The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1899-04-25
SEEK A NEW ORANGE.
Experiments Going On In the Agri-
cultural Department.
Success of Present Efforts Would
RewoHufionfxe and Expand the
oFnnse-Growfnx Endastry
fn the North.

Man is seeking to improve natures.
work upon the orange. and II is likely
that be will be able TO do IL If sue
cess crowns experiments now in prog
ress the orange viii become q hardy
fruit. able 10 grow and bear even IS
far north as Canada. with skin that
viii peel of as easily as tzngerfne's.
sHd perhaps devoid Of the seeds that
now threaten the peril Of appendicitis
Such a recreation of this luscious
fruif-for that is what il would amount
fo-worid deserve TO rank with the
greatest marvels Of the enc Of the cen
fury II would revolutioSize and ex-
psEd the orange-growing industry and
remove all danger from the frosts and
freezes that now either hight or en-
ti-ely destroy the trees and their fruit
in the states where they are grown
The freeze in the southern states in
1895 and 1895 desiroyed every orange
tree. causing loss upon TIE crop ex-
pected OF nearly 100000. ard dam
rye to the Industry in general that has
been computed at the extraordinary
Squire Of S7s.oo00c0. 1t Will be FIVE
years yet before orange-growing Is on
4 paying basis and ten 70 fifteen years
before the orange crop Is as large as II
sax at the time Of the disastrous
weather. =
Since that time the agricultural de-
partueut has been experimenting in
The cross-fertiIization Of orangrs IN the
hope Of producing one or more varie-
ties that viii resist the attacks of frost
and that viii possess the other quail
ties not found in the fruit Of to-day
The practical part of the work Is be-
.ng conducted under the supervision of
Fl j. Weber and w. T. SwiBgie. spe-
.izl agents of the division Of vegetable
physiology and pathology
UL 10 the present the experimental
processes have been productive Of the
results expected. but the most inter
ezting and delicate stages are yet 10
ZONE IN the greenhouse there are at
least 1000 hybrid growths from the
SEEDS that have been crossed. and this
spring many of these will be taken
10 the southern states and grated on
The grange trees growing there Then
al least three years must eIapse be
fore the grated trees viii begin TO bear
The fruit that is to be hardy. sweet.
Ioose-Skinned. and perhaps seedleSs-
II 1852 Messrs Weber and Swingie
were in the south studying the diseases
that affect oranges. and the need of a
harder orange than the usual varieties
vas brought TO their attention This
was emphasized by the disastrous
f-osts OF 1894 and 1895. The growers
selecting for planting and developing
seeds from only the hardest of the
frees growing in their fields. but even
these succumbed to the severe attacks
Of the invading cold
In the meantime experiments con
Quoted by Mr. Weber IN this city
turned ont ulfavorably. through no
that be succeeded in hybridiziag he
orange in way to insure the favorable
result Of planting or grating He had
found. prior to the hybridizing. that the
Japanese trifoliate orange. although
its fruit is small and of little value ex-
cept for preserves is delicious. and 50
hardy thatitcan be grown without pro-
lection As far north as Philadelphia
number of these trees had been planted
in the department grounds. aud. in
spite of cold had borne fruit. small
and bitter. II occurred 10 him TO cross
the japanese variety with the different
kinds that flourish in the south 10 get
the hardy quality. The practical work
of hybridizing them commenced
If the seedlings that are grated on
the southern trees develop fruit that
-aunot be killed in blossom OF maturity
BY the winters 10 that section. the sci
nntiSts viii feel that they have been
sufficiently repaid for all their efforts
Orange growing then would not be at
tended by the great risks that now en-
COMPASS il. In addition. IL a handy or
srge can be produced that viii live in
the north. and yet have the sweetness
and juicineSs OF the southern fruit.
then the work of nature viii have been
wholly improved by the hand and in
telligsnes of man.-Washingto Star.
An Appeal to Inventors