The herald., 1895-03-08
Increased Orders for Seeding
Oranges
QUIET PRODUCE MARKETS
Growth and Importance Of the Vegetable
Shipping Business
Prices Current of Farm, Orchard and Dairy
Products--ReaI Estate Transfers
Building Permits
Los Angeles, March z,

Los Angeles, March,,
As the result OF the reduction of ten cents
box on seeding oranges made by the fruit ex-
changes, orders for this class OF fruit are COM
ing in more freely from the far East. Foreign
fruit is still offered much cheaper than Cali
fornia. but 1t seems to be lacking in quality.
The local produce markets remain quiet. the
came conditions and prices ruling MS earlier in
the week. Butter is very weak and eggs are
the same. Demand for vegetables for shipping
remains good.
The following article from the March num-
Der OF the Land of Sunshine is reproduced here
as being fair statement of the growth and
importance OF the winter vegetable business in
Southern California:
The business OF shipping winter vegetables
to the East and North is rapidly becoming an
important rival OF the fruit industry in South
ern California, particularly since the railroads
have made special rates in order TO encourage
the growers
In the early history OF the state gardening
was regarded as '..pottering," insignificant
occupation, fit only for Cinnamon and SO by
common consent they were allowed practical
monopoly Of it; but TO maintain that an
American of intelligence cannot surpass the
Chinese gardener would be an insult to com
mon sense.
The fact that others besides Chinese could
produce vegetables successfully has within u
few years gradually been recognized, together
with the further fact that there is lucrative
field for industry in the development of an
at time when the exigences OF the season
prevent the production OF any sort OF vege-
tables in the Atlantic stat S. The shipment OF
vegetables of various kinds TO the East has
assumed large proportions within compare
lively limited period, the southern Pacific
railroad having shipped many millions
road handles immense quantities produced in
Southern California. The bulk OF these ship
ments is made during that portion Of the year
when vegetables are scarce at the East and
the highest prices prevail
1t is in the growing of the early or winter
vegetables that the largest and most certain
profit is to be made. There are large areas in
Southern California where such vegetables as
potatoes. peas. onions. beets cabbages, cault.
months. generally In September. october and
November, and will mature so as to be shipped
to the Eastern market during midwinter. In.
deed, some OF these vegetables may be planted
in succession right along through the fall and
winter, with the result of having series of
crops for harvest all through the season In
some OF the most favorable localities where
frost seldom appears, such as the Cahuenga
valley, in Los Angeles county, ripe tomatoes
are gathered in midwinter and are disposed of
at round figures in the markets OF the Coast as
we'll as those of the East.
This Cahuenga vslley is a remarkable stretch
OF territory. extending from Los Angeles to
the ocean, distance of about fifteen miles
along the foothills. The frostless belt OF this
section is about half mile wide. 1t shifts
little from time to time, but is SO clearly de-
fined that person when walking around
there OF winters evening can tell immedi-
ns ss sSess wio hs 81 the
time may be seen fields OF growing peas, string
beans, tomatoes, chile peppers and other veg
cables which are shipped, not only East but
to the northern part of the state, as soon as
the frost has touched the delicate vegetables
there. At Christmas, and for some time after
plies of vegetables from the Cahuenga valley
Here you may see fortunate rancher taking
his produce to market in stylish buggy. the
produce consisting, perhaps, of a 10, pound
sack of green peas, string beans or peppers. for
which he will receive in San Francisco all the
more. according to the condition Of The U mar mar
ket- A few years ago large landowner in
that valley, now deceased. showed the writer
commission house in San Francisco as the net
proceeds of a sack of chile peppers shipped at
Christmas time. This OF course, is an extreme
case, like returns of $l.OJ an acre from an
orange grove; but under ordinary crcum-
stances the profits OF this business are large
enough to suit any reasonable person. and tn .
business will be on more steady footing from
year to year as the growers become better
versed in the art of placing their products
upon the eastern markets.
One of the most important exports in this
line Is the potato, which is now shipped East
in the spring by hundreds OF carloads-and
loads of celery. cabbage and caulifower are
shipped In winter from Orange county and
other sections.
the Southern California Railway recently fur
nished some valuable information in response
to request from the Los Angeles Chamber of
Commerce. Among other suggestions offered
by the company were the following:
1.-THE trade in winter vegetables commences
between December rs and January l, and lasts
until April 80 This does not include potatoes
OF which we shall speak later. Hitherto it has
been supplied largely from the Bermuda
Islands, but latterly this supply has been sup
planted by shipments from Cuba. If the
Southern California producers will arrange to
have their crops so planted that they may be
brought to market early in the period above
stated, there is no doubt that they can be dis
posed of profitably against the imported crop,
which is longer in transportation and sub
jected to additional exposure, transfers and
handling By means of the through fast
freight refrigerator service now provided to
shippers from the Pacific Coast, these prod ucts
can be placed in the markets of our large
Eastern cities in almost as fresh a condition
as when packed.
"The following points may be judiciously
considered by both growers and packers.
Judgment must be used in the selection OF the
character OF the seed, a lack OF whch-as has
Sp IN the suSent rea
been unable to compete with the Southern
supply,
April %, 1892. sold for 25 cents per crate The
crate was OF the best material similar to the
crate used in packing peas from the South. but
the peas were dead, tasteless and void of the
sqeaky sound that the southern pea has when
pinched. which in the same market could be
found for compa rison. The reason is stated to
be that the Southern California pea was a
common variety, not selected. instead of
sweet pea which is in demand and is the
variety supplied from the South. The same
point will apply to other vegetables
"Again, 1t is claimed that full carload of
green vegetables, all of one variety, will spoil
in from five to six days, even though they do
not heat In order to avoid this the car should
be made up OF mixed shipments-beans, peas,
tomatoes, cauliflower, etc. The package pre-.
ferred by the commission men is one-third.
one-half and one bushel crates, as are now in
use here.
"Caulihower and cabbage should be packed
two and one-half TO three dozen to the crate
Itshould be borne in mind that none of the
larger western cities. not even Chicago are
able to OPPOSE of an entire carload shipment
of any single vegetable to advantage. hence
the Recommendation for mixed carloads''
q. III. W.