dustry in California. He
said:
at Is noted and regretted that fruit cul-
ture in the eastern states is dying out,
particularly as regards the production OF
peaches. in Delaware last year there
were scarcely TO- 900 one-half bushe bas-
kets shipped, as against GO, 900, produced
some years ago. A disease called "the
yellows" has destroyed the trees. From
reports which have been collected through
out the nearby states, the prospects are
for an abundance of summer fruits. To
supply the demand. however, we shall
have to go 5000 miles away to the never
failing agricultural spring, California.
Without the Golden stato's products we
should be badly off every summer, and
with the prospects of enormous crops of
cherries, which begin to come to us in
May, apricots and peaches in June, plums
and pears in July and grapes in August,
there will be sufficient quantities to en-
able the working classes TO enjoy at q
moderate figure these delicious products.
Few Americans are aware Of the fact
that If it were not for the little island of
Sicily now there would be no lemons, nor
are many aware of the great Importance
of this commerce and its necessity to tina
United States. Accurate figures show
that from September 10th to April Both
during the last five years the importa-
tions from Sicily have been about 200,
ao,.h TO, in 2O0
lemons. This Is equal to 800, 1000 lem
ons. Owing to severe storms IN Sicily
during the winter and recently, the avail
able quantity has been greatly reduced
and where during the preceding months
of April since 1890 there were afoat to
arrive within the succeeding, thirty days
from %, QUO to 80, 600 boxes, there are now
in sight only 10000 boxes, shortage Of n
serious character. because future ship
ments will continue further to decrease.
The production of lemons in America is
so limited at the present time, both as re-
CARDS quantity and season. that all OF Cal
ifornia's and Florida's products do not
supply 10 per cent of the country's needs.
After the months of August and Septem-
ber, when our domestic lemon crops ma
ture. but for Sicily we should be without
any lemons whatsoever except for few
that Spain sends us during the rest OF
the year.
Consul Germain, at Zurich, Swtzer-
land. says that extracted honey retails at
30 cents per pound and comb honey at Is
cents per pound. Having long been a
dealer in honey in California, he alleges
that it can be produced here at good
profit for 7 cents pound for extracted.
and can be put down in Switzerland at II
cents pound and retailed there at Il
cents. Or if sent around the Horn in
sailing vessels, the freight and duties
would not exceed cents per pound. He
believes tnat if retailed at Is cents a
pound a very large market could be found
for our honey in Switzerland. and he
strongly recommends that the effort be
made. In view of the prospect of good
honey season this year it might be worth
while for our apiculturists to look the
matter up carefully with the aid of Mr..
observation-disclosures Fruit Grower.